Luke Humphries thanked Phil Taylor after winning the Premier League Darts title (Picture: Getty)

Luke Humphries thanked Phil Taylor for his ‘advice and support’ after he beat rival Luke Littler 11-8 to become the 2025 Premier League Darts champion.

In a repeat of last year’s final – which Littler won – Humphries got revenge on The Nuke to secure his first Premier League Darts title at London’s O2 Arena.

The pair have shared better quality matches but Humphries recovered from a shaky start to power past the current world champion.

Humphries, the 2024 world champion, beat Nathan Aspinall 10-7 in the semi-finals, while Littler saw off Gerwyn Price by the same scoreline.

The Premier League was the only major trophy still alluding Humphries and he said lifting the trophy ‘meant the world to him’.

Humphries, 30, also revealed he beat 18-year-old Littler to the title with the help of 16-time world champion Taylor.

‘This one means the world to me, that was the one I was missing,’ Humphries told Sky Sports. ‘It was the one I wanted, I have done it now.

Luke Littler was beaten in the final by Humphries (Picture: Getty)

‘If I don’t win another title, I am happy as I have done the three hardest ones to do.

‘Phil Taylor has given me a lot of support over the last couple of weeks so, Phil, if you are watching, thank you. He have me a lot of advice and that extra support.

‘The Premier League is the hardest one to win. The Worlds is prestigious but this is very close to winning the Worlds.

‘You can’t have four or five bad weeks, you have to be good for 16 weeks on the trot. You have to be at your best.’

Phil Taylor supported Humphries ahead of the final (Picture: Getty)

On Premier League runner-up Littler, Humphries added: ‘I love Luke to bits. He is one of my best mates on tour and he is so good.

‘He wasn’t at his best tonight, neither was I. I thought the game was going to go away from me at 3-0 down.

‘He is a great player, a great lad, and I will get in early before he trounces everyone.’

Littler topped the Premier League Darts table with a record-breaking 27 victories but failed to hit his top form in the final.

Gerwyn Price was beaten in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘No one likes losing but I am fine,’ he said. ‘I am glad to say it’s over as it has been a tough 17 weeks.

‘I have set many records and I don’t think they will be broken. I am going to try and break my own records next season.

‘I will have a little break now. I will be back next year.’

Reacting to Humphries’ Premier League victory, former player and popular commentator Wayne Mardle said: ‘Luke is an absolute champion on and off the oche.

‘You will not meet a kinder soul in this game. He has done it the hard way tonight.’

Ex-Premier League champion Glen Durrant added: ‘Cool Hand was amazing there.

‘The respect that Luke Littler gave him has to be commended. It was a slow burner from Luke Humphries but try to take that smile off his face now.

‘There’s great respect between the pair of them and I’m sure we will have many more finals.’