Luke Littler wins in Liverpool overcoming some negative reactions from the crowd and following up his 2024 win here to further cement his place in the top four.
Lets take you through the night following up from Darts Planet live text reporting:
Premier League Darts Night 12 LIVE: Results and scores
Gerwyn Price v Gian Van Veen
Both players needed a win after failing to score in the last 3 weeks. The game started edgy with 5 breaks of throw to leave GVV winning 3-2. Gian then broke this cycle to make it 4-2 with Price sat on 22 after scoring a 180. Price then held throw despite a 180 from GVV during the leg. Both players continued to be inconsistent as they respectively held throw, and it was 5-4. GVV got the win after setting up a 20 finish with a double tops in the previous turn.
Jonny Clayton v Stephen Bunting
This was a battle of the reds with both players supporters of Liverpool FC. Bunting had slightly more crowd support being from Liverpool. Unlike the first game this was a game of throws being held. Both players scored well on their own throw but failed to fully create chances to break. So, the game went to a decider, and Jonny took it despite a missed match dart from Bunting. A missed opportunity for Stephen perhaps in a game of fine margins with him missing a match dart and an earlier chance to break throw.
Josh Rock v Michael Van Gerwen
MVG started well with an 11 darter to break throw then held throw and broke Rock to make it 3-0 with Rock missing darts to win the leg. Then MVG missed doubles and Rock broke back and so it was 3-2 to MVG. It stayed with throw so was 4-3. Then the key leg as Rock missed 2 darts to break after MVG had given him a chance by missing 4 legs. MVG finally held with his 6th attempt in the leg. This seemed to fire up MVG as he then broke throw with heavy scoring and despite missing his first two at double took it out at third time of asking it to win 6-3.
Luke Littler V Luke Humphries
A key game for Humphries being outside the top four and he looked like a man under pressure. Littler was getting boos from the crowd being associated with Manchester United and following on from previous weeks boos. Humphries scored well to start and his scoring was there throughout the match. Unfortunately, again his doubles continued to trouble him as they had done during this year’s premier league. As quick as flash it was 5-1 to Littler despite Humphries having darts to win all but one leg but he was 1 from 9 on the doubles. Humphries held the next leg but Littler took the next, Littler wins the match 6-2.
Semi-Finals
Gian Van Veen v Jonny Clayton
Could GVV keep up his record on not losing a semi-final? He started well setting up double chances with 167 scores in both the first 2 legs to lead 2-0. Clayton broke back but then lost his throw then repeated the break but then held and it was back level at 3-3. Clayton then took control with a 101 and then a 156 and was one leg away from the win. GVV then showed character to break and make it 5-5 with last dart in hand with Jonny waiting on d10 for the match. GVV then with the throw got a match dart from a 167 finish but missed it after taking a while to throw, Clayton took out 46 with speed and ease to win 6-5 and make it to his sixth final.
Luke Littler v MVG
Littler again faced the boos despite being friendly with the crowd on the walk on, Littler duly held after MVG missed a chance with 106 left. MVG was playing well and held with an 11 darter and then broke to make it 2-1. MVG was averaging 109 and duly made it 3-1. Littler swapped darts at this point and duly threw a 180 and held throw despite some wayward scoring and a missed double from MVG. Littler then threw an 11 darter to make it 3-3 with a break. MVG then responded with an 11 darter to break. Littler then broke back and it was 4-4. MVG then responded with another break but Littler would not go away and duly broke back. Littler then took out the decider to win 6-5. MVG will wonder how he lost averaging 107.54, hitting 71.43% on his doubles and hitting 9 180’s. Problem was Luke averaged 102 after averaging 82 after 4 legs and was 85.71% on his doubles.
The Final:
Jonny Clayton v Luke Littler
So, we have a repeat of last week’s final, would Jonny triumph again? Littler started like a train and was soon 3-0 up despite a missed chance from Jonny to break. Littler then capitalised on Jonnys wayward set up and finishing. Jonny failed with 9 darts from 124 and it was 4-0. Littler then followed up to make it 5-0 and Jonny was facing his second whitewash of the campaign. Clayton avoided this by taking the next but failed to slow down the Littler train and the next leg was won with a smart 58 finish.
A great nightly win for Littler who won in different way throughout the night using different darts, coping with the crowd and high scoring from opponents with Clayton averaging 99 losing 6-1, Humphries averaging 99 losing 6-2 and MVG averaging 107 losing 6-5.