Wayne Mardle believes Premier League rivals are scared of Luke Littler: "There are a lot of players that come on this stage and seemingly, can't play him!"

The regular phase of the 2025 Premier League Darts is now halfway through. Luke Littler, who has already won four matchdays, is firmly in the lead with an impressive eight-point advantage over second-placed Luke Humphries. Michael van Gerwen, in third place, trails by a significant thirteen points.

After sixteen matchdays, the top four players in the standings will qualify for the playoffs at the O2 Arena in London. It now seems almost certain that Littler, currently in pole position, will make his way there, with a strong chance of defending his title. After eight matchdays, he is in an excellent position, and he has hinted that his best may still be to come.

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Early this year, the 18-year-old Englishman became the youngest ever world darts champion and has continued to impress ever since. His wins include the Belgian Darts Open and the UK Open. "There are a lot of players that come on this stage and seemingly can't play him! And he knows it, he absolutely knows it," assesses Wayne Mardle, himself a former top dart player and currently active as an analyst and commentator for Sky Sports, following Littler's recent Premier League Darts win in Newcastle. "What a position to be in."

Luke 'The Nuke' Littler

Although Littler has had the run of things this year against most of his rivals, Mardle does see one exception: Gerwyn Price. The Welsh former world champion is the only player against whom Littler has yet to win this edition of Premier League Darts. In fact, the Iceman is on a current run of five successive wins against the reigning world champ. "He couldn't care less could he?!" Mardle laughs.

"But we've seen players underperforming against him (Littler ed.) and finding playing against him one hell of a chore," Mardle adds. "I don't believe any player just comes up and plays the board by the way. You need to play the player and see what he's doing. But I do believe they are really concerned with what he can do to them."

The Premier League Darts continues next Thursday in Berlin. Littler will take on Chris Dobey there in the quarterfinals. Price meanwhile, faces a cracker against Michael van Gerwen.

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