Luke Littler is beaten by eventual winner Michael Smith in semi-final of his Premier League darts debut… but only after a statement win over world champion Luke Humphries in Cardiff

Luke Littler had been warned that he was entering the land of the big boys. A former world champion nicknamed ‘Bully’ ensured the message was delivered on the opening night of the Premier League season in Cardiff on Thursday.

While all the hype and support, from ninja turtles to bananas and traffic cones, favoured a 17-year-old phenomenon, the trophy left with Michael Smith, who beat Littler 6-5 in a quite brilliant semi-final and then crushed the local favourite Gerwyn Price in the showdown.

Within that, there will be a mild sting for Littler, given how close he came to a place in the final on his debut. His level was astonishing, which by now is no surprise of course, but having demolished the world champion Luke Humphries 6-2 in the quarter-final, his 105 average against ‘Bully Boy’ Smith was somehow not enough.

He had a dart at double 15 to go through at 5-5, but threw a fraction high on what was the match of the night in this blink-and-miss format. From there, Smith, the 2023 world champion, nailed double top to progress before comfortably beating Price 6-2 and wrapping up the first round of the 2024 Premier League season.

Inevitably, Smith’s win will receive less attention than that given to the teenager he beat in the semi-final – a situation that is purely indicative of Littler’s impact on the sport. In the space of a month he has reached the world final, losing to Humphries, and rebounded with a first professional title. On this stage, pitting the world’s top eight on a relentless circuit of 17 events, he was told by Michael Van Gerwen there would be ‘no mercy’ now that he is in with the ‘big boys’.

Smith (pictured above) held his nerve after Littler – who averaged 105.31 – missed a double 15 match dart to take out double top and set up a final date with home favourite Gerwyn Price 

Nevertheless, the 17-year-old star – who is a fan favourite- was seen enjoying himself as always

It transpired that would backfire on Van Gerwen – the three-time world champion and seven-time winner of the Premier League, crashed out in his quarter-final at the Utilita Arena against Smith. Littler, meanwhile, hammered Humphries in his opener, in which a heckler among the 4,000 sell-out crowd took to whistling during the 28-year-old’s throw at key moments. That scenario reoccurred during the semi-final against Smith – Littler fever might extend to dubious places at this rate.

Humphries was visibly irritated by it, but Smith was not flustered. After beating Price, he said: ‘Whistling is not the best but it happens.

‘It is part and parcel of any sport. Doesn’t matter if there is alcohol involved. It happens. Look at a penalty shootout in a World Cup final – you can’t stop 50,000 people whistling. It is up to the sports person to get on with the job.

‘Everyone has fell in love with him (Littler). I think he is most popular and I want to ride the wave – he keeps bringing the sponsors in to the sport.

‘In the semi I thought Littler was Welsh. I enjoyed it. the crowd was amazing other than two or three individuals. I won’t say it was disgusting because the others were amazing. It is really nice to win and to get the momentum going.’

On his victory, Smith added: ‘I am happy to win. A 10 grand cheque is nice as well.’

Price won the opening leg on Thursday but it was pretty much one-way traffic after that

Smith hilariously apologised to the crowd for beating both of their favourites – Littler and Price