Van Gerwen overcomes Littler to triumph in Berlin

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 08 2024

Michael van Gerwen survived two match darts to edge out Luke Littler and claim the Night Two title on a thrilling night of BetMGM Premier League action in Berlin.

Table-topper Smith has 'momentum' ahead of Night Two in Berlin

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 08 2024

Michael Smith believes he’s starting to reap the rewards for his hard work after returning to winning ways on Night One of the BetMGM Premier League last week.

2024 BetMGM Premier League - Night Two preview

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 07 2024

Michael Smith will aim to extend his lead at the top of the BetMGM Premier League table on Thursday, as darts’ biggest roadshow visits Berlin on Night Two.

Super Smith sinks Price to claim Night One victory in Cardiff

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 01 2024

Michael Smith made the perfect start to the 2024 BetMGM Premier League season on Thursday, defeating home favourite Gerwyn Price to triumph on Night One in Cardiff.

Where to watch the 2024 BetMGM Premier League

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 01 2024

Check out where you can watch the 2024 BetMGM Premier League wherever you are.

2024 BetMGM Premier League programme launched

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 01 2024

The official 2024 BetMGM Premier League programme is available to purchase online now!

Littler to show support for MNDA during 2024 Premier League

BetMGM Premier League

Feb 01 2024

New darts superstar Luke Littler will show his support for the Motor Neurone Disease Association by wearing the charity's logo during the 2024 BetMGM Premier League season.

2024 BetMGM Premier League - Night One preview

BetMGM Premier League

Jan 31 2024

World Champion Luke Humphries will take on teenage sensation Luke Littler on the opening night of the 2024 BetMGM Premier League on Thursday.

2024 BetMGM Premier League fixtures confirmed

BetMGM Premier League

Jan 23 2024

Luke Humphries and Luke Littler will lock horns in a repeat of the World Championship final on the opening night of the BetMGM Premier League on February 1.

Enjoy the BetMGM Premier League with sportsbreaks.com packages!

BetMGM Premier League

Jan 23 2024

Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Nathan Aspinall, Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Peter Wright and Luke Littler will battle it out in the 2024 BetMGM Premier League.

The 2020 Unibet Premier League will be staged from February 6 - May 21 2020 at venues across Europe.

The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, on PDCTV-HD for Rest of the World Subscribers and through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and RTL7.

All 16 venues are now on sale via their relevant box-office:

Night One, Thursday February 6 - Aberdeen
P&J Live
Tickets: ticketmaster.co.uk

Night Two, Thursday February 13 - Nottingham
Motorpoint Arena
Tickets: motorpointarenanottingham.com

Night Three, Thursday February 20 - Cardiff
Motorpoint Arena
Tickets: motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

Night Four, Thursday February 27 - Dublin
3Arena
Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Night Five, Thursday March 5 - Exeter
Westpoint
Tickets: ticketzone.co.uk

Night Six, Thursday March 12 - Liverpool
M&S Bank Arena
Tickets: mandsbankarena.com

Night Seven, Thursday March 19 - Newcastle
Utilita Arena
Tickets: ticketmaster.co.uk

Night Eight, Wednesday March 25 - Rotterdam
Rotterdam Ahoy
Tier tickets: ticketmaster.nl
Table tickets: ticketmaster.nl

Judgement Night, Thursday March 26 - Rotterdam
Rotterdam Ahoy
Tier tickets: ticketmaster.nl
Table tickets: ticketmaster.nl

Night Ten, Thursday April 2 - Belfast
SSE Arena
Tickets: ticketmaster.ie

Night 11, Thursday April 9 - Sheffield
FlyDSA Arena
Tickets: flydsaarena.co.uk

Night 12, Thursday April 16 - Manchester
The Manchester Arena
Tickets: ticketmaster.co.uk

Night 13, Thursday April 23 - Berlin
Mercedes-Benz Arena
Tickets: mercedes-benz-arena-berlin.de

Night 14, Thursday April 30 - Birmingham
Arena Birmingham
Tickets: theticketfactory.com

Night 15, Thursday May 7 - Glasgow
The SSE Hydro
Tickets: ticketmaster.co.uk

Night 16, Thursday May 14 - Leeds
First Direct Arena
Tickets: firstdirectarena.com

Play-Offs, Thursday May 21 - London
The O2
Tickets: theo2.co.uk

Michael Smith celebrated his first televised nine-dart finish in the in Dublin on Thursday, as Michael van Gerwen moved back to the top of the Unibet Premier League table.

