Humphries will feel that it should be 4-2.

He was left on a 75 finish and goes 18, 17, but is low on the tops finish.

Smith is then given three darts to finish 40, doing so with a 20 and double 10 to go 5-1 up.

It is on Smith's throw to win.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

It has been impressive from Michael Smith so far.

All the talk has been about Luke Littler and Luke Humphries for tonight, but don't forget about Michael.

He'll expect to be in the play-offs by the end of the campaign.

Image source, PA Media

Smith does not look fazed as Humphries' high checkout in the last leg as he coasts to a unchallenged finish.

An 84 leaves him with three darts at tops to go back to being three legs clear.

Smith needs two of them to find it, but gets there and is now 4-1 up.

Image source, Getty Images

Never say never to Luke Humphries.

Smith was well on course to take another leg of Humphries' throw when leaving himself on a 48 finish.

Humphries, on 167, gets the job done, going treble 20, treble 19 and then bull with aplomb to win his first leg of the night.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

Luke Humphries is not done yet, we know how quickly he can turn things round. The best players play in spells and get through legs quickly.

Smith dominates on his throw and almost goes 3-0 up with a 121 checkout.

Bully Boy goes treble 20, 25, but then lands his double 18 attempt in double one.

Smith comes back to take out 34, two, double 16, in three darts, to go 3-0 ahead.

Humphries is in deep trouble here.

Stuart Pyke
Commentator on Sky Sports

Luke Humphries is averaging 81.2, what on earth is happening? He just can't get anything going.

Despite his recent illness, Smith almost takes out 170 in the second leg to break throw.

He goes treble 20, 20, bull, just for full effect.

Smith then takes out 40 with three darts at tops to break throw.

Humphries is struggling early on.

It has been mentioned on the TV commentary that Michael Smith has been struggling with illness over the past few days. It will be interesting to see how that will affect his performance.

He misses three darts at tops to take the opener.

Humphries has a chance to break on 116. Finds treble 20 and 16, but can't end with the tops finish.

Smith needs three more at tops, eventually finding it with his sixth attempt to take the opener.

Tonight's third quarter-final sees the 2023 World Champion face the 2024 World Champion.

You would have to say Luke Humphries goes into this one as the favourite to win. Top of the league and fresh off winning the German Darts Grand Prix in superb fashion over the weekend.

Michael Smith to throw first, game on.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Luke Humphries must be feeling so good at the moment. What a life he's living at the moment!

Luke Humphries talking to Sky Sports: "Last Thursday was a great game [against Luke Littler], I didn't feel like I fell off, just the better player won, but then the weekend I felt good but I probably exceeded expectations. The final was probably one of the best games i've ever played. If I can keep replicating that or anywhere near it then I'm always going to be tough to beat. I feel really good, my game is in a good place and I'm hoping to go on and win tonight.

"I might be the best player in the world at the moment but I, or anyone, won't dominate. It is such a close pack. I have a level that is hard to beat, but so do most of these players."

Image source, Getty Images

The third quarter-final of the evening sees Michael Smith take on Luke Humphries, with both men looking to bounce back after quarter-final defeats in Belfast.

Bully Boy started tonight fifth in the table, knowing that a night win or a strong evening, would further his cause to break back into the top four.

Meanwhile, league leader Humphries may have lost to Luke Littler in last week's opening round, but he did blitz to victory in the German Darts Grand Prix over the weekend.

The two have faced each other three teams in the Premier League this season, with Humphries winning all three meetings.

Littler won that match with an average just above 93, very low for him in a format like this against a player of Van Gerwen's ability.

What Littler can take as a plus was his checkout percentage of 46.2%, significantly better than Van Gerwen's 33.3%.

Both men also failed to hit a 100+ checkout between them. Which again, for these two, feels rare.

Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen 6-3 to set up a semi-final clash with Nathan Aspinall!

Not a performance Littler would have wanted, neither man was overly impressive compared to their high standards in that one.

Littler finishes that leg off with a double 10 after Van Gerwen, who was on 190, went to try and hit three bulls in a very unusual method of throw.

An odd game but a big win for Littler.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

It is clear that Luke Littler is not playing anywhere near his best. Neither is MVG and it is making for a fascinating contest.

You do have to play competitive darts to get into a rhythm.

Both men are hardly looking at their best but Littler gains a bit of momentum with a 168 to leave himself 16.

Van Gerwen almost checks out 136, hitting back-to-back treble 19s before missing out on double 11. Big chance.

Littler then returns with one dart at double eight, taking it out first time to break throw.

Image source, PA Media

Almost a big finish-athon from these two decides the seventh leg.

Littler fails to find a treble on 170, while Van Gerwen lands his third dart into 25 after finding two trebles when going for 167.

Littler does eventually checkout 40 to go back ahead, 20, double 10, to go 4-3 up.

The teenager looks far from pleased.

From 3-0 down, Van Gerwen levels it up at 3-3.

Littler had the chance to win that on a 64 finish but missed his one dart at tops.

Van Gerwen pounces on his throw. Double eight levels it in the sixth.

Van Gerwen takes advantage of a dip in scoring from The Nuke and chalks another leg off the deficit to wrestle some of the control back in this match.

He breaks throw with a 84 checkout. Treble 20, double 12, done.