Dutch Darts Masters final LIVE: Michael van Gerwen beats Luke Littler - as it happened

Summary

Michael van Gerwen beats Luke Littler 8-6 to win Dutch Masters on home soil
Van Gerwen avenges defeat to 17-year-old at last week's Bahrain Masters
Both players return to action when Premier League Darts begins on Thursday
Semi-final results: Van Gerwen 7-4 Van Veen, Littler 7-4 Price
Quarter-final results: Littler 6-5 Humphries, Price 6-3 Doets, Van Gerwen 6-5 Van Barneveld, Van Veen 6-3 Noppert

Live Reporting

Sam Drury and Charlotte Coates

That's all, folks!published at 22:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Image source, Kelly Deckers/PDC
That's it from us after a fantastic couple of days at the Dutch Masters.
It wasn't to be for Luke Littler in his bid for back-to-back titles as he was edged out by iconic Dutchman Michael van Gerwen in a wonderful final.
Read Callum Matthews' report here.
Good news, darts fans: you don't have to wait long for your next fix of arrows. The Premier League Darts begins on Thursday in Cardiff.
We'll be back for that - make sure you join us! Until then, goodbye.
'To see a crowd like this always means a lot'published at 22:26 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-8 Van Gerwen
Dutch Masters champion Michael van Gerwen, speaking to ITV: "To win this trophy and win against Luke Littler in front of the home crowd is amazing. To see a crowd like this always means a lot."
'Remarkable'published at 22:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Chris Mason
Former World Championship quarter-finalist on ITV
It was remarkable. All the fears we may have had about MVG going into that final went out the window.
He loved it as well. To see those two loving every moment of it was brilliant.
The amount of clutch finishes Michael took after his struggles in the semi-finals was amazing.
'This is what people like to watch'published at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-8 Van Gerwen
Dutch Masters champion Michael van Gerwen, speaking to ITV: "This is what people like to watch. Everyone knows he is in form. Luke Littler will have a bright future ahead of him, we all know that. His scoring power is immense.
"He doesn't care about anything and he does his own thing. I think that's good. It was a great tournament.
"I needed my best performance. We all know I had some really tough games in the last year and I underperformed a lot of times. You have to make sure you keep your fighting spirit."
'He just wouldn't miss!'published at 22:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Dutch Masters runner-up Luke Littler, speaking to ITV: "It went leg by leg, hold by hold. At the end when I hit a 180, he came back with one.
"Throughout the game, it was unbelievable. I put him under pressure or tried to - he just wouldn't miss!
"The crowd have been amazing, they want Michael to win and I get that. But how many 140s did I hit? He finally got me at the end.
"Hopefully I haven't burnt myself out for the Prem next week! I can't wait to go to Cardiff."
Postpublished at 22:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-8 Van Gerwen
A first Dutch Masters title for Michael van Gerwen - it will mean so much to him in front of an adoring home crowd.
He was pushed all the way by Luke Littler. What an effort by the 17-year-old but, on this occasion, the three-time world champion was just too good.
An incredible final.
Postpublished at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-8 Van Gerwen
Dan Dawson
Darts commentator on ITV
Michael van Gerwen had to produce his best display of the tournament to knock the teenager out.
These two are going to have some serious contests in the weeks and months to come.
MVG beats Littler to win the Dutch Masters!published at 22:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Breaking
Littler 6-8 Van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen takes out 85 for the title!
It comes just after Luke Littler came within a couple of millimetres of a 170 finish to take it to a decider.
What a final. An incredible standard but MVG has his revenge after defeat by Littler in Bahrain last week.
Littler misses break chancepublished at 22:11 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-7 Van Gerwen
Two darts at double eight for the break... but Luke Littler misses.
It's so costly as MVG nails double 10 to move to within a leg of the Dutch Masters title.
Postpublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-6 Van Gerwen
Chris Mason
Former World Championship quarter-finalist on ITV
This is two elite darters taking lumps out of each other.
get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
#bbcdarts, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
I was working behind the bar at the BDO World Champs in 1990 when Paul Lim got the first televised nine darter (and won £100K). It's amazing now so many players achieve the feat, often with little fanfare.
Rupert in Woking
Littler holdspublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 6-6 Van Gerwen
Image source, Kelly Deckers/PDC
A nice leg for Luke Littler with Michael van Gerwen always lagging behind.
The teenager is taking no chances, though, and clinically hits tops at the first attempt to level it at 6-6.
MVG back in frontpublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 5-6 Van Gerwen
So close to a 121 finish from Luke Littler - but this time he just misses the bullseye.
Michael van Gerwen has double eight for the lead... got it.
He's two legs from victory.
Postpublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 5-5 Van Gerwen
Chris Mason
Former World Championship quarter-finalist on ITV
They are just trading in quality now. This is just everything we expected it to be.
Littler levels againpublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 5-5 Van Gerwen
Frustration for Luke Littler as he hits the bull when going for the 25 then miscalculates to leave double nine.
MVG can't take out 150, though, and Littler comes back to clean up.
It's five apiece.
Postpublished at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 4-5 Van Gerwen
Chris Mason
Former World Championship quarter-finalist on ITV
We've read the book, we've got the T-shirt. We've seen it so many times before from Michael van Gerwen.
MVG takes out 130!published at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 4-5 Van Gerwen
Image source, Kelly Deckers/PDC
Brilliant from Michael van Gerwen with Luke Littler applying the pressure.
A maximum from the teenager had left him 66 so the Dutchman needed to finish.
He did so in style, a pair of treble 20s followed by double five to retake the lead.
All tied uppublished at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 4-4 Van Gerwen
It's Luke Littler's turn to have a relatively comfortable hold.
He takes out double 10, quite possibly his favourite double, to draw level again.
Postpublished at 22:02 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 3-4 Van Gerwen
Dan Dawson
Darts commentator on ITV
Michael van Gerwen is looking to win this title for the first time in his career. If he holds his throw, he will do it.
Postpublished at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January
Littler 3-4 Van Gerwen
The players are back on stage and we're ready for the second half od this final.
Luke Littler has the darts.