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.
Michael van Gerwen says he is not setting any targets for himself this season after winning in Glasgow
Van Gerwen punished Peter 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.
Littler took out 138 during his quarter-final match against Price
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.
Teenage sensation Littler made an early exit after a thrilling battle with Gerwyn Price.
Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler played out an enthralling encounter in their quarter-final match
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.
Price came close to hitting a nine-darter during his clash with Littler
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, 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 champion reeled off five straight legs.
The 29-year-old also averaged over 100 in his semi-final win over Price, edging out the Welshman 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.
Nathan Aspinall came so close to hitting a nine-darter but ended up losing the leg to Luke Humphries
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.
Live Premier League Darts
Thursday 22nd February 7:00pm
Where does the Premier League head next?
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.
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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
