Postpublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 4-4 Smith
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
Littler knew he wasn't throwing enough treble 20s and he's just been aiming for 18s now.
Summary
Brilliant Humphries wins for third night in a row
World champion hammers Smith 6-2 in final
Humphries seven points clear at top of table
Smith beats below-par Littler 6-4 in first round
Postpublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Postpublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 4-4 Smith
A tidy finish of 72 and Littler is back level.
Postpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-4 Smith
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky SportsIn these last three legs, Luke Littler has not been great, Michael Smith has been better and has got the legs he's deserved.
Postpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-4 Smith
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky SportsBrilliant from Michael Smith, there's no real show of emotion, he's keeping everything channelled at the moment.
Postpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-4 Smith
Michael Smith leads for the first time since the first leg. He can't finish 87, but is back to hit double four.
A shake of the head from Littler, he needs to win three of the next four to stay alive in this one.
Postpublished at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-3 Smith
But the next visit is better!
"Bully Boy" lives up to his name, taking out 122 on the bullseye and it's a level game.
First to six wins.
Postpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-2 Smith
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky SportsThat is a disaster from Michael Smith and he knows it.
Smith, on 165, only scores 43.
Postpublished at 20:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-2 Smith
Smith ends a run of three straight legs for Littler with a routine hold.
Postpublished at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 3-1 Smith
Luke Littler scores so heavily, you fancy him to hit a nine-darter before this Premier League is out.
He missed a shot at double 12 for one in Nottingham last week.
After narrowly failing to take out 132 and then chasing doubles around the board in leg four, Littler hits double four for a 3-1 lead.
Postpublished at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 2-1 Smith
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky SportsIt wasn't that comfortable. It was still a pop, pop, combination finish, just a very low scoring one.
Postpublished at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 2-1 Smith
Littler starts 177, 180 - he's on the nine-darter...
But the seventh dart can't find the treble 20.
Smith misses the bull to win in 12 darts, then can't take out 25 either, and Littler hits double two for a break of throw.
Postpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 1-1 Smith
Image source, Getty ImagesLittler on the board with a routine hold of throw, sealed on his reliable double 10.
Postpublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 0-1 Smith
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky SportsIt's important to hold your darts. It's only the first leg, but it can be fragile early on.
Postpublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 0-1 Smith
Image source, Getty ImagesMichael Smith, fresh off a nine-darter in a Players Championship event in Germany earlier this week, throws first in the opener and holds.
However, Luke Littler missed the bull for a 164 checkout before Smith wrapped it up.
Postpublished at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler 0-0 Smith
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky SportsThis is a match we're going to see a lot of in the coming years, and why not!
'Some weeks have gone to plan, some haven't'published at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler v Smith
Luke Littler, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's my first year in the Prem, some weeks have gone to plan, some haven't. This is the halfway point and the remaining weeks are the crucial part of the Prem."
Postpublished at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Littler v Smith
Littler poses for some photos with fans on his way to the stage and encourages the crowd to join in with his walk-on song, "Greenlight" by Pitbull. Unsurprisingly, they oblige.
The fans love Michael Smith too - he takes a couple of selfies with supporters before greeting Littler on the stage.
The crowd are up for this one - hopefully it should be a cracker!
'Littler will be satisfied so far'published at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Luke Littler v Michael Smith
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky SportsI am surprised Luke Littler has only been in one final, but he's been picking up points nicely. It might come down to night wins though. He'll be satisfied with not only how the Premier League is going, but this year as well. He's already qualified for the World Matchplay.
Quarter-final #4published at 20:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Luke Littler v Michael Smith
Teenage sensation Luke Littler takes on Michael Smith in the last of tonight’s quarter-finals.
Littler produced one of the performances of the tournament to beat Michael van Gerwen in his last-eight tie in Nottingham, however, for the fifth time in seven Premier League nights, the 17-year-old was beaten at the semi-final stage.
He is consistently playing well and collecting points, but a first night win continues to elude him.
Smith was the night one winner in Cardiff but he has taken only five points from the subsequent six weeks.
The 2023 world champion started the evening only a point off fourth place though, so he is still well in the mix for a play-off spot.
Postpublished at 20:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
Result: Van Gerwen 5-6 Price
A three-dart average of almost 103 for Gerwyn Price is enough for his first win since night three in Glasgow.
It'll either be Luke Littler or Michael Smith in the semi-finals for the 2021 world champion.