What Luke Littler is saying ahead of Premier League Finals Night

LUKE Littler knows the hard work is still ahead as he eyes winning the Premier League crown on debut.

The Warringtonian 17-year-old was handed a wildcard into the weekly roadshow tournament on the back of his mesmerising run to the World Championship final over Christmas.

And he has looked the part, topping the league phase with a record amount of points in the current format while also winning four nightly events on the way to the play-offs at the O2 Arena in London.

He faces Michael Smith in the semi-finals on Thursday, with a possible showpiece against Luke Humphries or Michael van Gerwen.

“I can’t wait to play in front of another big crowd,” he said. “I just can’t wait to get going.

“I am just glad I got the call-up, I am just glad I topped the group, never mind qualify. This is the one that matters, the trophy is on the line.”

Smith only qualified for the last four on the final week of the regular season in Sheffield, but he has beaten Littler five times.

“If I can get past Michael Smith it will be a big boost,” Littler added.

“I have just been thinking to myself try and win when it matters, tomorrow it matters a lot.

“It would mean a lot to win on debut and win a first major. I have to get past Smithy first.”

Luke Littler and Michael Smith will kick off the action at London's O2 Arena (Image: Kieran Cleeves/PDC)

How Premier League Finals Night will work

The four players left standing are competing for the trophy and the winning cash prize of £275,000, with the runner-up pocketing £125,000 while the two beaten semi-finalists will walk away with £85,000.

Littler and Smith will open the show in the first of two, best-of-19 leg semi-finals with Humphries and Van Gerwen to follow.

Play-off matches are being played over a longer format, with all matches in the league phase being best of 11 legs.

By virtue of their first and second-place finishes in the league phase, Littler and Humphries will throw first in the semi-finals.

The two winners will then contest the final, which will be best of 21 legs.

The order of the throw in the final will then be decided by a bull-off in the practice room.