Premier League Darts Cardiff LIVE RESULTS: Michael Smith batters home hero Price in final after beating Luke Littler
MICHAEL SMITH thrashed home hero Gerwyn Price 6-2 to win the first night of the Premier League Darts in Cardiff.
Smith narrowly got past teen sensation Luke Littler in the semi-final, beating the 17-year-old 6-5.
Though wonderkid Littler did batter World No 1 Luke Humphries 6-2 in the quarter-final to put two points on the board.
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Luke’s new look
Luke Littler showed off a new look for his Premier League darts debut last night.
The 17-year-old was looking fresh-faced after shaving off his facial hair.
Littler cruised through to the semi-finals after beating world champion Luke Humphries 6-2.
Fans were loving his performance, with the crowd chanting “There’s only one Luke Littler” throughout.
Lineup for next week
Next week’s Premier League Darts will see the tour move on to Berlin, Germany.
Here is a look at the lineup that German crowds can look forward to seeing…
- Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
- Michael Smith vs Gerwyn Price
- Luke Littler vs Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries vs Peter Wright
Littler 'the biggest name'
Michael Smith claims 17-year-old Luke Littler is already a bigger name in darts than the sport's greatest-ever legend - Phil Taylor.
Smith was dazzled by Littler's aura despite pipping him in the semi-final of the whizkid's Premier League debut.
Smith said: “I actually thought in the semi-final Luke Littler was Welsh.
"It’s going to be every week, it doesn’t matter where it is.
“Everyone’s fallen in love with him. He’s even bigger than Phil Taylor who won 16 world titles, Luke is the most popular thing in darts.”
Littler warns against scam
Luke Littler has warned fans not to fall for a scam using his signature.
He said: "There are a few people out there who will try to steal it (my signature) and say it’s me and that.
"I have seen quite a few over the past few weeks after the world championship.
"People have been privately messaging me saying: ‘Have you signed this, have you signed that?’
"No. Sorry to bring it to you, but I haven’t signed much."
Credit: Alamy Lineup for next week's Premier League Darts
The Premier League will travel to Germany next week, with the action taking place in Berlin.
It will be an opportunity for Luke Littler to bounce back from the semi-final defeat he suffered to eventual winner Michael Smith.
Littler did, however, beat the PDC World Champion Luke Humphries in his quarter-final, avenging his loss in the worlds.
Here's how the matches are looking.
- Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
- Michael Smith vs Gerwyn Price
- Luke Littler vs Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries vs Peter Wright
Smith reflects on victory
Michael Smith couldn’t stop smiling after his Prem Darts win.
The victory came after he failed to defend his title at the PDC Worlds in January.
That title instead went to Luke Littler.
But Smith has taken a step to getting things back on track with a huge win in the season opener.
He said: “It was just my own darts tonight, that’s all I was focusing on.
“Whether 6-0 or 6-5, just hold your own throw.
“Final the easiest of the matches? Not with the crowd it wasn’t!
“I don’t blame them as they wanted to cheer on their own man. I’m sorry I won!
“I got a telling off from my wife last week because she said I was throwing so slow I made it look hard work.
“So upstairs I was making sure they were on fire, out of my hand, out of my hand. I’ll find it eventually.”
What is the Premier League prize money?
There's a lot on offer in Premier League Darts, and Luke Littler will no doubt be buzzing to have been promoted to the tournament following his excellent performances at the PDCs.
- Winner: £275,000
- Runner-up: £125,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £85,000
- Fifth place: £75,000
- Sixth place: £70,000
- Seventh place: £65,000
- Eighth place: £60,000
- Winner’s bonus per tournament: £10,000 (x16)
Luke Humphries opens up about mental health journey
World champion Luke Humphries has opened up about his mental health journey and huge weight loss after winning the world title.
The reigning champion said he considered quitting the sport after crippling anxiety led to a hearth health scare.
During the covid lockdown, when he sought professional help, he managed to get his anxiety in check.
And that coincided with the player losing a whopping four stone as he tried to improve his general health.
It's paid dividends, with the arrow-thrower winning this year's world title back in Janaury.
When will Luke Littler next be in action?
Luke Littler crashed out at the semi-final stage of yesterday's Premier League Darts season opener.
He was defeated 6-5 by eventual winner Michael Smith.
He will next be in action when the tour moves to Berlin next week where he'll be taking on Rob Cross on February 8.
Recap of yesterday’s Premier League Darts season opener
Here's a recap of how the season opener of yesterday's Premier League Darts went down, with Luke Littler losing in the semis to eventual winner Michael Smith.
Quarter-finals
- Rob Cross 6-3 Peter Wright
- Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Gerwyn Price
- Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Michael Smith
- Luke Littler 6-2 Luke Humphries
Semi-finals
- Michael Smith 6-5 Luke Littler
- Rob Cross 2-6 Gerwyn Price
Final
- Gerwyn Price 2-6 Michael Smith
Next week's lineup
Next week's Premier League Darts will see the tour move to Berlin in Germany.
And here's the lineup German crowds can look forward to seeing...
- Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
- Michael Smith vs Gerwyn Price
- Luke Littler vs Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries vs Peter Wright
Luke's new look
Luke Littler showed off a new look for his Premier League darts debut last night.
The 17-year-old was looking fresh-faced after shaving off his facial hair.
Littler cruised through to the semi-finals after beating world champion Luke Humphries 6-2.
