Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen wins in Glasgow after Luke Littler is beaten in thriller | Darts News

Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen wins in Glasgow after Luke Littler is beaten in thriller | Darts News

Michael van Gerwen made it back-to-back Premier League nightly victories as Luke Littler was beaten in a quarter-final thriller in Glasgow.

Reigning and seven-time Premier League champion Van Gerwen continued his strong start to the season by following up last week’s Berlin success with another superb night at the OVO Hydro.

Van Gerwen overcame a trio of world champions in Peter Wright, Rob Cross and Luke Humphries to scoop the £10,000 bonus in Glasgow and extend his lead at the top of the league table to three points.

Premier League Darts – Night Three Results

Quarter-finalsRob Cross6-4Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen6-2Peter Wright
Nathan Aspinall3-6Luke Humphries
Gerwyn Price6-5Luke Littler
Semi-finalsRob Cross4-6Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries6-3Gerwyn Price
FinalMichael van Gerwen6-5Luke Humphries

“It’s good to get another win,” said Van Gerwen. “Even without my best performance I think I did a great job and sometimes that’s really important.

“At the beginning of the [final] I had chances. Double six let me down tonight but outside that I think my finishing and the way I played the game was a really good standard.

“I think I did everything at the right moment. You play against the best players in the world and you want to perform – you don’t want to let yourself down.

“Of course, I didn’t play the best game that I could but still you need to find a way how to win and that’s what I did today.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Michael van Gerwen says he is not setting any targets for himself this season after winning in Glasgow

Van Gerwen punished home favourite Wright for 17 missed doubles in their quarter-final contest – including in four straight legs as he opened up a 5-1 lead and closed out a 6-2 victory.

He then landed a 10-darter during a 6-4 semi-final win over Cross, averaging 99 as he remained on course to follow up his Berlin win with another triumph.

The decider between the world’s top two ranked players proved a thrilling affair, with Van Gerwen hitting an 11-darter in a last-leg decider to complete a memorable Glasgow win.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Van Gerwen ended the hopes of Peter Wright in the quarter-finals with a blockbuster checkout

Van Gerwen won three league nights during the 2023 season before securing the overall title in the Play-Offs, but is refusing to look too far ahead at this stage of the year.

“Last year I said to myself that I want to win so many weeks, I want do this, do that, win so many majors but this year I’ll do it different,” he added.

“I’m going to look week by week, game by game and see what happens, because then I think I’m at my best.

“I’ve put so much pressure on my shoulders over the last years and I do well in some tournaments, but for me more importantly I need to look ahead myself and I need to make sure I do the right things at the right moment.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Price came close to hitting a nine-darter during his clash with Littler

Teenage sensation Littler made an early exit after a thrilling battle with Gerwyn Price.

The 17-year-old was given a great reception by the crowd but the Welshman stood strong.

Price just missed double 12 for a nine-darter at 3-2 down but came back to level at 3-3.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler played out an enthralling encounter in their quarter-final match

Littler went 4-3 up but again Price came back to win the next two legs before the Warrington ace levelled at 5-5. However, Welshman Price won 6-5 to set up a semi-final against Humphries, who beat Nathan Aspinall 6-3.

Stockport thrower Aspinall missed double 12 for a nine-darter in leg two but led 3-1 before the world No 1 reeled off five straight legs.

The 29-year-old also averaged over 100 in his semi-final win over Price, edging out ‘The Iceman’ 6-3 to reach his first nightly final after seeing a second opponent of the night off-target on double 12 for a perfect leg.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Littler took out 138 during his quarter-final match against Price

Cross was the night’s other quarter-final winner as he denied Michael Smith, following up an earlier 11-darter and a 116 finish with a superb match-winning 144 checkout.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Nathan Aspinall came so close to hitting a nine-darter but ended up losing the leg to Luke Humphries

Premier League standings - Darts


Live Premier League Darts


Thursday 22nd February 7:00pm


Where does the Premier League head next?

Michael Van Gerwen celebrates with the trophy after winning against Gerwyn Price in the final during the Cazoo Premier League Play-Offs. Photo credit should read: Steven Paston/PDC ..RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
Image:
Van Gerwen is the seven-time Premier League champion

Premier League Darts heads to Newcastle’s Utilita Arena next Thursday night.

Price stars on Night Four as he takes on Van Gerwen in a repeat of last year’s final, while 17-year-old Littler faces Wright, Smith goes up against Aspinall and Cross battles World Champion Humphries.

Fixtures: Night Four, Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, Thursday February 22

Quarter-finals
Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall
Rob Cross vs Luke Humphries
Peter Wright vs Luke Littler
Gerwyn Price vs Michael van Gerwen

Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!

You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!

Sky Sports WhatsApp channel
Image:
Sky Sports WhatsApp channel

Find out more here…

2024 Premier League Darts schedule

Night 4Utilita Arena, NewcastleFeb 22
Night 5Westpoint ExeterFeb 29
Night 6The Brighton CentreMarch 7
Night 7Motorpoint Arena, NottinghamMarch 14
Night 83Arena, DublinMarch 21
Night 9SSE Arena, BelfastMarch 28
Night 10AO Arena, ManchesterApril 4
Night 11Utilita Arena, BirminghamApril 11
Night 12Rotterdam AhoyApril 18
Night 13M&S Bank Arena, LiverpoolApril 25
Night 14P&J Live, AberdeenMay 2
Night 15First Direct Arena, LeedsMay 9
Night 16Utilita Arena, SheffieldMay 16
Play-OffsThe O2, LondonMay 23

Premier League Darts continues on Sky Sports on Thursday, February 12 with Newcastle the next stop on the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday, May 23. Stream Sky Sports Darts without a contract through NOW

Source link