Premier League darts: Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price should be proud, says Luke Littler

It was a similar story for Price who was locked in an almighty tussle with Littler in the opening contest of the night.

But having been level at 4-4, ‘The Nuke’ produced a scintillating run of five consecutive legs to move to 9-4.

On the brink of defeat, ‘The Iceman’ threatened a comeback for the ages as he himself won five successive legs to force a last-leg decider – which was comfortably won by Littler.

In week seven in Dublin, Price led Littler 5-0 in the final before losing 6-5, and the world number one admitted the pair brought up that earlier meeting when they spoke after his London triumph.

“He (Price) obviously said well done and then he said ‘I was thinking about Dublin’ when I came back against him,” revealed Littler.

“That’s when I said to Gez that it was ticking through my brain as well as his.

“Every leg Gez kept winning, I was just like ‘don’t let it happen’.”

Both Clayton and Price earned £110,000 in prize money for reaching the semi-finals of the showpiece event.

Shortly after his defeat by Littler, Price wrote on Instagram: “Oh well, on we go.

“Not sharp enough when it mattered, tough long campaign this year but enjoyed every minute.

“Thanks everyone once again for showing me the utmost respect and support all the way through. Week off then back on the wagon we go.”

Littler went on to beat Humphries in an enthralling final to claim his second Premier League title and the £350,000 top prize.

His 11-10 triumph also meant all 59 of the allotted legs were played on finals night for the first time in the history of the Premier League.