Nine 180s, three 11-darters and a 107.54 average... Michael van Gerwen's staggering numbers still not enough as Luke Littler wins Premier League thriller

The Premier League Darts keeps showcasing the sport’s absolute top level week after week, but sometimes the numbers are so extreme they make even seasoned fans raise an eyebrow. That was the case on Night Twelve in Liverpool, where Michael van Gerwen averaged a stunning 107.54 and still had to leave the stage as the loser.

It is the highest losing average of the 2026 season so far, underlining once more how razor-thin the margins between victory and defeat are at the elite level of world darts today.

Van Gerwen was in absolute peak scoring form and also fired in fourteen maximums in just twenty legs across the night as a whole. Those are numbers that would normally be more than enough to win a match convincingly. Yet this time it wasn’t sufficient, as Van Gerwen bowed out in the semi-finals after a 6-5 defeat to Luke Littler.

It shows that not only has players’ scoring power risen to an unprecedented level, but that finishing on the doubles is increasingly decisive in contests of this calibre.

What makes this performance even more remarkable is that Van Gerwen tops a list already packed with eye-catching figures. Stephen Bunting has also shown this season that he can hit great heights, with two losing averages above 106. The fact that a player records such a high average twice without being rewarded with a win says a lot about the fierce competition in the field.

That list also includes names like Jonny Clayton and Luke Humphries, players known for their consistently high level and mental resilience. Their presence here highlights that even the absolute world elite are not immune to defeats, no matter how well they play. In many cases it comes down to a couple of missed doubles or a decisive moment when the opponent is just that bit sharper.

The current edition of the Premier League Darts shows that an average above 100 is no longer a guarantee of success. Where this used to be enough to dominate matches, it is now more of a minimum requirement just to stay competitive. The level is so close that margins have become wafer-thin and every mistake is punished mercilessly.

For Van Gerwen this defeat will undoubtedly feel bitter, especially given his impressive numbers. At the same time, he can take confidence from his form, because with performances like this it is only a matter of time before the wins follow again. One thing is certain: if this is the standard required to contend for trophies, the darts world is in for plenty of fireworks this season.