So it is 'Bully Boy' Michael Smith who comes away victorious on the opening night of the 2024 Premier League in Cardiff.

Smith had to do it the hard way, beating Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler and a heavily-supported Gerwyn Price to take victory.

As all the players will continue to say, the Premier League Darts is a marathon not a sprint, and tonight's results will not decide who lifts the trophy come May.

That being said, Smith will be rightly delighted with a fast start, while Van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries will hope to pick up points for the first time in Germany next week.

Thank you very much for joining us, enjoy the rest of your evening and weekends!

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Missed any of the darts from Cardiff this evening?

You can read the report from the first night of Premier League action here.

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Today's winner Michael Smith said: "I'm happy to win, but my game was not where I want it to be.

"There was a few chinks in my game, but it's nice to get five points on the opening night.

"The crowd was amazing apart from a couple of individuals. I won't say it was disgusting because the other 4,000 were amazing.

"I thought in the semi-final that Luke Littler was Welsh!

"I know it's only a Premier League night, but it feels nice to get the momentum going in week one and I'm not chasing points in week two now.

"I was just putting everything together at the right time, that was my statement to myself tonight."

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We are still hoping to hear from tonight's winner Michael Smith, so stay with us to get all 'Bully Boy's thoughts on his win.

You all got involved before each game to pick your winner, and on the whole you guessed extremely well.

Michael Smith's wins over Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler were the only games you predicted wrong.

A very strong five-out-of-seven score on this opening night of the Premier League!

Give yourselves a collective pat on the back.

After defeat in the final Gerwyn Price said: "Michael was brilliant tonight, he deserved to win, and in his semi-final as well.

"That's the way darts goes, sometimes you hit everything and other times it doesn't go.

"I was happy to win one game, I didn't want to go out first round against Nathan [Aspinall].

"I was probably a little too relaxed, I was happy with points on the board.

"I'm a mile off my best, but I'm scraping games, so when I start playing they can watch out.

"It's about getting to the play-offs in 17 weeks time. I'll take each week as it comes, maybe next week!"

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Gareth Bailey
BBC Sport Wales at the Utilita Arena Cardiff

Impressive composure from Michael Smith in this match and for the whole evening.

Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price beaten on night one.

'Bully Boy' has truly earned this victory, making light work of the home favourite in the final after two final leg deciders.

There are not many harder ways to win a night of Premier League action than beating seven-time winner Michael van Gerwen, in-form sensation Luke Littler and then home-favourite Gerwyn Price.

Impressive stuff from 'Bully Boy' in Cardiff!

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Michael Smith misses two match darts but it matters not, as he returns to take out 20 and win the match!

It was not the final we were hoping for, a very one-sided game in the end as Gerwyn Price could not replicate the form shown earlier this evening.

Smith starts the campaign with a win, and will be top of the 2024 Premier League Darts table with a maximum of five points.

Gerwyn Price takes out 100 to stay alive in this match, but now he has to break the throw of Michael Smith.

Gerwyn Price looks defeated on the stage.

Michael Smith is running away with the final, a 107 checkout despite a poor first dart just compounds the misery for Gerwyn Price.

'Bully Boy' is one leg from victory.

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After two games averaging over 100, Gerwyn Price's average is below 90 in this final.

It's all going Michael Smith's way in the final, as he takes out 120 for a fourth straight leg to move three clear.

Long way back for Gerwyn Price now, who needs to find two breaks.

It doesn't look like he will at this rate.

Three straight legs for Michael Smith, and he is half way to winning this opening night in Cardiff.

Does Gerwyn Price have a comeback in him?

Michael Smith has hit a maximum in all four legs so far in this final!

The first break of the final goes the way of Michael Smith.

Gerwyn Price is struggling to find the trebles, much like he did to start his quarter-final against Nathan Aspinall.

Games can get away from your quickly in the Premier League, so 'The Iceman' needs to get his eye in quickly.

Michael Smith has started three legs on the spin with a maximum!

Another 180 to start a leg from Michael Smith, and despite intentionally busting a 20 checkout after two poor darts, 'Bully Boy' makes no mistake on the second visit with Price far behind.