Van Gerwen at his best, you would back him here. In this form? I'm not so sure.

Nathan Aspinall meanwhile has eyes of steel. He knows his job and wants it done.

But Van Gerwen can break back here with a 96 checkout... no, his first arrow lands in triple one. Jeers from the crowd.

Aspinall needs 71, but misses double top. Back to MVG on 49.

And this time, with D16, the Dutchman breaks back.

The first maximum of the night comes from Nathan Aspinall - but Michael van Gerwen lands one immediately in return! Both men have warmed up now, it seems.

Van Gerwen is first to a finish but can't finid 141, so Aspinall takes a shot at 157... nothing doing.

Back to MVG on 100 - he ends up needing D14, and is well off target.

Aspinall needs just D10, and he grabs it! Against the head, and MVG is up against it.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

I don't care how good you are, you need your opponent to give you an opportunity and it was absolutely stifled by Nathan Aspinall.

A tense start, neither man finding the T20 early on. Van Gerwen reverts to T19 and lands a couple, a good settler.

Nathan Aspinall, after a few double figure visits, lands a 140. That puts him on a big finish, can't make it/

So Van Gerwen needs 141... nope, back to the Asp on 100.

He gets the 60, now for tops - bang in the middle!

Nathan Aspinall will throw first, but it's his record against the throw which might carry him tonight.

Aspinall has won 43% of legs against the throw this season. That's the best record in the 2025 Premier League.

This might only be the second match of the night, but perhaps it is the most important.

For Nathan Aspinall it is simple. Win, and he's into the finals.

Last week he said he wanted to get it done early rather than face a nervous few hours. Let's see if he can manage that.

Michael van Gerwen, speaking to the PDC about tonight:"I hope I can use that experience, because I think I'm going to need it.

"Of course it's going to be a massive night for me, and I can't afford to fail again.

"This is probably one of the hardest Premier Leagues I have ever played in - not in terms of players, but in terms of myself.

"It has been a real battle, but I've had a good combination of rest and practice over the last few days to make sure I'm ready to do what I need to do."

Nathan Aspinall, speaking to the PDC about tonight: “There is still pressure on my shoulders, but there’s even more pressure on Michael.

"The job is not done yet and I alluded to that last Thursday. Everybody knows what is at stake and what I need to do.

“I’ve got a few dreams in life – I want to be world champion, I want to play for England, and I want to play at the O2.

“I’ve got an opportunity to achieve one of these dreams on Thursday night, but I’ve got to finish the job off now.”

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen has been at the top for nearly 20 years. That's a long time to be there.

If Nathan Aspinall wins this match, he qualifies for the play-offs. If Michael van Gerwen wins, he will usurp the Englishman if he takes the night win.

Van Gerwen has not taken a single night win in this competition, and is at serious risk of failing to make the play-offs for only the second time in 13 Premier Leagues where he has competed.

Aspinall has finished fifth in each of the last two seasons - missing out on play-off qualification on the final night of league phase action on both occasions.

Will third time be the charm? He has beaten MVG in four of their five meetings this campaign. Claim a fifth, and he's in the promised land.

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

Stephen Bunting applauds the crowd and exits stage left. That loss means he will finish bottom of the table.

A supremely talented player and one of the nicest and most respected men on the circuit, he has not brought his best often enough this season. Hopefully we see him back again in 2026.

And now, we turn our attention to a truly seismic encounter...

He is ridiculous.

114.37 average. Three 100+ checkouts. Six out of six at doubles.

And he sets a new points record in this Premier League format - that win takes him to 42. And counting.

In less than 10 minutes, Luke Littler is on the verge of victory. He is five from five at doubles.

But what can Bunting do here? A 180 to start... but his fourth arrow lands in single five.

Luke Littler needs 127 to win.

Stuart Pyke
Commentator on Sky Sports

The actual play time has been less than 10 minutes. Littler is looking to wrap this up in double double quick time.

A reminder that Luke Littler just needs to win this match to set a new record points tally for a Premier League Darts season. Another record for his growing collection.

A chance to go one leg from victory here with a 134 checkout, but with Bunting nowhere he sets up three arrows at double top.

He only needs one.

Littler is now averaging over 110 - 15 points better than Bunting.

Another 180 from Luke Littler sets up a 46 checkout, and he finds it. Littler has not yet missed a sdouble in this match.

Stuart Pyke
Commentator on Sky Sports

Luke Littler is still the only man to be averaging over 100 in this tournament.

Littler averaged 107 in the first three legs of this match. The Nuke is a machine.

Stephen Bunting has a good chance to get on the board though with a 46 checkout - and at his second attempt at double 16 he avoids the whitewash.

Stephen Bunting is playing for pride, and he retreives some with a maiden 180 tonight followed by a salute to the South Yorkshire crowd.

He has a chance to break back with a 136 checkout, but again he's unable to find his mark.

So Luke Littler can check out with 107 - and even after hitting treble five with his first dart, he's still able to finish off. Stunning.

Image source, Getty Images