Michael van Gerwen beats Nathan Aspinall to win Premier League of Darts night in Newcastle - as it happened

Summary

Final result: Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
Van Gerwen makes it three successive nightly wins
Semi-final results: Aspinall 6-4 Cross & Littler 5-6 Van Gerwen
Quarter-final results: Smith 5-6 Aspinall, Cross 6-5 Humphries, Wright 5-6 Littler, Price 4-6 Van Gerwen
Aspinall's first wins of 2024 Premier League season; Wright yet to win
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Live Reporting

Sam Drury

Postpublished at 21:06 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 2-4 Michael van Gerwen
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
Michael van Gerwen clearly likes the lie of his darts tonight because he's going for the 180s. There was a time he'd be going 60, 57, 54, but he clearly likes the lie tonight.
This is exceptional.
12-darter for MVGpublished at 21:06 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 2-4 Michael van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
Back-to-back 180s for Michael van Gerwen gives everyone hope of a nine-darter.
That's not to be as he misses the treble 20 with dart seven but it's no matter, he's well ahead and secures the hold in 12 darts.
Postpublished at 21:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 2-3 Michael van Gerwen
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
That is a brilliant dart. I thought we'd get the roar and we did.
Price takes out 117published at 21:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 2-3 Michael van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
Michael van Gerwen gives himself a shot at bullseye for a 164 out but misses by a distance.
It's over to Gerwyn Price on 117 - and his takes it out brilliantly before letting out a roar.
He's still right in this!
Postpublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 1-3 Michael van Gerwen
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
Michael van Gerwen has the break but he won't rest on that. He'll keep going on the hunt for more.
Two-leg lead for MVGpublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 1-3 Michael van Gerwen
It's Michael van Gerwen's turn for a simple hold.
Although it gets marginally more tricky after missing multiple darts at double.
Eventually, he gets double five to go up 3-1.
Price on the boardpublished at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 1-2 Michael van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
Nice and easy for Gerwyn Price. A simple hold sealed with a double 10.
Postpublished at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 0-2 Michael van Gerwen
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
There has been some amazing darts tonight.
Both of them look at it. There are two former World champions - the will to win is there.
MVG holdspublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 0-2 Michael van Gerwen
So close to a brilliant 132 checkout for Gerwyn Price.
He hits the two bulls but is the wrong side of the wire on double 16!
Michael van Gerwen doesn't give him another dart, a second 13-darter in as many legs for the Dutchman.
MVG breaks earlypublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 0-1 Michael van Gerwen
Fast start for Michael van Gerwen as he hits the first 180 of the match.
He misses double eight for the break but when Gerwyn Price doesn't take out 160, Mighty Mike is back to get it at the second attempt.
Postpublished at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price 0-0 Michael van Gerwen
A repeat of last year's Premier League final and a first meeting of the year for these two big hitters.
Gerwyn Price has the darts.
Postpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
Michael van Gerwen is still not playing anywhere near his best but he does go through spells where he's nowhere near his best but wins. He's able to accept that now.
He was off it last week but still won. That's how good he is.
Postpublished at 20:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price can't help but smile as the crowd boo when he is announced.
They're soon signing along to his walk-on song mind, Don't Stop Believin' by Journey - he's stuck with the same song for a change.
Michael van Gerwen sticks with his usual Seven Nation Army and has the crowd chanting his name.
'Both of us know we've got to turn up to win'published at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price speaking to Sky Sports: "Hopefully I'll play just as well as I did in the final last year against Michael van Gerwen here. I'm after the first two points in the first round and then anything can happen after that.
"I am a little bit patchy on my scoring but my doubles are definitely letting me down and letting players in the game. The more I play I'll sharpen up.
"We just know our game and we know if we don't play well we'll lose so that what brings the best out of us. Michael knows he has to turn up and I know the same against him."
Quarter-final #4published at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Image source, PA Media
Last but my no means least in the quarter-finals, it's Gerwyn Price versus Michael van Gerwen.
It's been a mixed bag for Price so far this year, a beaten finalist in home of a home crowd in Cardiff on night one, out in the first round in Berlin and then beaten 6-3 by Luke Humphries in the semis last week.
That's been enough to keep him in touch with the top four but he'll want to kick on this week.
That will be easier said than done as he faces a confident MVG this week.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen came out on top in both Berlin and Glasgow and is three points clear at the top of the table.
He's bounced back well from a quarter-final loss to Michael Smith in Cardiff and overcome World Championship finalists Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in final-leg deciders in the last two finals.
Postpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Result: Peter Wright 5-6 Luke Littler
Image source, PA Media
Another sensational match. Neither player deserved to lose.
Both averaged in excess of 100 - 103.99 for Luke Littler, 103.37 for Peter Wright and they hit six 180s apiece as well.
Wright has even the more efficient on the doubles at 45.5% to Littler's 37.5% but he couldn't hit his one dart for the match.
Littler got his and he is through to the semi-finals.
Postpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Result: Peter Wright 5-6 Luke Littler
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
You were brilliant, Peter Wright. Whatever you're doing in practice is working.
Littler into the semis!published at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Breaking
Peter Wright 5-6 Luke Littler
Image source, PA Media
Big time from Luke Littler! His sixth 180 of the match puts him in command of the leg... and he makes it count!
Peter Wright was brilliant tonight but Littler gets the job done.
He hits tops for the match and advances to the last four.
We've got another decider!published at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Peter Wright 5-5 Luke Littler
Peter Wright misses double 16 for the match and Luke Littler takes out 85 in two darts.
We're got another deciding leg!
Littler has the darts...
Postpublished at 20:43 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February
Peter Wright 5-4 Luke Littler
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
It has been a splendid performance from Peter Wright. He is starting to right those wrongs.
He looks so formidable right now.