Birmingham stages night 11 of the Premier League Darts 2024 and all eyes are one man…. well, teenager. With just six weeks left for players to work their way into a play-off spot, it’s going to take something special to stop Luke Littler. Let’s reflect for a moment- in just four months the 17-year old has signed with a fashion brand, become the face of a breakfast cereal, been a guest on Johnathan Ross and just two days ago was named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list! It’s bananas.
Darts has reached new heights and incredibly in this Littler fairytale, despite the media hoopla around him, he is still producing the goods on the oche. Nothing looks to be phasing him and he is arguably the best player in the world right now. He certainly is the one to beat on the Premier League circuit as table topper.
Premier League Week 11 Match Prices from kwiff
4.00 Peter Wright v Luke Humphries 1.20
2.80 Rob Cross v Luke Littler 1.36
1.57 Gerwyn Price v Michael Smith 2.20
1.52 Michael Van Gerwen v Nathan Aspinall 2.30
Littler, who tops the pack with 23 points will aim to extend his lead as he targets a third consecutive weekly win in Birmingham tonight and in turn become the third player in this year’s roadshow to claim three successive weekly wins, along with World Number One Luke Humphries and reigning Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen.
The Littler Effect
Just days ago he said ”I’m just going to keep plugging away. Every week I’m playing against players I have looked up to for a long time, and I just thrive off it. I’m in a good position, but until I see a little ‘q’ next to my name which means I’ve qualified, I’ve still got work to do”.
The teenager’s first shift tonight will be taking on Rob Cross in this evening’s second quarter-final, where ‘Voltage’ will be aiming to stop the rot of four consecutive defeats stretching all the way back to Night Six.
Sneaky Snakebite
Week 11’s opening match is a bit of a head-scratcher with Peter Wright, who enjoyed a three-dart average of 109.52 in some of his best darts of the season, last week in Manchester. Unfortunately for Snakebite however, he walked into an inspired Gerwyn Price who is playing with a point to prove.
There is not much left for Peter to do in this campaign now apart from, in his words, ‘rustle feathers’ and wouldn’t that be such a Peter Wright thing to do, to rustle the feathers of World Champion Luke Humphries this evening. As I always say, a man with no pressure on his shoulders is a dangerous one.
The Iceman Is Thawing
The Iceman undoubtedly had his best night of the season last week in a blistering run to the final where, before his defeat to Luke Littler, managed to throw PURE darts against, none other than, BullyBoy! Could history repeat itself in the West Midlands? Round 2 in Birmingham? Yes please!
Whilst ‘Gezzy’ is a renowned 9-darter hitting machine, this season he has lacked his signature ruthlessness in the closing stages and at times couldn’t seem to buy a double. With his mojo quietly coming back, he needs to convert those performances into points on the board and move up the table. Both can still make finals week next month in May, but will need to win this as a crucial springboard up the ladder.
The last quarter final will see a super tasty match up in Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall. This is a massive battle in the race to secure a play-off position as both players currently sit in 3rd and 4th in the table. When these two last met Michael was sat top of the table after his three successive wins earlier in the campaign, but ‘The Green Machine’ has struggled thereafter with just one win in the last six weeks. Nathan’s form meanwhile, has gone in the opposite direction, with Nathan’s performances last week in Manchester leap-frogging the Dutchman into third in the table.
Awesome Aspinall
In my opinion, The Asp looking and feeling assured at the moment will take the win. Following a stuttering start to his campaign, Aspinall has featured in four of the last seven weekly finals, and he’s in a confident mood ahead of his clash against Van Gerwen.
”For me Michael is and always will be the best player in the world. When I first started, he was my Phil Taylor. Michael knows how much I respect him and look up to him, so it’s always special to play him. I believe I’m going to get the job done. The pressure is on him, because I’m on a great run of results despite not playing at my best”. Nathan can lay a massive marker down ahead of next month’s final with victory this evening.
Selections
Luke Humphries to beat Peter Wright at 1.20 with kwiff
Nathan Aspinall to beat Michael Van Gerwen at 2.30 with kwiff
Gerwyn Price to beat Michael Smith at
By Polly James
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