Any 180 is timely, this one more so than most for Luke Littler with Rob Cross threatening to break.

Instead that maximum sets him up for another 14-darter.

This has been a really high-quality contest so far.

Rob Cross holds again, hitting double four at the second attempt.

That's a 14-darter - the most it's taken either player to win a leg so far. That shows how good this has been.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

That's a great leg of darts. 11-darter. Made it look so simple.

Back and forth they go.

Super leg all round, the pair exchange 180s before Luke Littler casually takes out 96 in two darts.

We're all square again.

Another 13-dart leg and another hold as Rob Cross edges ahead again.

Finished on double eight this time but only after Luke Littler had come so close to reeling in the big fish.

Both treble 20s found their mark but he couldn't get the bull for that 170 out.

Rob Cross gets the first 180 of the match but Luke Littler is unfazed and levels it up.

He also finishes on double six for a 13-darter.

Solid opening leg from Rob Cross.

He hits double six for a 13-dart hold.

Can he claim his first Premier League win over Luke Littler in six attempts this season?

Premier League champion Luke Littler speaking to Sky Sports, says he is using heavier darts to combat breezy conditions: "The fifth nightly win has to come at some point to break the record. I had problems with the wind last time so I'm up three grams to 26g."

The teenager says he hopes to catch some of Man Utd's European tie against Lyon in between throwing darts.

It was always going to be difficult to top the reception Luke Littler got in Manchester last week but he gets a pretty decent welcome from the fans in Rotterdam.

Can the league leader make the most of Luke Humphries' loss and extend his advantage at the top of the standings?

Image source, Getty Images

More often that not in the past couple of years, Luke Littler has been the player everyone most wants to see.

With Michael van Gerwen back in his homeland, that might not be the case tonight but Littler will still have his eyes on a bit of history.

Victory on night eight in Newcastle was his fourth in the Premier League this year - matching the best since this format came in back in 2022.

After a couple of off nights in Berlin and Manchester, can the teenager get back to winning ways and take the record outright?

Not if Rob Cross has anything to do with it. The 2018 world champion is sixth but still right in the mix for the play-off, just three points off third.

Cross has yet to make a final in this year's tournament but has consistently picked up points, winning six of his nine quarter-finals.

That has kept him in touching distance of the top four and one big night could put him back in those play-off places.

Looking at the stats, it's a wonder that match was as close as it was.

Stephen Bunting's average of 99.76 was almost 10 more than Michael van Gerwen's 89.86.

MVG edged it four to three on 180s but on the doubles, The Bullet was at 50% to the Dutchman's 41.7%.

What a deciding leg - but it's Stephen Bunting who wins it!

The crowd are booing as he steps up to the oche but it's nerveless from Bunting to take out 81 in two darts.

The Dutch crowd are silenced as Michael van Gerwen is beaten.

Both players hit 180s in the leg, MVG's really putting the pressure on Bunting but the Liverpudlian gets it done.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

He's had to scrap throughout this match but Michael van Gerwen now has the darts to win.

Now the crowd are up!

Michael van Gerwen sends it to a one-leg shootout and he'll have the darts.

Stephen Bunting hits treble one when needing 120 and that lets MVG in.

The Dutchman makes a mess of his first dart but recovers to hit treble 19 then double 19 to make it 5-5.

Michael van Gerwen is not going to accept defeat lying down.

He wants to give the home fans something to cheer and does so with a superb 106 checkout.

Stephen Bunting has the throw for the match...

Clinical from Stephen Bunting.

He goes 180, 140, 140 to assume control of the leg before wrapping up a 13-darter on double four.

The Bullet is one leg from victory.

Let off for Michael van Gerwen as Stephen Bunting misses two darts at tops for a 5-2 lead.

The Dutchman had given him the chance with his own miss at tops.

Double 19 does it for MVG in the end and the crowd really celebrated that.

They know their man is up against it.

Two-leg lead restored for Stephen Bunting.

He's playing superbly here while Michael van Gerwen's average is down in the early 80s.

Bunting holds with a 15-darter and Mighty Mike not even down to a finish.

Stephen Bunting does respond.

The leg looked to be heading Michael van Gerwen's way but when he can't take out 99, The Bullet comes back and needs just two darts for the 96 out.

Bunting a break ahead again.