Smith followed two 180s with a sublime 141 checkout to bring 9,000 fans to their feet at a sell-out 3Arena, hitting the Premier League's first perfect leg for almost three years.

The moment of magic came in the fourth leg of a tight contest as he levelled, with Gurney then leading 5-4 before seeing Smith claim the game's final three legs to take victory.

"It's a feeling you can't explain - it's amazing," said Smith. "I've never hit a nine-darter on TV before and this was special. I've never felt my heart beat so fast in my life!

"It's something on my list that I've ticked off now and I'm over the moon, but even more pleased to get the win too. I could have played better but I'm chuffed to get the win."

Smith has now put himself in pole position in the race to claim a £50,000 bonus from sponsors Unibet should a player achieve two nine-darters during the 2020 season, with his perfect leg being the first in the event since Adrian Lewis in April 2017.

Smith is one of five players sat on five points in a congested league table, one behind reigning champion Van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall, who both enjoyed wins in Dublin.

Van Gerwen denied Challenger William O'Connor a victory in front of his home fans with a 7-4 success to return to the top of the league table on leg difference ahead of Aspinall.

Limerick's O'Connor - who enjoyed a spine-tingling walk-on - pulled back from 3-1 down to level after six legs, only for Van Gerwen to pull clear in the final stages.

"It was a phenomenal atmosphere tonight and I think for William it was like my first time playing in Rotterdam," said Van Gerwen.

"I've had a lot of good games against him in the past and he played okay tonight. It was tough for me and I had to fight for this win so I'm happy.

"There's more in the tank but I feel good and it's nice to be back on top of the table."

O'Connor was the fourth of the nine Challengers to take to the Premier League stage, and the World Cup finalist admitted it was an unforgettable experience.

"Regardless of the result, it's the best night of my life," said O'Connor. "I've a lot to learn from tonight and it will definitely hold me in good stead for the future.

"I've had a fantastic night. It's a pity the result went the way it did but I played the world number one in my home country. It was everything that I could have wished for."

Aspinall jumped above Glen Durrant in the table with a 7-5 win from their contest to open Night Four in Dublin in front of a sell-out 9,000 crowd.

Durrant took out 144 on the way to a 3-1 advantage, and also led 4-3 before Aspinall finished 85 and a key 129 to move himself ahead for the first time.

Durrant punished three missed doubles from the UK Open champion to level in leg ten, but double seven secured Aspinall a minimum of a point before he followed a 177 with an 88 checkout to seal a third win of the season.

"I'm a happy guy," said Aspinall. "The start wasn't good but Glen let me off with some missed doubles. The 129 was a massive shot and I knew it, and in patches I played well.

"I've never played well against Glen but I had a bit of luck tonight at crucial times and I got the job done. I'm in a good position at the moment and I want to build on this."

Aspinall added: "The crowd were phenomenal tonight and it was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere."

Gerwyn Price moved into third place in the table with a ruthless 7-1 demolition of World Champion Peter Wright, who shared the opening two legs before seeing the Welsh ace reel off six in a row, including a ten-darter.

"It's a very good win for me," said Price. "I've had three draws so it's nice to get the win and get my campaign underway, and I feel like I'm in the tournament now.

"I was a bit edgy and I wasn't at my best, but I'll take a 7-1 win over Peter any day of the week. Peter wasn't scoring well and he didn't perform tonight, but he will come back from this."

Gary Anderson picked up his second victory of the season by seeing off Rob Cross 7-5 in their Dublin contest, jumping above the 2019 Premier League finalist in the process.

Anderson took out finishes of 109 and 106 as he shared the opening eight legs before taking out 85 to move ahead, while a 14-darter secured at least a draw.

Cross took out a superb 128 bull finish to hit back, but was unable to check out 124 in the decider as Anderson returned to land double ten for the triumph.

"Some of it was pretty and some of it was awful, but it's nice to scrape a win there. I'm still making mistakes but there's times that the throw is working and it will come good.

"It's going well on the practice board and I want to take it up on stage. My darts are getting a bit better week by week - tonight wasn't quite as good but that was down to the person throwing them!"

The Unibet Premier League season continues on Thursday March 5 with Night Five at Westpoint Exeter, where Van Gerwen will meet Smith and Anderson plays Challenger Luke Humphries, the reigning World Youth Champion.

Unibet Premier League
Night Four
Thursday February 27

3Arena, Dublin
Glen Durrant 5-7 Nathan Aspinall
Rob Cross 5-7 Gary Anderson
Daryl Gurney 5-7 Michael Smith - Michael Smith hits nine-dart finish
William O'Connor 4-7 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 7-1 Peter Wright