With just three regular season weeks left in the 2024 Premier League Darts season, Luke Littler appears to be the only surefire qualifier for the final four as he leads the table on 31 points.
The 17-year-old has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, winning three out of the 13 tournaments so far including last week's jaunt in Liverpool. 'The Nuke' overcame a vocal crowd to defeat Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross.
He is drawn against Aspinall – one of the four main contenders for the three other playoff spots – in the Night 14 quarter-finals, an opponent he has beaten four times this season in Premier League action.
Littler tops the Premier League averages over the past five weeks – a span where he has won three of five nights – at 99.27, has hit the most 180s (36) and is third in checkout percentage behind Cross and Peter Wright. He also boasts an impressive 102.31 average against the throw.
Aspinall is also showcasing strong form – he averages 96.62, has hit 25 180s and has won 56.19% of his legs. However, form and head-to-head record point to a Littler victory, with over 9.5 legs also in play – their last three meetings have gone 10+ legs.
The winner will take on either Michael Smith, the outsider in the playoff race, or bottom-dweller Peter Wright. Smith is currently four points behind Michael van Gerwen, five behind Aspinall and six behind Humphries and needs a solid points haul to maintain his charge for the title.
Smith out averages Wright (97.13-93.88) in the last five weeks, has hit more 180s (24-15) and wins a far higher percentage of legs against the throw (30.22-18.52%). Wright does boast a 43.75% checkout percentage, however, and produced a much better display against 'MVG' on Night 13.
The bottom half of the draw includes clashes between 'Mighty Mike' and Cross – with Price against Humphries now cancelled due to an injury for the Welshman.
Both Van Gerwen and 'Cool Hand Luke' are showcasing suspect form – the pair sit bottom of the Premier League in the last five weeks in checkout percentage and have won just 4/9 and 2/7 games respectively.
Humphries looks particularly off colour, and recently described fatigue as a reason for him to miss a pair of European Tour tournaments. His average is down in the mid-90s, his 180 hitting is off and he lost 6-2 last week to Aspinall in the quarter-final.
'MVG' against 'Voltage' is another contest that should be close – Cross made the final last week and defeated Van Gerwen in the semi-final 6-2 in the process.
Best Bets
Luke Littler to beat Nathan Aspinall in 10 legs or more – 9/5
Michael Smith to beat Peter Wright – 4/11
