Rob Cross, speaking to Sky Sports: "My game's in a good place at the moment, I'm playing well and I'm happy."

Gerwyn Price: "I'm in the Premier League and I'm here to win it. If I don't, it's a disappointment. I'm getting back to my best, the consistency is coming and I'm hoping to win some big majors this year."

For the second week in a row, Gerwyn Price takes on Rob Cross in the quarter-finals.

Other than Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, Price is the only man with night wins in the Premier League this term after coming out on top in both Dublin and Nottingham.

Cross is yet to get past the semi-final stage this season, but has won five of his seven quarter-final encounters.

A week ago, in Price's home meeting in Cardiff, Cross upset the party by hitting a 170 checkout to win the match 6-5.

A darts club launched to help children improve their throwing has seen its membership triple since Christmas, and puts the success down to superstar Luke Littler making the sport "cool".

Professional player David Pallett and his partner Bobbi Jones first set up Bedworth Darts Academy in June 2024.

The new business had already had a strong start, but following Christmas and the high-profile success of teenager Littler, it saw numbers rise.

Ms Jones said the impact of champion Litter over the past three months had been "amazing".

The academy, which operates out of Bedworth Conservative Club, sets up competitions and challenges for players between five and 17 years old.

"Since Christmas it's really taken off," Ms Jones said.

"We've tripled in numbers - it's really exciting.

"We ask a lot of kids that come [why] they've started [playing] and they mention seeing Luke."

Image source, Getty Images

Luke Littler was near untouchable in that match.

He hit five 180s, averaged 109.98 and landed six of his 12 darts at a double. He also took out two 100+ checkouts.

To his credit, Stephen Bunting did average 102.15 and landed two 180s, but missed all four of his darts at the doubles.

A slow scoring leg from Luke Littler, Stephen Bunting has the chance to put pressure on The Nuke, but cannot land the trebles like he needs to.

Littler gets down to a finish first at 110, with Bunting waiting on 72.

19, treble 17, double 20! Littler sees off another 100+ checkout for a 6-0 win.

Ludicrous from Littler.

Brutal for Bunting.

Another leg where Luke Littler starts off with a 180, against the throw too.

After nine, Littler only needs 96 for a third break of throw in a row.

Bunting gets down to a finish, but cannot try his 124 out as Littler sees off 96 in two darts, courtesy of double 18. An 11-darter.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

Image source, PA Media

Players are playing very well against Stephen Bunting this year. Every player that's played against him, the average is over 102.

We've not seen a 6-0 yet in the Premier League and at present, Stephen Bunting is in danger of falling that way.

Another Luke Littler 180 sets up a 101 shot for 4-0.

Five, treble 20, double 18. Littler takes the lot!

Stephen Bunting fires in his second 180 in as many legs, in between back-to-back 140s from Luke Littler.

Littler makes it a hat-trick of 140s to leave 81 after nine darts. After the same, Bunting needs 122, but can't get it to go. Littler misses a dart at bull to see off 81.

Back for 68, Bunting gets a dart at double 20, but cannot take out tops.

Littler pins his trusty double 10 for a 3-0 lead.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

Double top has been good to Luke Littler in this year's Premier League.

A funny way to finish the opening leg but back to normal business in the second and he leads 2-0.

Luke Littler gets off to a brilliant start in this leg too.

140, 180, 141. After nine, he only needs double 20.

Stephen Bunting responds with a 180, but Littler's first dart in response finds tops for a 10-darter.

Image source, PA Media

Luke Littler gets his night under way with a 180, which he follows with a smug nod to the crowd.

Three darts later, he finds another! He's on for a nine!

Dart seven is a smidge too high, which bring the sarcastic boos. He even joins in himself!

Left 44 for an 11-darter, Littler sets up double 20 but goes both sides on the wire. He then misses double 10 and leaves a visit at double two.

Stephen Bunting has the chance to take it but splits doubles 20, 10 and five.

At double two, Littler needs two to break throw.

Like many players are in the Premier League, Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting are good friends.

Expect an entertaining start to the evening here.

Bunting to throw first, game on!

He might be bottom of the Premier League table, but as far as walk-ons go, you would probably put Stephen Bunting at the top of the league.

He has got this Newcastle crowd bouncing with another excellent rendition of Titanium!

Mind you, Luke Littler, after a few boos to which he reacts to, is brilliantly chanted on his way to the stage.

Imagine when hometown hero Chris Dobey takes to the stage later this evening...

World champion and Premier League leader Luke Littler, speaking to Sky Sports:

"I said last week I'd like to finish top again, two years in a row, and that's my goal from now on.

"I want to get as many points as I can and clinch top spot once again."

His opponent Stephen Bunting added:

"Playing Luke is always going to be difficult but I know I've got the game to beat him, I've done it in the past and it's all about doing it on the Premier League stage."

Starting off tonight's action in Newcastle, Premier League leader Luke Littler takes on bottom-of-the-table Stephen Bunting.

Littler starts six points clear at the top of the table, having reached each of the past four finals.

Meanwhile, Bunting, in his first full Premier League season since 2015, has lost all seven of his quarter-finals so far, despite averaging more than 97.

Littler has the better record in recent meetings, winning three of the five between the two, including in the semi-finals of this year's World Darts Championship.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Luke Littler, the way he's going about his business - hitting nine-darters, winning three out of seven weeks - you're thinking he's going to win another three more possibly? He's just doing everything right.

The only one near him personally for me is Luke Humphries.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

The league table is starting to take some shape. You think Luke Littler is going to make the play-offs, Luke Humphries is not too far off either.

For the bottom four, it's a huge night because you're playing players above you and you need to win those games or gaps will be produced.

Image source, Getty Images

Nathan Aspinall won his first European Tour title by beating fellow Englishman Ryan Joyce 8-4 in the European Darts Trophy final in Germany on Sunday.

Aspinall never trailed after breaking Joyce's throw to win the first leg of the best-of-15 leg showpiece, moving into a 4-1 lead.

Joyce, playing his first European Tour final after beating Michael van Gerwen in the semis, hit back to cut the deficit to 4-3 and 5-4.

But Aspinall, 33, held his nerve to reel off three legs in a row and claim victory and the £30,000 prize money.

Aspinall was appearing in only his second European Tour final after being beaten by Michael Smith in the 2023 German Darts Grand Prix.

Image source, Getty Images

While scoring is important, so too is taking out checkouts and winning legs.

Luke Littler's performance last week in Cardiff has seen him move above Luke Humphries and top of the table for checkouts made, as well as his lead in the scoring charts.

Here is how all eight players have fared so far when it comes to checkout percentages.

• Luke Littler - 45.41%
• Luke Humphries - 44.85%

• Gerwyn Price - 42.76%
• Rob Cross - 41.61%
• Nathan Aspinall - 37.23%
• Michael van Gerwen - 36.16%
• Chris Dobey 34.78%
• Stephen Bunting - 30.77%