Littler: Premier League triumph 'a dream come true'

BetMGM Premier League

Luke Littler admitted that his darting dreams have come true after lifting the BetMGM Premier League title on a historic night at The O2 in London on Thursday.

Nine-dart Littler seals Premier League glory on historic night at The O2

BetMGM Premier League

Luke Littler produced a sensational nine-dart finish as he defeated Luke Humphries 11-7 to claim a historic BetMGM Premier League triumph on a record-breaking night at The O2, London on Thursday.

Stat of the Week: Bullseye checkout rate of 2024 Premier League stars

BetMGM Premier League

In his latest 'Stat of the Week' column, PDC Stats Analyst Christopher Kempf evaluates the bullseye checkout rate of the 2024 Premier League competitors...

BetMGM Premier League Play-Offs to feature record crowd at London's O2

BetMGM Premier League

The 2024 BetMGM Premier League Play-Offs will feature the PDC's UK record crowd of 14,000 fans at The O2 in London on Thursday as the global darts boom continues.

2024 BetMGM Premier League Play-Offs preview

BetMGM Premier League

The 2024 BetMGM Premier League will conclude with the Play-Offs in London on Thursday, as the final four compete for the £275,000 top prize at The O2.

Sports Bar & Grill Canary Wharf to host nine-dart challenge for Play-Offs

BetMGM Premier League

Sports Bar & Grill Canary Wharf are offering fans the chance to have the venue named in their honour - if they can check out from 501 in just nine darts.

Graded: The Premier League 'Class of 2024'

Comment

Paul Nicholson grades the Premier League 'Class of 2024'.

2024 BetMGM Premier League - Night 16 preview

BetMGM Premier League

Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith will go head-to-head in a straight shoot-out for Play-Off qualification on Night 16 of the BetMGM Premier League in Sheffield on Thursday.

Humphries claims Leeds title as Van Gerwen reaches Play-Offs

BetMGM Premier League

Luke Humphries celebrated his fourth nightly win of the 2024 BetMGM Premier League at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Thursday, as Michael van Gerwen sealed a Play-Offs place.

Humphries relishing emotional night in Leeds

BetMGM Premier League

World Champion Luke Humphries will take inspiration from Leeds United as he makes his BetMGM Premier League debut in the city on Thursday night.

Michael Smith triumphed on Night 16 of the Cazoo Premier League in Newcastle on Thursday, as Joe Cullen defeated World Champion Peter Wright to seal his place at next month's Play-Offs.

Smith was the only player in this year’s event without a night win to his name ahead of the trip to Tyneside, but the World Championship runner-up rectified that with victory on the final night of league phase action.

Smith recorded impressive wins over Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price at the Utilita Arena, before defying a late fightback from Jonny Clayton to scoop the £10,000 winner’s bonus.

“To finally get that win and get over the line was massive tonight. Sadly I didn't make the top four, but I ended on a high and a positive," said Smith.

“It was only me on zero wins in the Premier League, so I was playing for that, and luckily enough I fell over the line against Jonny."

The St Helen’s star had dumped out Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals for a second straight week, before easing past an out-of-sorts Price, who overcame James Wade earlier in the evening. 

Smith saved his best performance of the night until last, averaging 98 and converting 67% of his attempts at double to leapfrog Price and secure a sixth-place finish.

The 31-year-old made a blistering start to the Night 16 showpiece, following up an early break of throw with legs of 13 and 12 darts to establish a commanding 3-0 cushion.

The world number four extended his lead to 4-0, before Clayton reeled off three successive legs of his own to threaten an unlikely comeback.

Smith then halted Clayton’s charge with a fourth 180 and a 13-darter to move to the cusp of victory, before sealing the deal with a classy 112 checkout, to ensure all eight players ended the campaign with at least one night win to their name.

However, Cullen and Wright’s blockbuster showdown was the headline act in Newcastle, with the winner assured of a coveted top four spot.

The pair were locked on 22 points ahead of Thursday’s clash, but it was Cullen who came out on top in an enthralling affair to cap off a fine debut season.

The Masters champion prevailed on Night 15 in London to move above Wright in the table, and he maintained his fine form to deny the world number one a third Play-Off appearance.

Both players were imperious on the outer ring, with Cullen converting all six of his attempts at double 16 - including a clinical 105 kill in the penultimate leg, with Wright sat on a double after nine darts.

Despite this, Cullen was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish after succumbing to table-topper Clayton in the last four, in a repeat of last week’s final.

The Welshman fought back from 4-2 down to defeat Gary Anderson in the evening’s curtain-raiser, defying a 101 average from the spirited Scot to prevail in a deciding leg.

The reigning Premier League champion then recovered from 3-1 adrift to topple Cullen and reach his eighth final of the season, firing in four 180s in the process.

The Cazoo Premier League roadshow now heads to the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin for the Play-Offs on June 13, with Clayton bidding to retain his title.

The 47-year-old will face Cullen in the opening semi-final, before former champions Van Gerwen and Wade collide – having finished second and third respectively. 

The Cazoo Premier League is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).

2022 Cazoo Premier League
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Thursday May 26
Quarter-Finals

Jonny Clayton 6-5 Gary Anderson
Joe Cullen 6-4 Peter Wright
Michael Smith 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-4 James Wade

Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Joe Cullen
Michael Smith 6-3 Gerwyn Price

Final
Michael Smith 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Click here to view match stats from all Night 16 matches.

Night 17 - Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
Monday June 13
Semi-Finals

Jonny Clayton v Joe Cullen
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade

Final
Clayton/Cullen v Van Gerwen/Wade

Drawboard