Luke Littler beat home favourite Jonny Clayton 6-4 in the final of night five of the Premier League of Darts at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff.

The two-time reigning World Champion also beat the other Welshman on the card, Gerwyn Price, in the semi-final, proving himself to be the ultimate pantomime villain on the night.

Littler had not won a night prior to Thursday, and found himself in seventh in the table.

However, the world number one got his campaign firmly back on track with victories over Josh Rock, Price and Clayton in front of a sell-out crowd at the Utilita Arena.

Littler kicked off proceedings with a hard-fought win over Rock, defying a 103.72 average from the Northern Irishman to set up a semi-final showdown against Price.

The World Champion then produced the performance of the tournament so far to topple home hero Price 6-3, averaging north of 111 and wrapping up victory with a majestic 170 checkout.

Little repeated the feat in Thursday’s showpiece, converting his second 170 outshot of the evening en route to a 6-4 success against Welsh number one Clayton.

The pair traded breaks of throw in the opening exchanges, before Clayton landed a clinical 86 kill on the bull and left 46 after nine darts in leg four to close in on a 3-1 lead.

Littler’s 170 brought him back into the contest, before coming mere millimetres from a nine-darter, wiring the double fifteen at the last.

Clayton was not deterred, winning the seventh. However, Littler wrestled back the initiative with a 13-dart hold followed by a clutch 80 checkout, before pinning tops to claim a precious five league points.

Agonising for the Welsh duo

Clayton enjoyed a successful return to home soil, defeating Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries to extend his lead at the top of the table to five points.

The 51-year-old overcame Van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-finals, as the league’s top two ahead of Thursday’s play went head-to-head.

Clayton then toppled Humphries by the same scoreline in the semi-finals, punishing a profligate display from the reigning champion to reach a second nightly final in three weeks.

Humphries had kicked off Thursday’s action with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Michael van Gerwen, reeling off five straight legs to dispatch the seven-time Premier League champion.

In the evening’s other quarter-final, Price edged past night four winner Stephen Bunting in a deciding-leg shoot-out, surviving a match dart to surge up to second in the table.

The Premier League continues at pace next week, swinging into the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham for night six.

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