LUKE LITTLER defied the Berlin boo-boys and an on-stage breeze to win back-to-back Premier League events with his “best” nightly performance – which was sealed with a Big Fish.
Nothing is stopping the Nuke, 19, right now and a week after he prevailed in Dublin in the £1.25million invitational event, he produced stellar darts to succeed in the German capital.
There were boos before his walk-on and he had been concerned about returning to Germany, given his troubled history there, and the fact he is not exactly a crowd favourite.
Yet following wins over Stephen Bunting (6-3) and Gerwyn Price (6-4), the tungsten teen sensation then spectacularly curbed the Michael van Gerwen fightback in the final.
Van Gerwen, 36, came from 3-0 down to level up at 3-3 but in leg eight, Littler produced his first 170 finish of the evening.
And then to seal the 6-4 result, he located the 170 again, which is the highest checkout in the sport, ending up with a 106.36 average in another ripsnorter between these darting duo.
Price, 41, had complained on social media following his exit about the “bloody hard” conditions in the Uber Arena, which contains up to 12,000 fans.
Yet the wind did not affect Littler, who said he changed his darts mid-competition to “get a few people talking”.
The world No.1 is now two points clear of Jonny Clayton at the top of the table at the midway point having deposited another £10,000 into his bank account.
Littler, who heads to his Manchester homecoming next week, said: “It wasn’t too bad tonight. I played very well and obviously they (the fans) were on my side at times.
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“Those two 170s. Wayne Mardle said last week I was reeling them out (in my celebration), so I am reeling them back in for him twice. I did that for Wayne, yeah.
“I think this is definitely the best I have played in a night. I said coming into this, if I win my first game I will change my darts into the second game. That will get a few people talking.
“I got people talking in Saudi. That is when I used them. Target (my sponsors) went back, did a few adjustments, because they weren’t quite right. I think they worked tonight.
“I knew if I won the night I would stay top. As I always say, you have got to take it game by game.
“This is probably the best I have played in a night. I won in Cardiff. But this tops it. I played very well.”
On Tuesday, Littler made a surprise visit to St. George’s Park to meet the England squad ahead of two World Cup friendlies.
After dinner together, he practised with the players and gave them tips on makeshift dartsboard ahead of the Three Lions Darts Championship, which was won by Aaron Ramsdale, who beat Phil Foden in the final.
Littler said: “It was very good. Very good. Phil Foden was the best. Aaron Ramsdale beat him.
“A shout out to John Stones, who was giving it a bit of the Gezzy.”
