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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View of SunSport's Rob Maul inside Cardiff's Utilita Arena
Michael Smith knocks out Michael van Gerwen and hardly celebrates.
Both men were below par for what we know they can produce.
What a turgid evening it has been at present. It must get better than this. Surely.
Millions of fans are tuning in, some for the first time, and they will want more entertainment than we have seen so far.
Next up is the Lukes of Hazard – Humphries v Littler.
Van Gerwen 5-6 Smith
Van Gerwen opened that leg with a 140 - and hit absolutely heehaw after that.
Even when Smith failed to take out 156, MVG had 130 left and hit the grand total of 21.
Smith tidies up a 60 checkout and the pair shake hands. No real celebration from Smith who'll be relieved to have come through that.
Van Gerwen 5-6 Smith
GAME SHOT AND THE MATCH - MICHAEL SMITH!
Wow, what a terrible final leg from both players but Smith sneaks through as MVG goes out in the quarters.
Van Gerwen 5-5 Smith
Stunning leg from Smith.
No sign of nerves there as he needs five darts from 206.
We go into a decider - MVG with the darts in hand!
Van Gerwen 5-4 Smith
From 4-2 down to 5-4 up - MVG is ahead for the first time on the night.
He leaves himself 32 and has six darts at it.
He needs just the one and is a leg away from victory in this quarter.
Van Gerwen 4-4 Smith
BREAK OF THROW!
It is two for MVG!
They've been now hit 4 of 11 shots at the double as Smith doesn't even get one dart at a double from 105.
MVG takes out 17 and we're square again.
Van Gerwen 3-4 Smith
Better from MVG now who sneaks above 101 average with that leg.
Smith never in it and the Dutchman cruises to close the gap.
That's now two legs for Smith, two for MVG, two for Smith - two for MVG?
Van Gerwen 2-4 Smith
A weird one from Smith who powers clear in the leg before going a bit iffy towards the end.
On 65, he accidentally hits 50 instead of 25, then T3 instead of 3 and ends up leaving himself on 3.
MVG can't punish him and Smith misses the board with his first, before hitting 1 and squeezing in a D1 - just.
Van Gerwen 2-3 Smith
BREAK OF THROW!
Smith hits a 180 and MVG reciprocates.
He is the first on a finish but can't take out 86, leaving 18.
MVG is on 99 and hits 19 before trying a special D20, D20 finish. He hits the first and misses the second!
Smith cleans up the 18.
Van Gerwen 2-2 Smith
BREAK OF THROW!
In the blink of an eye, it's level!
The match being played at a rapid pace and MVG is able to capitalise this time when putting himself in a good position.
Van Gerwen 1-2 Smith
Smith has a dart at double 4 for a 3-0 lead - but misses on the outer.
Van Gerwen has an awkward finish having failed to take out D14 in the throw prior, hitting the single.
He just needs one dart for 14 and takes it.
Van Gerwen 0-2 Smith
Ahhh great stuff from Smith!
MVG has a dart at D13 to level it up when trying to take out 81 but fails to do so.
Smith is on 120 and he's architected that finish.
Not just that, he then follows it up by taking it out to consolidate the break!
Van Gerwen 0-1 Smith
BREAK OF THROW!
First strike Bully Boy!
MVG puts the pressure on Smith's 20 by leaving himself 56.
But after hitting the 10, Bully takes out D5 to break in the opening leg.
Ready to go
MVG with the darts in the first leg here.
A tough section, this bottom half of the draw. Let's see who prevails!
Next up
The Michael derby!
"Ohhhh Michael van Gerwen" is the cheer as he takes to the stage after Michael Smith.
A really good reception for the Green Machine.
- MVG - 2/5
- Smith - 7/4
View of SunSport's Rob Maul inside Cardiff's Utilita Arena
Gerwyn Price is a relieved man there as he managed to progress on his fourth match dart.
There was a danger it may have gone to a last-leg decider.
The Iceman has changed his walk-on music.
It used to be ‘Ice, Ice, Baby’ by Vanilla Ice.
But for his homecoming, as he wears a red shirt, he has changed it to ‘Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.
The crowd will be with him all the way – the question is whether anyone can stop him on his home turf?
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Price is on 160, when he scores only 40 after an unfortunate bounce out.
Aspinall can level it if he takes out 40 --- which he CAN'T!
Price still has work on having left 120 - T20, 20, D20.
The pair share a smile and a hug as the Cardiff fans go wild!
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
GAME SHOT AND THE MATCH!
Gerwyn Price takes the victory in front of his own fans - he'll be back to take on Rob Cross in the semis later!
Gerwyn Price 5-4 Nathan Aspinall
BREAK OF THROW!
Well, maybe it wasn't all over after all....
Aspinall looking for a big finish with Price left on 36 and he can't take it out.
A wry smile as Price has the chance to put the match away. But he goes inside the 18 before failing twice at D9.
Aspinall swoops in to nick the leg off the Welshman with D4 who shakes his head in disgust!
Gerwyn Price 5-3 Nathan Aspinall
BREAK OF THROW!
And a significant one as Price moves within one leg of victory here.
He has the darts in hand after breaking Aspinall's throw here.
With the Englishman on 100, Price knows he might only get one chance at 36. And he only needs one dart to take it out.
Gerwyn Price 4-3 Nathan Aspinall
Sluggish start to the match but Price is rolling now.
He makes a hash of setting up a finish, instead leaving himself 99.
Fortunately for him, Aspinall still has over 300 to find.
Price is afforded the chance to hit 59 in his next visit and takes out 40 with one dart in his next throw.
Gerwyn Price 3-3 Nathan Aspinall
A hold from Aspinall, who nearly goes two legs down.
A 164 attempt from Price is foiled as he again leaves himself on the bull which he can't take out.
Aspinall had left 36 and takes it out with his first attempt.
Gerwyn Price 3-2 Nathan Aspinall
A 13, 12 and then another 13-dart leg from Price.
It's very nearly another 12 when hitting T20, T20 on a 170, only to miss the bullseye, hitting the 18.
He can afford a smile as he leaves 32 and takes it out in the next throw.
The momentum has changed - as has the atmosphere!
Gerwyn Price 2-2 Nathan Aspinall
BREAK OF THROW!
Price building up ahead of steam - a 125 average in that leg!
Aspinall has 112 left with Price on 124 and with a single in his first throw, it looks like Price is unable to capitalise.
But he takes it out with a bullseye - a 12-darter to level it up!
Gerwyn Price 1-2 Nathan Aspinall
A settler for Price, who is on the board.
Two 140s to start, he builds up a cushion on Aspinall and leaves himself 24 with the Englishman left high and dry.
This time, he just needs one dart to take it out and the Welsh fans almost break into song.
