Luke Littler has shared his main goal ahead of his upcoming contest against Michael van Gerwen on night 14 of the Premier League of Darts. The teenage sensation currently leads the standings and has claimed five nightly victories this season, including triumphs in the past two weeks.
That tally leaves him just one short of the benchmark he established during last year’s campaign.
Littler Chasing Records
Littler said, “Obviously, I always want to be top of the table.”
“Now I want to chase and hopefully break my own records.”
“I can definitely say I’m relaxed now. I saw before play that me and Jonny (Clayton) had the Q (on the table) so I knew I was going back to the O2 for the third consecutive year.
“Now I can go chasing my records. Three nights left, I’ll try and grab as many nightly wins as I can.”
Van Gerwen Under Pressure
His opening contest at the First Direct Arena puts him against Van Gerwen in what promises to be a compelling quarter-final encounter.
Littler said ‘I can go chasing my records. Three nights left, I’ll try and grab as many nightly wins as I can’
The Dutchman finds himself under pressure, needing victories to cement his own play-off berth.
Luke Humphries is in an equally uncertain situation, trailing Van Gerwen by two points in the battle for fourth position.
Humphries Aims for Treble
Humphries, who plays Josh Rock in the quarter-finals, has won the last two events in Leeds and is in desperate need of a treble.
“It’s my favourite night of the year in the Premier League and where I get the best support,” the world number two said.
He continued: “It’s always something that I look forward to at the start of the season.
“The good thing for me is I need these points more than ever. The last two years, I didn’t really need them. It might make me up for it even more than I usually am.
“It was a massive game against Michael last week. I’ve put myself right back in the game.”
Other Matches in Leeds
Elsewhere on night 14, Jonny Clayton opens the night’s proceedings with an all-Welsh affair against Gerwyn Price, while Gian van Veen will take on Stephen Bunting in the other contest in Leeds.
Last week, Littler disclosed details of his chat with Humphries after winning Premier League Night 13 in Aberdeen on Thursday.
The 19-year-old overcame his nemesis 6-5 in a dramatic finale to consolidate his grip on second in the standings.
It was an impressive night for Humphries, with the world number two often blowing hot and cold this season.
Littler, speaking after his victory, admitted that Humphries had told him that he had “needed the points”.
He said: “Luke has slowed his throw down quite a bit but it was still a good paced game. Luke played very well there and he said to be at the end, ‘I needed those two p