Premier League Darts LIVE RESULT: Reaction as Luke Littler hits stunning NINE-DARTER during final win over Van Gerwen
LUKE LITTLER hit an incredible NINE-DARTER as he won yet another Premier League night in Cardiff!
Teen sensation Littler extended his lead at the top of the standings to six points after he beat Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in the blockbuster final - The Nuke even predicted he would hit a nine-darter earlier in the day, which sent the raucous Welsh crowd into raptures.
Welshman Gerwyn Price failed to deliver on home turf after Rob Cross edged an 11-leg thriller in their quarter-final - winning the deciding leg with a Big Fish.
There is more darts action this weekend with the European Darts Trophy now underway.
- Night Seven winner: Luke Littler
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FOLLOW THE ACTION
All the action from the European Darts Trophy will be live over the weekend with SunSport.
More darts action
Although the Premier League is done for another week, the world's top players have travelled to Gottingen, Germany, for the European Darts Trophy.
That kicks off at 12pm TODAY - although the Premier League stars all play on Saturday.
Luke Littler is one big name missing, with The Nuke deciding to have a rest after a busy, but brilliant, start to the year.
Here's all the info on that tournament:
Premier League standings
Luke Littler remains king of the Premier League so far this season as he picked up his third nightly win in seven.
Stephen Bunting, unfortunately, remains rooted to the bottom of the table as he still searches for a first win.
Standings:
- Luke Littler - 21 points
- Luke Humphries - 15
- Michael van Gerwen - 13
- Gerwyn Price - 12
- Rob Cross - 10
- Nathan Aspinall - 8
- Chris Dobey - 5
- Stephen Bunting - 0
Jake Paul vs Gerwyn Price?
The rivalry we never knew we needed... in the latest bizarre twist between these two, Jake Paul has now responded to the Iceman.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer has accepted a fight with the darts star.
Scathing review
Sky Sports commentator Rod Studd had little sympathy for Bunting or his opponent Chris Dobey.
While Bunting averaged 87, Dobey only managed a paltry 90 as both players missed checkouts and looked well off the level of the other players.
Dobey - who has won just three matches in the Premier League this season - was even worse in the semi-against Michael van Gerwen, averaging just 82.
Studd said: "This is like watching two blokes try to push custard uphill with a fork."
As Dobey began to pull clear, Studd continued: "[Bunting] will be saying to himself, how many more mistakes am I going to make up here?
"It’s almost like a bingo card of blunders."
Co-commentator Mark Webster, meanwhile, added: "There have been positives from some of his defeats, when he knew he played well against good opponents.
"He’ll struggle to find positives here."
Credit: PA 'Absolutely gutted'
Stephen Bunting endured yet another horror show on Thursday night, suffering a first-round defeat in a match where he averaged just 87.
Bunting's form has fallen off a cliff at the start of 2025 - and he revealed that nerves are getting the better of him.
He wrote on X: "Absolutely gutted. So sorry to all who support me.
"Practiced so well tonight and unfortunately it just didn’t happen on the stage.
"I’ll keep giving it my all guys and keep believing. I’m making myself so nervous because I care and want to perform to my best instead of just relaxing and letting it happen.
"See you all next week. I’ll work hard and make sure I’ll improve. X."
Nostralittler
The teenage maestro predicted his own incredible nine-darter on Thursday night in a social media chat with referee Owen Binks.
Littler delighted
The Nuke was suitably delighted with his nine-darter - that he had incredibly predicted earlier in the day.
After the win, he said: "I have been playing very well.
"I’ve not picked my darts up since last Tuesday. I had a week off to chill. To come here and win and go six points clear, now I am comfortable.
"All the players we have got to have a rest. That’s why I have pulled out of the next Euro Tour event. I will enjoy another week off.
"I had no idea if the nine-darter was in. I had to wait for it to be called. ‘Is it in? Is it?’
"I want to get to the O2 Arena as quickly as possible. I am in a really good position. I want to finish as No 1.
"I was very happy with myself, especially in the doubles. That was pretty good tonight.
"There is plenty more to come and another ten weeks left."
Good morning darts fans
What a night. What. A. Night.
Some high drama throughout and it left us with a Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Littler match-up in the final.
As is so often the case, the kid came out on top. And in style.
A nine-darter on the way to another nightly victory and he's kicked well clear in the table.
What does Luke Littler get for a 9-darter?
