Luke Littler makes honest admission after mounting epic comeback to beat Gerwyn Price in Premier League
Luke Littler has confessed he believed his chances of victory had evaporated entirely when Gerwyn Price stormed into a 5-0 advantage during Thursday’s Premier League final in Dublin.
The world champion staged an extraordinary recovery at the 3Arena, eventually prevailing in a last-leg decider to claim night seven honours.
“I have no idea how I have done that,” Littler told Sky Sports afterwards.
The teenage sensation was brutally honest about his mindset during the Welsh player’s dominant spell.
“I was gone, but after getting my first leg, I had a bit of fun and waved him goodbye, because when Gerwyn Price is on double top, he doesn’t usually miss,” he explained.
Littler further emphasised just how resigned he had been to defeat, stating: “I was so gone I may as well have been off the stage, but this is darts, things happen.”
Price appeared destined for consecutive Dublin triumphs after racing into his commanding lead, yet the Welshman’s composure deserted him spectacularly.
Luke Littler has confessed he believed his chances of victory had evaporated entirely when Gerwyn Price stormed into a 5-0 advantage during Thursday’s Premier League final in Dublin
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The momentum shifted decisively once Littler secured his opening leg, playfully gesturing to the crowd in mock celebration.
Price then proceeded to squander five separate opportunities to close out the match as his opponent clawed back the deficit leg by leg.
The contest ultimately required a deciding leg, which Littler sealed by finishing 81 with a successful double 15.
Five things to know about Luke Littler | PA
Earlier in the evening, Littler had dispatched Stephen Bunting with relative ease, securing a 6-3 victory whilst averaging an impressive 105 to register his maiden win in the Irish capital.
His path to the final proved considerably more challenging in the semi-final encounter with Michael van Gerwen.
The contest against the Dutchman developed into a thrilling affair, with both competitors managing to hit maximum 170 checkouts during the match.
Van Gerwen had opportunities to progress, failing to convert a couple of match darts before Littler eventually edged through in another last-leg decider.
The three-time world champion had earlier received a bye into the last four following Gian van Veen’s withdrawal due to kidney stones requiring hospital treatment.
Littler’s remarkable Dublin triumph elevated him to second position in the Premier League standings, now sitting on 16 points but still trailing leader Jonny Clayton by three.
Gerwyn Price was stunned as Luke Littler came from behind to win Premier League night seven
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Price occupies third place following his dramatic final collapse.
Elsewhere on the night, world number two Luke Humphries gained revenge for his 6-1 final defeat to Clayton in Nottingham the previous week, eliminating the Welshman 6-3 in the quarter-finals to inflict Clayton’s first last-eight exit of this year’s competition.
Price had earlier demolished Josh Rock 6-0 before seeing off Humphries 6-1 in the semi-final, averaging 109 with five maximums.
Rock’s wretched debut season continued, leaving the Northern Irishman without a single point.
