Clayton and Price should be proud, says Littler

Newly-crowned Premier League champion Luke Littler says Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price should be proud of their efforts in the tournament this season.

Clayton was the huge outsider to win the event but finished the league phase in second place - winning four of the 16 weeks in addition to reaching finals night for the fourth time in his career.

Price also clinched a top four finish to secure a spot at finals night for the third time, but was ultimately beaten by eventual champion Littler in the semi-finals at The O2.

When asked about breaking the hearts of the Welsh contingent, Littler said: "Yeah... sorry, I just had to do my job.

"Gez should be proud of himself and I think Jonny has to be really, really proud of himself.

"I think the bookies had him at 50-1 to win the whole Premier League, the lowest out of us, me and the other seven."

Both Clayton and Price were involved in dramatic semi-final contests in London.

'The Ferret' - the only player in this year's eight-man field to be in the top four for the duration of the league phase - trailed 6-2 against Luke Humphries but rallied to go 9-7 in front.

However, 'Cool Hand' recovered and, after Clayton missed a match dart to book his place in the final, went on to beat the Welshman 10-9.

A fan appeared to whistle loudly as Clayton threw his crucial dart at double 16 in the deciding leg. After missing the target, the 51-year-old immediately turned to the crowd before Humphries checked out 25 to clinch victory.

"I didn't know because I had my head in my towel, I was thinking 'it's definitely going in'," Humphries said of the incident.

"I wasn't even understanding what was going on. He (Clayton) wouldn't lie. You don't want to win like that unfortunately, but you see it a lot."

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.