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Littler And Humphries Book Play-Off Spots

Littler And Humphries Book Play-Off Spots

Alex Moss |

A Week In Darts – May 7, 2024 – Littler And Humphries Secure Premier League Play-Off Spots

The first two players have been confirmed for the Premier League Play-Offs, as last week Luke Littler and Luke Humphries both secured their places at The O2. Here’s our recap of all things darts over the last seven days…

TWO LUKES BOOK PLAY-OFF SPOTS

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries became the first two players to qualify for the Premier League Play-Offs following last week’s action in Aberdeen.

Littler defeated Rob Cross 6-4 in Thursday’s final at the P&J Live to complete his fourth nightly win of the season and open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table.

The 2024 PDC World Darts Championship runner-up came through a last-leg decider against Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, before averaging 110 in a 6-1 demolition of Michael Smith to book his place in the final, where a 102 average sealed the title.

“I’m just delighted to get over the line again and book my place at The O2,” Littler said.

“That was my aim coming into the Premier League, so to have achieved that with two weeks to spare is a great achievement.

“I’ll still be aiming to win the next two nights coming up, and now I can play with freedom. After those nights my focus will be on London.”

Humphries is also now assured of a place in the end of season finale at The O2, in London, having moved on to 28 points after being awarded a bye when his opponent Gerwyn Price withdrew with a back injury.

With just two nights of the regular season to go, Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen occupy the last two play-off spots, with Smith heading up the chasing pack ahead of Cross.

The Premier League roadshow heads to Leeds this Thursday, with Littler requiring a maximum of three points from the last two nights to clinch top spot.

SMITH GETS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Michael Smith won his first ranking title for almost a year as he beat Ryan Joyce 8-6 in the final of Players Championship 9.

The latest double-header of ProTour action got underway in Germany on Monday, with the 2023 PDC world champion battling through the 128-player field to scoop the £15,000 prize.

The Premier League star had not tasted victory on the circuit since winning Players Championship 13 in June 2023, but bounced back with a victory at Halle 39, in Hildesheim.

“I’ve finally got my name back in that winner’s circle again and I’m over the moon,” Smith said.

“It’s been hard. I was so far behind but if he was going to keep giving me chances I had to take them.

“An 88 average in a final is not good, but it’s my first title in nearly 12 months.”

Beaten finalist Joyce enjoyed his best run of 2024 so far as he picked up wins over Raymond van Barneveld, Dave Chisnall and Chris Dobey on his way to a showdown with Smith.

The two-time Players Championship winner also got the better of Ritchie Edhouse in the semi-finals, who continued his recent good form as he eyes a potential debut at the World Matchplay this summer.

The ProTour season continues with Players Championship 10 today (Tuesday), before the European Tour resumes with the Baltic Sea Darts Open on Friday.

TITLES SHARED ON DEVELOPMENT TOUR

Gian van Veen was one of five different players to taste title success on the second Development Tour weekend of the season in Germany.

The 2023 PDC World Youth Championship finalist topped the Development Tour Order of Merit last year, and moved to the summit of the current rankings after winning Development Tour 7 on Friday.

The Dutchman beat Nathan Rafferty 5-1 in the final to pick up his second title of the season, with the £2,500 prize enough to see him climb above Keane Barry and to the top of the Order of Merit.

The five-event weekend started and finished with first-time winners, as Czech Republic ace Roman Benecky edged out Thomas Banks 5-4 in the Event 6 final, and Germany’s Niko Springer beat van Veen 5-2 in the decider of Event 10.

On Saturday, Wessel Nijman was in record-breaking form as he averaged 113.03 to beat Springer 5-4 in the Event 8 final.

It was a record average for a Development Tour final in the DartConnect era (2018 onwards), eclipsing Josh Rock’s 112.16 average in a final during 2022.

And finally, Nathan Rafferty clinched his 11th career Development Tour title, beating Danny Jansen 5-2 in the final of Event 9.

The Northern Irishman moves level with Luke Humphries on 11 titles in the PDC’s youth system, with Ted Evetts (14) and Dimitri Van den Bergh (12) the only two players to have won more titles.

SCUTT SEALS LAKESIDE RETURN

Connor Scutt has qualified for the 2024 WDF World Championships after winning the gold-ranked Denmark Open at the weekend.

A field of close to 300 players took part in the men’s event in Esbjerg which offered a top prize of 24,000 DNK along with a spot at Lakeside in December.

‘The Sniper’ emerged victorious with a 98 average in a 6-1 win over Jimmy van Schie in the final, as he sealed his place in a third World Championship, having played in the WDF showpiece in 2022 and then at the PDC World Darts Championship in December last year.

Meanwhile, Beau Greaves continued her dominance of the women’s game as she won the Denmark Open and Masters titles.

The reigning WDF women’s world champion rallied from 2-0 down to beat Lorraine Hyde 5-2 in the Open final, before edging past Rhian O’Sullivan 5-4 in the final of the Masters.

Sweden’s Andreas Harrysson claimed the men’s Masters title on Sunday, seeing off Gary Stone 6-3 in the final to win his first WDF ranking title for two years.

Pictures: PDC

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