Fans were loving his performance, with the crowd chanting "There’s only one Luke Littler" throughout.
What is the Premier League prize money?
There's certainly plenty to play for...
- Winner: £275,000
- Runner-up: £125,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £85,000
- Fifth place: £75,000
- Sixth place: £70,000
- Seventh place: £65,000
- Eighth place: £60,000
- Winner's bonus per tournament: £10,000 (x16)
Littler warns against scam
Luke Littler has warned fans not to fall for a scam using his signature.
He said: “There are a few people out there who will try to steal it (my signature) and say it’s me and that.
“I have seen quite a few over the past few weeks after the world championship.
“People have been privately messaging me saying: ‘Have you signed this, have you signed that?’
“No. Sorry to bring it to you, but I haven’t signed much…”
Smith delights in victory
Michael Smith couldn't stop smiling after his Prem Darts win.
He said: “It was just my own darts tonight, that’s all I was focusing on.
“Whether 6-0 or 6-5, just hold your own throw.
“Final the easiest of the matches? Not with the crowd it wasn’t!
“I don’t blame them as they wanted to cheer on their own man. I’m sorry I won!
“I got a telling off from my wife last week because she said I was throwing so slow I made it look hard work.
“So upstairs I was making sure they were on fire, out of my hand, out of my hand. I’ll find it eventually.”
Recap of yesterday's Premier League Darts season opener
Quarter-finals
- Rob Cross 6-3 Peter Wright
- Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Gerwyn Price
- Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Michael Smith
- Luke Littler 6-2 Luke Humphries
Semi-finals
- Michael Smith 6-5 Luke Littler
- Rob Cross 2-6 Gerwyn Price
Final
- Gerwyn Price 2-6 Michael Smith
Littler shows off new look on Premier League Darts debut
Luke Littler showed off a new look on his Premier League Darts debut yesterday evening.
The 17-year-old took to the oche with a freshly shaven face at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff.
He went head-to-head with Luke Humphries in his Premier League debut and cruised straight through to the semi-finals with a 6-2 win.
Fans were loving his performance, with the crowd chanting ‘There’s only one Luke Littler’ throughout.
The teen sensation was later knocked out in the semi-final by eventual winner, Michael Smith.
Credit: REUTERS Onto next week
And it's Berlin for week two next Thursday.
Here's the quarter-final line-up:
- Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
- Michael Smith vs Gerwyn Price
- Luke Littler vs Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries vs Peter Wright
See you in Germany!
From Rob Maul in Cardiff
Michael Smith, who beat Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the quarter-finals, celebrated the triumph in his £700 Valentino trainers.
The world No.3 said: “With the crowd, the easiest match was against Van Gerwen. That was okay.
“With Luke there were a couple of whistles. It happened against Gezzy. I don’t blame them as they want to cheer on their home guy. That is what they are here for. You expect it.
“I am sorry to everyone that I had to win. I got a telling off from the wife last week for throwing so slowly.
“The only thing I did tonight was on my own throw. Lucky enough in the final I kicked off with 180s. I just focused on my own darts.”
Early leader
Michael Smith leads the way after night one and is out on top on five points.
Price sits second on three, with Cross and Littler on two.
That'll be all change next week as they four all meet each other in the quarter finals next week.
View of SunSport's Rob Maul inside Cardiff's Utilita Arena
Michael Smith became the Prince of Wales in darts as he broke Gerwyn Price’s heart and blocked out the local whistlers.
Bully Boy crushed local hero Price 6-2 in a demolition job in the final of Night One of the Premier League.
Price, 38, came into the final with the full crowd’s support of the Utilita Arena but he was unable to provide them with the win as they all left for home.
Smith, 33, begins his campaign with five points to top the eight-man table and bank the £10,000 win bonus.
And more importantly he silenced the pesky punters who had tried but failed to put him off in the semi-final with Luke Littler.
When Smith was throwing for key doubles against the teen sensation, an imbecile in the venue was whistling constantly to try and put him off.
When he managed to take out the double and knock out Boy Wonder, the St Helens thrower turned around angrily and did a neck-slitting gesture.
At least when he overcame the Iceman, he did not react or give it back to those who were causing the distraction.
Some run
A tremendous night for Smith, beating MVG and Littler before thumping the home favourite in the final.
He's handed a trophy for winning tonight - a new addition to the 2024 Premier League.
Smith reacts
Michael Smith was pleased with his win on night one, admitting he was just focusing on his own darts.
He also understood the stick he took from the Cardiff faithful, especially in the final.
He told Sky Sports: "“It was just my own darts tonight, that’s all I was focusing on.
“Whether 6-0 or 6-5, just hold your own throw.
“Final the easiest of the matches? Not with the crowd it wasn’t!
“I don’t blame them as they wanted to cheer on their own man. I’m sorry I won!
“I got a telling off from my wife last week because she said I was throwing so slow I made it look hard work.
“So upstairs I was making sure they were on fire, out of my hand, out of my hand. I’ll find it eventually.”
Gerwyn Price 2-6 Michael Smith
GAME SHOT AND THE MATCH!
Michael Smith tops the table after winning night one of the 2024 Premier League!
Gerwyn Price 2-5 Michael Smith
Michael Smith starts 140, 180 - his fifth maximum of this match - Price hasn't had one!
He kicks clear and it's all down to the doubles now.
He's left himself 10 - Price is on 219!
