Teenage sensation Luke Littler held his nerve to win his third PDC Players Championship event in 2024. Littler overcame a late fightback from Stephen Bunting to win in the final leg decider, adding another title to his ever-expansive darting CV.

Following his World Series Finals win on Sunday, the 17-year-old got off to a confident start on Tuesday’s order of play with a 6-4 win over Adam Gawlas. He averaged 97.83 to Gawlas’ 80.65 but was nearly taken all the way.

The darting superstar dominated proceedings against Jacques Labre, winning 6-1. Every leg was won in under-18 darts, and the bullish teenager got the job done in under 15 minutes.

He produced his worst performance of the day in the Last 32 against the 28 seed Andrew Gilding, averaging 92.65. Fortunately for him, Goldfinger wasn’t at the races as he averaged 86.43 himself. Littler mustered a high checkout of 110 en route.

His next three matches in the last 16, quarter-final and semi-finals he restricted all opponents to just two legs. Kevin Doets in the last 16 was his best performance of the day’s graft, averaging just over 104, as he compiled 7 maximums which made things too difficult for the Dutchman.

Luke Humphries arrived for what on paper would be Littler’s toughest test considering the incredible form the duo are currently in, and while both players averaged 101, Littler reigned supreme over his rival. Humphries got off the mark to take the opening leg, before Littler restricted the reigning World Champion by winning the next five legs in 15, 12, 12, 14 and 16 darters. Humphries checked out a sublime 132 checkout to try and put the teenage star under the cosh, but Littler rounded off the match in 14 darts to reach the semi-finals.

The in-form Dave Chisnall wasn’t at the races in the semi-final, which allowed Littler to dominate to victory 7-2. Littler’s final average of just under 100 made it a very untroubled contest and the world knows he has that extra gear when necessary, which is what he showed in the final.

His biggest test was in his last match with former Lakeside champion Bunting, edging out the fan-favourite in a last leg. Once more Littler showed his bottle to push through in the face of adversity, but Bunting’s tenacity cannot be overstated in this contest. Littler raced into a 5-1 lead, before Bunting won six of the eight legs, all in under 16 darts to force a fightback. A poised Littler finished the match with a 13-darter to win yet another title.

 

2024 Players Championship 20

Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan

Tuesday September 17

Last 16

Dave Chisnall 6-2 Richard Veenstra

Ryan Searle 6-2 Jamie Hughes

Luke Humphries 6-2 Gian van Veen

Luke Littler 6-2 Kevin Doets

Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Rob Cross

Stephen Bunting 6-3 Chris Dobey

Gerwyn Price 6-3 Damon Heta

Cameron Menzies 6-4 William Borland

 

Quarter-Finals

Dave Chisnall 6-5 Ryan Searle

Luke Littler 6-2 Luke Humphries

Stephen Bunting 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena

Gerwyn Price 6-4 Cameron Menzies

 

Semi-Finals

Luke Littler 7-2 Dave Chisnall

Stephen Bunting 7-5 Gerwyn Price

 

Final

Luke Littler 8-7 Stephen Bunting