Michael Smith finishes Premier League Darts league phase on a high with emphatic Night 16 win in Sheffield

Michael Smith has taken the weekly win on the final night of the regular league phase of the 2024 Premier League Darts campaign. 'BullyBoy' secured the Night 16 triumph with a 6-3 victory over Luke Humphries in the final in Sheffield.

En route to the final of Night 16, Humphries had battled past Gerwyn Price 6-4 in what was a somewhat scrappy quarter-final. In the semis though, the reigning world champion, who took the weekly win last time out in Leeds, looked somewhere close to his best as he breezed past Michael van Gerwen 6-3 with an average of over 104.

Smith meanwhile, faced Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals in what was the most important game of the night. With the fourth and final spot in the playoffs on offer, it was the former world champion who prevailed 6-3, thanks mainly to his supreme display of finishing as Smith bagged a pair ton-plus checkouts and nailed 6 out of 8 on the double. In the semis, 'BullyBoy' came through a deciding leg with Luke Littler, who had already secured himself top spot in the league table with a win over Peter Wright.

Smith had the darts in the opening leg, and after a somewhat slow start from both, he held throw in 17-darts. Having set up a 10-darter in leg 2, Humphries messed around on the doubles before eventually pinning double 1 to level and then as double-trouble affected Smith, punished on double 9 to edge in front with the first break of the match. Starting to find his groove, Humphries moved further clear in leg 4 with a roof-raising 170 checkout.

Refusing to lie down however, Smith was unperturbed by his opponent's brilliance, reeling off the next two legs in succession to get back to level terms at 3-3. A few moments later, Smith was in front as he opted to split 38 and nail double 16 for the 4-3 lead. With the momentum now firmly on Smith's side, Humphries seemingly had no answer as Smith moved to within one with a 13-darter in leg 8. After Smith then missed the bull for the match, the world champion missed the same target to keep himself alive. Upon his return, 'BullyBoy' made no mistake, mopping up the 25 and finishing the campaign on a high.