Luke Littler extended his Premier League lead with a win over Luke Humphreys.
Luke Littler defeated Luke Humphreys 6-5 in Leeds to claim his third successive Premier League darts final.
Thursday’s clash was the second week in a row that the pair had met in the final after Littler triumphed by the same scoreline in Aberdeen last week.
An entertaining tussle between the world’s top two saw Humphreys check out 132 before Littler hit 146 to level the scores at 2-2.
There was almost nothing to separate the pair and Humphreys lost a match dart before Littler levelled the scores at 5-5 to reach the deciding leg.
The world number one then checked out 26 for his sixth win of the night, equalling his record from the Premier League last year.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Littler said: “Great night. I’m really pleased with myself; I can break my record.
It was obviously important to miss Luke in the match and then for me to bounce on him. m. I think we battled pretty hard throughout the game, Luke breaking me and me going back, or the other way around, but it was another good game between me and Luke.”
They are now five points clear at the top of the standings, with two more nights to go before the playoffs later this month.
Asked how he would stay focused, Littler said, “I’ve just got to keep going; obviously my record is up for grabs now, and I can go and beat my own record.
Even in the win against Jonny (Clayton), I knew I was a few points clear, but I think I’m clear now and I have to keep the top position.
Littler’s win came on a night dominated by final league deciders, with a 6-5 semi-final victory over rival Clayton to advance to the finals, which have also qualified for the playoffs.
Littler also claimed a 6-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen in their quarter-final encounter, while Clayton defeated fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price 6-2 at the same stage.
Humphreys also claimed a hard-fought win in his semi-final after beating Stephen Bunting 6-5.
The world number two had a 6-5 victory over Josh Rock in the quarter-finals and Bunting had beaten Gianluigi Van Wein by the same scoreline in their last eight encounter.
Littler said: “I think every game apart from the first between Gizzy and Jonny was a decider in the last leg, so they definitely got their money’s worth tonight!”
