Premier League Darts: Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen in Berlin final to take top spot from Jonny Clayton

Luke Littler moved top of the Premier League Darts table and claimed his third nightly win of the season after beating Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in a dramatic Berlin final.

Littler came through a high-scoring quarter-final against Stephen Bunting 6-3 before beating Gerwyn Price for a third consecutive week, seeing off the Welshman 6-4 this time, then despatched Van Gerwen to claim a third Premier League title in four weeks.

The world No 1 fired a 106.36 average and four maximums in an absorbing contest at the Uber Arena, where Littler fired three ton-plus finishes – including two ‘Big Fish’ checkouts in the final three legs – to see off the Dutchman.

Littler squandered an early three-leg lead but moved 5-3 ahead when he took out his first 170 finish of the night, only to repeat the feat on his next hold of throw to claim the £10,000 first prize and five points for the nightly win – lifting him two points clear of Jonny Clayton in the standings.

Van Gerwen had despatched Luke Humphries and Josh Rock – who stunned Clayton to claim his first Premier League win of the season – to reach his first final since Night Two, with his run earning him three points and taking him inside the top four.

Price remains in third ahead of Van Gerwen, having beaten Gian van Veen – returning after missing last week’s event due to kidney stones – on his way to the semi-finals, with defending champion Humphries dropping outside the play-off places at the halfway stage of the league phase.

‘Big Fish’ double helps Littler to night win

Littler grabbed early control of the final after following an 81 finish by breaking Van Gerwen on D10, with ‘The Nuke’ firing a 126 checkout on the bullseye to hold throw and race into a 3-0 lead.

Van Gerwen held throw in the next and broke Littler with his own ton-plus finish, nailing the Bullseye for a 124, then levelled the match by taking out 88 before Littler edged back ahead after some wayward finishing.

Littler opened up a two-leg buffer with his first ‘Big Fish’ of the night but saw Van Gerwen miss a dart at tops to force a final-leg decider, allowing the 19-year-old to wrap up victory with another spectacular 170 finish.

“Germany wasn’t too bad tonight,” Littler told Sky Sports. “I played very well and they were one my side at times. I reeled the 170s back in!

“I think this is definitely the best I have played in a night. I said coming in that if I won my first game I would change my darts in the second. That will get a few people talking. Target did a few adjustments as they weren’t quite right but they worked tonight.”

Berlin delivers as Littler wins again

Littler received boos from sections of the Berlin crowd ahead of each match, as expected, although showed no ill-effects from the reaction as he fired a 103 checkout to race into a four-leg advantage against Bunting.

Bunting – who fired a 107.47 average – avoided the whitewash with a stunning 167 finish on the bullseye and held throw in the next, only for Littler to win successive legs and reach the semi-finals.

Littler averaged 108.58 during his semi-final against Price, which threatened to go the distance like last week’s dramatic final after the Welshman nailed a 152 checkout to move into a 4-3 advantage.

The world No 1 raced through the next with an 11-darter and capitalised on Price missing a dart at bullseye to break on double five, before closing out a 13th victory over the ‘Ice Man’ in their last 14 meetings.

The opening match of the night saw Clayton fail to post a maximum in a lacklustre display against Rock, who produced wild celebrations after closing out a 6-3 win and securing his first points of the Premier League season.

Rock opened his semi-final with back-to-back maximums and a 10-dart break of throw against Van Gerwen, although was left to rue poor finishing – converting just three of 16 attempts at double – as the Northern Irishman lost 6-3 and awaits his first nightly final.

Van Veen’s 113 checkout avoided a whitewash against Price in the quarter-finals but leaves him in sixth spot on nine points, two ahead of Bunting, while Humphries now sits out in fifth place behind Van Gerwen.

What’s next?

The Premier League heads to the AO Arena in Manchester for Night Nine, with Van Gerwen opening against Bunting before Price takes on Humphries.

Van Veen faces Littler, now looking for a fourth nightly win in five weeks, with Clayton facing Rock again after losing to the Northern Irishman in Berlin.

Watch Premier League Darts every Thursday up to and including Finals Night on May 28. Catch Week Nine, from Manchester, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm on Thursday April 2. Stream darts contract-free with NOW.

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