Luke Littler joked that his £30,000 golden darts were ‘boring’ after being informed that he could not throw them. The Nuke landed the prize after throwing a sensational nine-darter during night seven of Premier League Darts.
Littler claimed his third nightly win and seems destined for May’s play-offs after another brilliant performance. The 18-year-old defeated Michael van Gerwen in the final, in which he landed his nine-darter. He had previously seen off Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross in the quarter-final and semi-final, respectively.
A Premier League sponsor is handing out a set of 18-carat gold darts to every player who throws a nine-darter this year. Each set are worth £30k and the honour places the recipient in an exclusive club.
Quizzed on winning the darts, Littler said: “It’ll mean everything, it’s a special moment that the sponsors are doing. It goes down to myself and I’m glad I’ve hit one on TV for the first time this year.”
Littler was asked if he would throw the gold darts, and responded: “Is it a proper set, is it not a big set?”
But when he was informed that the luxury arrows were too big to throw competitively, Littler joked: “That’s boring then, innit!”
Littler is six points clear of Luke Humphries in the Premier League standings after his third win and fifth final of the campaign. He says a week off inspired his performance in Cardiff.
“I have been playing very well,” Littler told Sky Sports. “I have not picked my darts up since last Thursday – I had a week off to chill. But to come here and win and be six points clear, I am comfortable.
“All players have to have a rest and after the performance tonight, I will have another week off! I just want to get to the O2 [for May’s play-offs] as quick as possible.
“I have put myself in a really good position and I do want to finish No. 1. Last year I didn’t want No. 1, this year I want to try and stay there. I was happy with my doubles tonight but there is plenty more to come.”
In bad news for the likes of Van Gerwen and Humphries, Littler has another week off before his next tournament. He has not entered the European Darts Trophy this weekend so the next time he throws will be at Premier League night eight in Exeter.
