Premier League Darts 2026 Round-up | Luke Littler takes out 170 checkout twice enroute to defeating Michael van Gerwen for third nightly win

Luke Littler had a very successful fishing trip in Berlin. He took out the 170 checkout twice enroute to defeating Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in the final of night eight in the Premier League Darts as Littler rises to the top of the table.

Van Gerwen made Littler work for that nightly win having regained his form in the Premier League after a torrid period of form. He could do nothing about Littler showcasing why he is the world number one, producing the goods at the most crucial time mixed with some huge averages across the night in the German capital.

Van Gerwen commenced his night in the German capital with a 6-3 win over Luke Humphries. The duo faced off in the semi-final of the Belgian Darts Open, which Humphries won enroute to the title.

Van Gerwen would get his revenge. A fast start from both saw some incredible scoring compared to woeful doubling at times as they failed to take their chances. Both traded breaks before van Gerwen inflicted a definitive blow to the reigning champion. He would see it out and bump the world number two outside of the top four. ‘Cool Hand Luke’ is yet to clinch a nightly win at the halfway stage.

The seven-time champion backed this up with a 6-3 win over Josh Rock, who finally got his first win. Rock was practically down to a finish in 10 darts in his opening three legs, but thanks to wasteful doubling found himself 2-1 down to a fortunate van Gerwen. Rock then gets down to 50 in nine, showing how good his scoring had been. However, his inability to hit a big number would cost him as van Gerwen took a 3-1 lead.

Rock kept piling on the pressure, finally finding his targets to break back but on throw van Gerwen kept capitalising on woeful doubling. The Dutchman was more clinical, finding double 14 for a 96 checkout for a 5-2 lead and an immediate end to the breaks. He almost saw it out with a 170 checkout but had to wait a leg to finish Rock’s most successful Premier League night off on double two.

Stephen Bunting averaged 107.47 against Littler but will leave Berlin empty-handed after the world number one produced a phenomenal performance, prevailing 6-3. ‘The Nuke’ threatened the whitewash with a brilliant start, taking out 103 in a brutal checkout which seemed to end Bunting’s quest for triumph.

However, a scintillating 167 checkout from the former Masters champion put him back in contention before clawing the deficit back to two legs. Littler took out 108 on tops and saw it out from there to book his spot in the semi-final.

He went on to confirm another final against Gerwyn Price. Last week he came back from a 5-0 deficit in Dublin for the nightly win. This week in Berlin he averaged over 108 to snatch the win away against the Welshman 6-4.

The first eight legs all went towards the player throwing first. Littler upped the gears and was the one pressuring the break. He looked to have a chance but a magnificent 152 checkout from the ‘Iceman’ kept him level. Littler would then finally get that all-important break to move 5-4 ahead, confirming a third final with an 11-darter.

Littler ominously began the match in how he left – an 81 checkout but this time in 12 darts on double six. The little fish when on 170 left him on tops but van Gerwen had the chance to prevent him from looking at it. He had one dart at double 18 for a 66 checkout but got nowhere near it. The 2024 champion used his final dart in hand at double 10 to break.

With van Gerwen on 186, Littler did not have to go for the bull to take out 126, but did it anyway to move halfway to victory. Van Gerwen was threatened to be routed but prevented the whitewash from occurring after he snuck ahead in the fourth leg, pinning double 18 for a hold. He then backed this up with a 124 checkout on the bull as he broke back in sublime fashion. He made it three on the spin with a 12-darter ending on the unconventional double seven, shifting the momentum firmly to his camp.

Littler responded in sketchy fashion. He missed a dart at tops for a 121 finish before three more missed efforts allowed van Gerwen a poke at the 105. He could not get a shot at a double as double 10 came to ‘The Nuke’s’ rescue.

He then on purpose plonked a dart into the single 12 to leave a favourable 170. He showcased his quality by taking out the biggest checkout in the sport at a crucial time, moving one away from the nightly win. Van Gerwen responded with his last dart at the double 15 target to get the match back on throw.

However, Littler produced the big fish again! He took it out for the second time in three legs to confirm the nightly win in unbelievable scenes in Berlin for a third nightly win in the last four nights. He rises to the top of the table, a place he will look to stay to ahead of finals night.

It was not to be for Jonny Clayton as for the second week on the spin he loses at the quarterfinal stage to an ecstatic Rock who finally picked up his first win.

The World Cup champion picked up a crucial break to get breathing space in front of the table topper who reached the final on the prior Euro Tour event in Wieze. He could not prolong this form as he goes uncharacteristically winless again.

Gian van Veen basically came to this tournament from the hospital after kidney stones problem. He was not at the races against a ruthless Price who dumped him out 6-1 while averaging over a ton.

The trip was not a total bust for the World Championship finalist who prevented the whitewash with a tremendous 113 checkout on double 18 after Price missed tops for a 112 outshot and the match. He soon wrapped it up for a comfortable win.