IT'S a third successive senior final for Luke 'The Nuke' Littler after beating Gerwyn Price in the Dutch Darts Masters.
The Warrington 17-year-old, who spent his early childhood in Runcorn, defeated the Welshman 7-4 to set up a 10pm final against either Michael van Gerwen or Gian Van Veen.
It follows hot on the heels of Littler winning the Bahrain Darts Masters last week on his World Series of Darts debut, and his PDC World Darts Championship Final appearance against Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace, also on debut.
Earlier, ‘The Nuke’ reached the semi-finals of the Dutch Darts Masters thanks to a revenge victory over world number one Luke Humphries.
Littler, defeated by Humphries in an epic World Darts Championship Final at Alexandra Palace 25 days ago, edged home 6-5 in a Cheshire derby staged in Den Bosch, The Netherlands.
He averaged 102.33 and hit five 180s in a gritty display that swayed to-and-fro.
Former Padgate Academy student Littler got off to a great start, taking a two-leg lead.
But Humphries, who lives in Frodsham, found his groove to win four successive legs.
Then came a brilliant Littler fightback.
Two 180s at the start of the seventh leg, another in the eighth laid the foundation for ‘The Nuke’ to get it back to 4-4.
After going back in front, Littler missed two darts at double for the match as Humphries levelled matters again at 5-5.
In the decider, Littler left himself 88 and he checked out on the bullseye to clinch his semi-final place.
Littler said: “Happy with the way I played.
“I said earlier I had to put at least 10pts on that 90 average (from last night) and I did.
“I went 2-0 ahead and then I think I fell asleep for the next four legs but then I got back into it and I think I played well with my finishing and scoring. I’m happy.”
TOTO Dutch Darts Masters 2024 semi-finals schedule/results, Saturday, January 27, ITV3:
Luke Littler 7 Gerwyn Price 4
Michael van Gerwen v Gian Van Veen, 8.50pm
Final: 10pm
TOTO Dutch Darts Masters 2024 quarter-finals results, Saturday, January 27, ITV3:
Luke Littler 6 Luke Humphries 4
Gerwyn Price 6 Kevin Doets 3
Michael van Gerwen 6 Raymond van Barneveld 5
Gian van Veen 6 Danny Noppert 3
TOTO Dutch Darts Masters 2024 first round results:
Nathan Aspinall 2 Danny Noppert 6
Peter Wright 2 Kevin Doets 6
Gerwyn Price 6 Dimitri Van den Bergh 3
Michael Smith 3 Gian van Veen 6
Rob Cross 5 Ray van Barneveld 6
Luke Littler 6 Dirk van Duijvenbode 2
Luke Humphries 6 Jermaine Wattimena 0
Michael van Gerwen 6 Vincent van der Voort 1
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