Luke Littler went into the night on the back of back-to-back wins in Belfast and Manchester, but it was Michael van Gerwen’s night in Birmingham. watch Premier League Darts every Thursday night until the Play-Offs at the London O2 on Thursday 23 May – live on Sky Sports
2:44, United Kingdom, Friday 12 April 2024
Michael van Gerwen claimed his fourth win of the night and ended Luke Littler’s winning streak with a 6-3 win on Night 11 of the BetMGM Premier League Darts in Birmingham.
Littler looked set for another header, having previously edged past Rob Cross in the final leg and then held off a sensational fightback from world champion Luke Humphries to win his final epic battle 6-5 – landing five maximums to one the match average is just over 107.
Dutchman Van Gerwen, however, took advantage of a low-key start to the final before eventually breaking twice to seal a 6-3 win and reignite his Play-Off aspirations.
Michael van Gerwen pinned that 125 cash in the final
Van Gerwen, the defending Premier League champion, had avoided another early exit after coming from behind to beat Nathan Aspinall in his first match and then eased past Michael Smith 6-4.
The Dutchman had the darts in the final but made his life difficult, ‘The Green Machine’ falling in the third leg, hitting D15 instead of D10 and gifting 17-year-old Littler the shootout break for a 2-1 lead. I’m driving.
Luke Littler nailed that 94 against Luke Humphries despite an unfortunate bounce
Van Gerwen hit back straight back with a break of his own via an impressive checkout of 125, but the next leg saw the Warrington superstar nail D10 for another break to go 3-2 up, the Dutchman then leveled things up again at 3 -3.
With the tension palpable, a fired-up Van Gerwen managed to hold his shot and finally showed some composure, a break that then gave him a solid 5-3 lead before he nailed a 95 on D8 for the win.
Littler remains top of the table with 26 points, two points clear of Humphries, while “The Green Machine” is third with 22 and Aspinall fourth with 18, one point ahead of Smith.
Seven-time Premier League champion Van Gerwen hopes he can now go into Night 12 in Rotterdam with renewed confidence.
Van Gerwen said ‘it’s nice to win when you get a result’ after beating Littler in Birmingham
“It’s about time,” he said. “I have made it difficult for myself to be fair. But the most important thing is how you bounce back.
“I know the last few weeks haven’t been great for me, but to come back with a win tonight is good for me.”
Van Gerwen added: “I had to go really deep tonight and in the end Luke and I didn’t really play our A-game, but when you win nights like this, it’s not always who plays well – sometimes it’s who can. handle.
“I struggled for a few weeks, but to come back with a win like this naturally gives me confidence.
“People will write you off when you lose, that’s the way things go, but I believed in my own chances and you have to make sure you keep your mind focused.
“I know there’s more to come – the fighting spirit in my body is still there. I’ve got to make sure I’m good for next week.”
Mardle: I didn’t think Van Gerwen would win
Wayne Mardle discusses Van Gerwen’s win in Birmingham
“If I’m honest, I didn’t think so [Van Gerwen] would have won, but who would have expected Littler to play so badly,” Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle said after the final.
“It was a big hard graft, a real workout, but it’s his fourth win of the night.
“He wasn’t in it, but he played well at the right times. He got over the line.”
MVG made this fantastic cash of 152 against Nathan Aspinall
In the opening quarter-final of the night at the Utilita Arena, Humphries – who enjoyed European Tour success at the recent German Darts Grand Prix in Munich – came from 4-1 down to claim five legs in a row to beat Peter Wright, who remains unbeaten at the bottom of the table.
Littler lost 3-1 and then survived a match dart as he finally bumped into Cross, before former world champion Smith put last week’s 6-3 defeat by Gerwyn Price behind the Welshman to average 104 and nail six of his own. nine attempts for a double to close the gap on fourth-placed Aspinall to a solitary point.
Van Gerwen hit an impressive cash of 152 as he came from 4-2 down to take control of his quarter-final against Aspinall, sealing a much-needed 6-4 win.
‘Watch him show off!’ Mardle was stunned by Littler’s 180 against Rob Cross
Where is the Premier League headed next?
The Premier League continues with Night 12 in Rotterdam on Thursday 18 April as Smith and Littler clash in the opening match of the night.
Van Gerwen and Humphries go head-to-head, Cross will play Price for a place in the semi-finals, while Aspinall and Wright are also in action in the second Dutch city.
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The Premier League darts continue on Sky Sports on Thursday 18 April with Rotterdam Ahoy the next stop in the 17-week extravaganza until the Play-Offs at The O2 Arena in London on Thursday 23 May. Stream darts and more with a NOW Sports Month subscription. No contract, cancel anytime.