LUKE “The Nuke” Littler’s winning streak ended at an unlucky 13 in the PDC Premier League Darts on Thursday night.

Having won the past two nights to all but seal top spot in the league phase while also taking home the Austrian Darts Open on the EuroTour in between victories in Liverpool and Aberdeen, the Warringtonian rolled into Leeds as the man to beat.

He once again looked in ominous form as he blew Peter Wright away in the quarter-finals, but he was then himself blown away by the same 6-1 scoreline by Dutchman Michael Van Gerwen in the semis.

Van Gerwen went on to lose the final to world number one Luke Humphries, who in turn closed the gap on Littler at the top to five points heading into the final night of the league phase in Sheffield next week.

However, only another night win for Humphries next week will depose Littler, and even that will be immaterial if the 17-year-old beats Wright again in next week’s quarters.

In his semi-final win, Van Gerwen had just missed out on a nine-dart finish as he took the fourth leg to open up a 3-1 lead on Littler – before claiming the next on double one as both men were off target.

The Dutchman pressed home his advantage with a 74 checkout and then booked his place in the final on double six, having hit four maximums, as Littler’s match average of 86.89 proved costly.