Luke Littler secured his fifth victory of the Premier League Darts season by defeating Luke Humphries 6-5 in the final of Night 13 held in Aberdeen. This win propels Littler back to the top of the league standings.
Why it matters: Littler's win boosts his confidence and strengthens his position as the world number one, especially with the playoffs approaching.
Littler's victory marks his second consecutive night win, following his previous triumph in Liverpool.
This match was the first final of the 2026 tournament between the top two players in the world.
The season-ending Finals Night is set for 28 May 2026 at The O2 Arena in London.
Driving the news: The final was a nail-biter, with Littler coming from behind to secure the win.
Littler began the final with an impressive 11-dart leg, setting the tone for a high-quality match.
Humphries leveled the score at 2-2 with a stunning 130 checkout and later took a 4-3 lead after a 10-dart leg.
In a dramatic turnaround, Littler claimed three consecutive legs to clinch the match.
State of play: The results of Night 13 have reshuffled the leaderboard significantly.
Littler's win allows him to leapfrog Jonny Clayton into first place, who previously held the top spot.
Humphries reached his second final of the season, aiming for his first win.
Other notable results included Gerwyn Price defeating Stephen Bunting 6-5 and Gian van Veen overcoming Jonny Clayton 6-2.
The big picture: With only a few nights left in the season, every match counts as players vie for playoff spots.
Currently, Littler and Clayton have secured their places in the playoffs, leaving two spots still up for grabs.
Humphries and van Veen are in close contention, trailing Michael van Gerwen by just two points.
As the competition heats up, players are feeling the pressure to perform consistently.
What they're saying: Post-match comments shed light on the players' mindsets.
"I always want to be on the top," Littler said, expressing his desire to break his record of six nightly wins from the previous year.
Humphries acknowledged the pressure of the night, stating it felt like a "do-or-die night" for him.
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle remarked on Littler's ability to handle pressure, saying, "No one handles stressful situations on a dartboard like Luke Littler right now."
By the numbers: The statistics from the final highlight the intensity of the match.
Littler averaged 104.11 in the final compared to Humphries' 103.10, indicating a closely contested battle.
Humphries had previously beaten Michael van Gerwen 6-3 in the quarterfinals, marking a strong performance leading into the final.
With three nights remaining, the competition remains fierce among the top players.
What's next: The Premier League Darts action continues next week in Leeds.
Players will face off again, with Littler taking on Gerwyn Price and Humphries matching up against Gian van Veen.
Each player is looking to secure points as they approach the playoff deadline.
Fans can expect more thrilling matches as the pressure mounts in the final weeks of the season.