Luke Littler has joined Luke Humphries and Rob Cross in bagging a stunning custom-made set of solid gold darts worth £30,000 for hitting a nine-darter!
Tournament sponsors BetMGM have put up the jaw-dropping 18-carat gold prize made by luxury jewellers Humphrey and Hawkins.
Bunting apology
Stephen Bunting has apologised to his fans after another quarter final defeat left him pointless and rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
He posted: "Absolutely gutted.
"So sorry to all who support me. Practiced so well tonight and unfortunately it just didn’t happen on the stage.
"I’ll keep giving it my all guys and keep believing. I’m making myself so nervous because I care and want to perform to my best instead of just relaxing and letting it happen.
"See you all next week. I’ll work hard and make sure I’ll improve. X"
'He'll take some stopping'
Sky Sports' Laura Turner said: "It is scary to hear that Littler still has more levels to reach.
"He looks so relaxed, was laughing in places, had a giggle with the crowd.
"He is going to take some stopping, not just in the Premier League but in all tournaments.
"As for Van Gerwen, he stuck in the match and almost timed it perfectly. He should take a lot from making this final. He showed he is a champion."
Night eight fixtures
Poor Stephen Bunting.
He's yet to win a match, sits pointless at the bottom of the table and now the fixtures are decided by standings.
So he goes into Newcastle next week and having to face Luke Littler in the quarters - ouch!
Chris Dobey has home advantage in what should still be party time in the Toon and he'll face Luke Humphries.
Premier League night 8 fixtures.
- Luke Littler vs Stephen Bunting
- Gerwyn Price vs Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries vs Chris Dobey
- Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall
Premier League darts results
Night Seven - Thursday, March 20
Utilita Arena, CardiffQuarter-Finals
Chris Dobey 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Luke Humphries 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Rob CrossSemi-Finals
Chris Dobey 1-6 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler 6-2 Rob CrossFinal
Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Luke LittlerNine-darter
If you haven't seen it, you can watch the Luke Littler 9-darter here.
How we stand
Luke Littler was one point clear coming into tonight - that advantage is now SIX points.
Stephen Bunting brings up the rear having yet to win a game in this year's competition.
More from The Nuke
He added: “I had no idea if the nine-darter was in. I had to wait for it to be called. ‘Is it in? Is it?’
“I want to get to the O2 Arena as quickly as possible. I am in a really good position. I want to finish as No.1.
“I was very happy with myself, especially in the doubles. That was pretty good tonight.
"There is plenty more to come and another ten weeks left.”
Week break did good
Luke Littler admitted he hadn't picked his darts up once since last week's Premier League night as he revealed he might well treat himself again this next week.
He told Sky Sports: "I have been playing very well.
"I have not picked my darts up since last Thursday - I had a week off to chill. But to come here and win and be six points clear, I am comfortable.
"All players have to have a rest and after the performance tonight, I will have another week off!"
Nine darter reaction
I did Michael van Gerwen a disservice, he actually did crack a smile as Littler ran around the stage punching the air.
His face does drop when Littler opts to pick his darts out the board which is why there's a frosty fist-bump that follows.
What a performance
Genuinely, he was great in the quarters and semi finals.
But that final was an absolute joke.
We'll hear from him shortly.
Luke Littler wins in Cardiff!
Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Luke Littler
An absolutely sensational final. A stunning Luke Littler performance.
He hits 10 180s, an 112.50 average and a nine-darter.
Just utterly ridiculous.
Michael van Gerwen 4-5 Luke Littler
LITTLER BREAKS!
And he'll throw for the match now too!
He misses bullseye for a top checkout but hits 25 and has to suffer as MVG misses D16 for a 64 checkout himself.
Littler comes back for 5, D10 and a perfect two-dart combo clinches it.
Throwing for the match!
Michael van Gerwen 4-4 Luke Littler
VAN GERWEN BREAKS!
Back on throw and he is throwing first too. This has been quite the match.
Van Gerwen missed D20 for an 82 finish but is allowed to come back to clean up the double 10.
Michael van Gerwen 3-4 Luke Littler
LITTLER BREAKS!
A bullseye finish on 89. Simply outrageous stuff on show in this final.
He'll throw for a 5-3 lead now in a match being played at a great pace for someone who can't type all that quickly.
Michael van Gerwen 3-3 Luke Littler
MVG BREAKS!
We're all square as Van Gerwen wins two legs on the spin after watching Littler hit the nine.
MVG actually started with five perfect darts of his own to leave that opportunity to break and he capitalised.
