LUKE LITTLER topped the Premier League Darts table but his oche jinx against bogeyman Gerwyn Price continued.
The Nuke, 18, leapfrogged world No.1 Luke Humphries – whom he knocked out in the quarter-finals – at the summit of the £1million invitational event on night six.
Luke Littler was always behind in the final[/caption]
Price triumphed 6-3 against the reigning Premier League king[/caption]
But in the final at Nottingham’s Motorsport Arena, he lost for the SIXTH time in a row over 10 months to the Welshman.
The defending champion went down 6-3 in front of 7,500 punters in the East Midlands – just his third loss out of 24 games over the past fortnight.
In the land made famous by Robin Hood, the Iceman maintained his ROBIN HOODOO over the defending champion, adding this victory to his nightly success in Dublin last month.
Price, who recently turned 40, punched the air when he took the opening leg and then he was celebrating even more as he moved into a 3-0 lead.
As he went 4-1 up, he hit bullseye on a 123 finish as Littler was surprisingly missing doubles.
Littler was not going to go down without a fight, hitting seven 180s and averaging as high as 114, but Price took out 100 on double top to add £10,000 to his tally.
Nonetheless, Littler has had an incredible time and can go home with £154,500 in his bank balance following the UK Open title success and defending the Belgian Darts Open.
Stephen Bunting, who will support Liverpool at Sunday’s League Cup final, remains rock bottom of the Premier League after a 6-4 defeat to Price — his sixth successive loss in the format.
Chris Dobey was able to get off early to Cheltenham Festival – he is attending the Gold Cup on Friday before seeing Newcastle play in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley – following a 6-2 last-eight loss to Cross.
Price said: “I wanted to get another win over Luke. Just to keep on top of him.
“He’s the best player in the world and he will be for years.
“I praise him every single day in the darts rooms. I think he will beat Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles.
“Nobody in the PDC will stop him. Maybe only the younger generation. We cannot stop him.
“He will only get better and better. He’s fantastic. He has done wonders for the sport.
“We need to start winning now as he will only get better.”
