Darts fan pockets unimaginable £5,000 off a £10 wager on Luke Littler’s match in opposition to Michael van Gerwen – leaving social media critics claiming it is pretend!

A darts fan is £4,995 richer off a £10 bet on Luke Littler‘s Premier League clash with Michael van Gerwen which has attracted huge interest on social media.

Littler, 19, beat Dutchman Van Gerwen 6-5 in the semi-finals of Thursday night’s Premier League Darts Night Seven in Dublin.

But it was Littler’s method of victory – and Van Gerwen’s role in the match – which paid out handsomely for punter Stevan Wil De Cotten.

In a 500/1 bet placed with Sky Bet, the darts fan called a 170 checkout from both Littler and Van Gerwen in their match. 170 is darts’ highest possible three-dart checkout and requires a player to hit triple 20, triple 20, bullseye under intense pressure.

Van Gerwen hit ‘The Big Fish’ 170 to go 5-3 up in the match before Littler did the same to draw level and ultimately winning the decider.

Luke Littler performs the ‘reeling in’ celebration to mark his ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout

That left the lucky punter with a £5,005 payout – a win so big some social media users have been calling it fake.

Sky Bet say a further 176 customers also backed the same market with varied stakes, triggering a six-figure payout.

‘I HAVE JUST MADE THE GREATEST BET OF ALL TIME, Wil De Cotten wrote. ‘This has just changed my life.

‘Literally won a decent bet and have every weirdo on here calling it fake.’

Littler went on to win an epic final on the night, coming back from 5-0 down to beat Welshman Gerwyn Price 6-5.  

The youthful world No 1 admitted he is ‘still learning not to react to the fans’ after silencing the Dublin boo-boys with his astonishing comeback.

While the biggest jeers of the night were reserved for Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, whose every throw was booed as his miserable Premier League form continued, Littler also drew the ire of the crowd.

But Littler, who hit out at hecklers following a win over Rob Cross at the PDC World Championship in December, had the last laugh.

After avoiding a whitewash, Littler celebrated sarcastically and then when trailing 5-1 waved goodbye only for Price to miss three match darts before the teenager produced a remarkable turnaround.  

‘I’ve definitely learnt a lot, especially with the fans,’ the 19-year-old told a press conference.

‘In the first game against (Stephen) Bunting I didn’t give anything to the fans, I didn’t give any reaction and got the job done.

‘It was the same in the final when I was 5-0 down, everyone doubted me, I definitely doubted myself but I had a little laugh and a joke. I was just having a bit of fun because I knew I was beaten.

‘I’m still learning not to react to the fans. I didn’t do much then, only for the first leg, and then I can build on it. It is what it is, people want to see new winners but I’ve won again.’ 

Price also missed doubles when leading 5-3 and 5-4 and was edged out in a last-leg decider by Littler, who came from 5-3 down to defeat Dutchman Michael Van Gerwen in thrilling fashion in the semi-final.

But asked what was going through his mind when trailing 5-0 to Price, Littler said: ‘I’m out the game, I’m gone. Hit the first leg, give it a bit to the fans, I think they wanted a 6-0 and Gez definitely would have wanted a 6-0.

‘Then Gez set up a tops, I hit a 180 and waved the fans ‘goodbye’ because in my head I’m done – when Gezzy is sat on tops, he doesn’t usually miss. From then, I just lost track and don’t remember much.’

Rock’s 6-0 defeat to Price at the start of the night means the Premier League debutant is without a win after seven nights although he hit a nine-darter against Gian van Veen in Belfast three weeks ago.

‘It’s not going to plan with Josh but he definitely deserves to be here,’ Littler added. ‘Hopefully Josh can get a grip off the format and the Premier League very soon.’