Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen and hits nine-darter to win Premier League Darts night in Cardiff

Summary

Luke Littler beats Michael van Gerwen 6-4 to win night seven of Premier League Darts in Cardiff
Littler throws nine-darter in fourth leg of final
Win is Littler's third in seven weeks and puts him six points clear at top of table
Semi-final result: Dobey 1-6 Van Gerwen, Littler 6-2 Cross
Quarter-final results: Dobey 6-2 Bunting, Humphries 4-6 Van Gerwen, Littler 6-3 Aspinall, Price 5-6 Cross

Live Reporting

Jonty Colman

Van Gerwen breaks Humphries againpublished at 20:10 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-5 Van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
The situation is clear from here. Best of three.
Since the start of the fourth leg, Michael van Gerwen has shown some of his best darts.
Six darts at 84 for a break of throw, Van Gerwen leaves 32 after three.
Dart four pins double 16. From 3-0 down, he's now 5-4 up.
Van Gerwen levels against Humphriespublished at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-4 Van Gerwen
This match is turning into a proper classic between these two greats of the game.
Michael van Gerwen is in finishing territory on 32, but misses a hat-trick of doubles at 16 and eight.
On 123, Luke Humphries lands trebles 19 and 16 but goes over double nine.
Van Gerwen lands double four for 4-4.
Postpublished at 20:07 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-3 Van Gerwen
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
This is impressive from Michael van Gerwen. He's done a lot right since going 3-0 down.
In the past five minutes this is the best I've seen Van Gerwen in this Premier League. He looks right at it.
This is a fantastic game of darts.
Van Gerwen breaks Humphriespublished at 20:07 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-3 Van Gerwen
The two legs Michael van Gerwen has won so far have been virtually perfect.
The issue is, you need more than that against world number one against Luke Humphries.
Cool Hand splits doubles 18 and nine to bring Van Gerwen back in.
On 71, his one dart at double 20 pins the middle of the bed. That is a big dart from the Dutchman.
Postpublished at 20:06 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-2 Van Gerwen
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
We have to credit Michael van Gerwen here. He didn't come out in top gear but he is just clinging on.
Van Gerwen lands 11-darter against Humphriespublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-2 Van Gerwen
Back on his throw, Michael van Gerwen again starts with five perfect darts, the sixth being just low on the treble 20.
An 11-darter from MVG is landed on double eight. He's really kicking on.
Humphries restores three-leg leadpublished at 20:04 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 4-1 Van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
Brilliant response from Luke Humphries, who gets six darts at 170 for a 4-1 lead.
The first three leave double 18 and after a split, he lands double nine.
Ruthless.
Postpublished at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 3-1 Van Gerwen
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
That is a great big tap on the shoulder from Michael van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen lands 10-darter against Humphriespublished at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 3-1 Van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
A huge response from Michael van Gerwen is needed.
His first 180 of the night is met by two more perfect darts before a stray into five.
MVG's next visit is another 180, leaving double eight after nine darts.
His first dart at a double is perfect. 10-darter.
Humphries cruising against Van Gerwenpublished at 20:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 3-0 Van Gerwen
A 134 from Luke Humphries sets up 70 for a 3-0 lead against three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, but Cool Hand's one dart at double 16 misses.
MVG can't take out 106 and with his first chance at double eight, Humphries goes 3-0 up.
Postpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 2-0 Van Gerwen
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
It has been very rhythmic from Luke Humphries so far.
Humphries doubles lead over Van Gerwenpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 2-0 Van Gerwen
Luke Humphries has flown out of the traps in this one and against the throw, gets down to a finish first.
Missed outshots from him and Michael van Gerwen allow Cool Hand back at 52.
20, double 16. Cool as you like.
Humphries takes out 121 against Van Gerwenpublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 1-0 Van Gerwen
Three visits from Luke Humphries is all he needs to down to find the first 180 of the night.
After nine darts, he has just 121 for the leg.
On double 18, he lands the lot. Superb.
Humphries v Van Gerwen under waypublished at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries 0-0 Van Gerwen
This certainly feels like the quarter-final of the night, on paper at least.
Chris Dobey's win over Stephen Bunting had drama, largely for missed doubles.
Let's hope for a step up in quality here.
Humphries to throw first, game on!
Humphries looking to bounce back against Van Gerwenpublished at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries v Van Gerwen
Image source, Getty Images
World number one Luke Humphries takes on Michael van Gerwen next in the quarter-finals.
Second in the table, Humphries would move above Luke Littler in the table with a win over MVG, having lost to Littler in the quarter-finals a week ago in Nottingham.
Van Gerwen has an won impressive five of his six quarter-finals this season, but all five of his semi-finals have ended in losses for the Dutchman.
These two have met already in the Premier League this season, with Humphries beating Van Gerwen 6-5 in the Belfast semi-finals last month.
Postpublished at 19:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries v Van Gerwen
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
It is very important for Luke Humphries to get back to winning ways tonight after successive quarter-final defeats.
'I have a pretty good record against Van Gerwen'published at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Luke Humphries talking to Sky Sports about facing Michael van Gerwen: "He is a man for the big occasions, I always look forward to the task of playing him. I have a pretty good winning record against him so hopefully that continues tonight.
"I am looking to separate myself from the top four a bit more tonight."
'I have to be better and more consistent'published at 19:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries v Van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen talking to Sky Sports: "I'm feeling alright to be fair. It is an important week again.
"I'd like to have more points but every week I am doing enough to get points. I'd like to do more and win nights but I have to do better and be more consistent. You need to be at the top of your game constantly, you can't afford any mistakes.
"I'm doing what I have to do but you always have to try and do more and that is what I am."
'Van Gerwen wants to be in charge'published at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Humphries v Van Gerwen
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
Michael van Gerwen hasn't shown the ability of endurance yet. He needs to be the winner he knows he can be. He has won more quarter-finals than anyone else but not in the fashion he wants to, he wants to do that with authority. He wants to be in charge and that is what he's looking for.
Postpublished at 19:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March
Result: Dobey 6-2 Bunting
Troy Luen
BBC Sport Wales at Utilita Arena, Cardiff
More misery for Stephen Bunting. We all know he is a better player than he has shown in the Premier League this year, but he has to tighten up his finishing to restore some pride and confidence going forward – in this campaign and for the rest of the season.