Premier League darts announcement LIVE: Full line-up REVEALED as Luke Littler leads the way but two World Champs AXED
THE PREMIER League Darts line-up has now been CONFIRMED - and two former world champions have been AXED from the competition
Tournament holder and new world champ Luke Littler will be looking to retain the title he won during his unprecedented first 12 months in the sport.
Littler will compete in the 17-week extravaganza alongside some of the sport's biggest names, including Michael van Gerwen and World No1 Luke Humphries.
But TWO former world champs have been brutally AXED from the star-studded eight-man field.
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Littler 2-0 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-2)
BREAK OF THROW FOR LITTLER!
Almost a nod of approval from Van Gerwen as Littler bangs in an 11-dart leg to break the throw.
Van Gerwen could only hit 44 when back on 128 and Littler was left on 50. Going for bull would've been cheeky, so he goes 10, D20 and goes two up in this set!
Littler 1-0 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-2)
Peach of a hold from the young man.
Three big visits to start the leg but MVG just about sticks with him.
Littler on 130 - he's already taken this out - but misses the bullseye to take it out this time.
Van Gerwen can't get close to a decent finish so Littler's allowed a chance to finish and does so easily.
Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-2)
Littler with the darts in this set.
Match stats so far
- 180s thrown: Littler 11-11 Van Gerwen
- 140s thrown: Littler 27-26 Van Gerwen
- Average: Littler 101.9 - 98.51 Van Gerwen
- Legs won: Littler 18-11 Van Gerwen
- Highest checkout: Littler 130 - 132 Van Gerwen
VAN GERWEN GETS ANOTHER!
Luke Littler 5-2 Michael van Gerwen
Van Gerwen opens the leg with a 180 and it looked for the first few visits that he was cantering to victory in the set.
Littler's 180 late in the day put a bit of pressure on but with MVG leaving 40 after excellent set-up play, it was too little too late.
Van Gerwen needs just one at tops and he's closed the deficit.
Littler 2-2 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-1)
We're going to a deciding leg!
Littler scoots miles clear this time and leaves 46 when MVG can't finish his 139.
A single 6 and double 20 follow for Littler to take us all the way.
MVG with the darts in this one, though!
Littler 1-2 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-1)
Littler leaves himself 170 but Van Gerwen is ahead again in the leg.
After nine darts, he's back at the board, MVG and after a first missed dart at double, he follows up with a leg-winning throw.
A 12-dart leg for him, too. Much better from Van Gerwen who will be eyeing a break of throw here.
Littler 1-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-1)
Ooooh, Van Gerwen with a sniff of a break as he leaves a ton and Littler behind on 124.
The teenager is up first but you'd assume if you were MVG you'd at least get a chance at this 100.
Assume wrong. Littler hits 20, T18 and the bullseye. Some hold of throw.
Littler 0-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 5-1)
Comfortable hold of throw for Michael van Gerwen, who wins the opening leg at a canter there.
He's got the darts in this set so you fancy he has to win it, and win it well.
SET LITTLER!
Luke Littler 5-1 Michael van Gerwen
Punishing stuff from Littler, starting with a 180 once again.
MVG puts pressure on eventually, late in the day to make Littler think about his 35 checkout.
But it almost feels like the single hit is just as easy as the double 10. Both go with ease and it's 5-1!
Littler 2-2 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-1)
Littler misses BULL for the leg to snatch it off Van Gerwen.
MVG on 62 but only gets one dart at D16 and the pressure is on.
But his dart lands smack bang middle of the green bed. Another punch of the air from him.
He only needs to break the youngster's throw now!
Littler 2-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-1)
Staying on throw in this set as Littler hits four perfect darts to open the leg.
Much better from him too as he coasts away from MVG and with 30 left goes 10, D10 which is strong for him again.
Van Gerwen needs to hold now.
Littler 1-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-1)
Van Gerwen again nearly gifts Littler the leg but MVG does hold.
And he's animated in punching the air as that one goes in, too.
MVG hits a 180 on route to having a dart at D18 which misses inside.
Littler misses D20 for a 104 checkout before MVG comes back for D9 but hits the single before going 7 then D1. Strange but effective, I guess!
Littler 1-0 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-1)
Of course he does. A hold for Littler.
Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-1)
Nope. Just the six perfect darts on this occasion.
Not a bad visit to come back after the break. If he sees it out, that is.
Littler 0-0 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-1)
Hang on, Littler's hit SIX perfect darts.
Are we....
Littler with the darts
Set six on the way and Littler has the darts here.
Will that set defeat have rumbled him?
Comeback on?
Still not wholly convincing from either player, if we're being honest.
But Van Gerwen has to be nipping off stage feeling better about himself.
The start of a huge comeback? The bookmakers don't reckon so but he's been cut now into 6/1. Littler remains 1/10.
VAN GERWEN'S ON THE BOARD!
Luke Littler 4-1 Michael van Gerwen
Finally, the Dutchman's turned up!
Although it's needed an absolute cracker to do so. A 132 checkout via 25, T19 and then the bull. That's got to feel good.
Barely a smile out him, too. Work to do yet.
Littler 1-2 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-0)
Another hold of throw for Van Gerwen - he's trending the right way!
He's still far from clinical on those doubles though. Needing two at D10 to eventually claim the hold of throw.
But better from him. Can he break the Littler throw here to get on the board?
Littler 1-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-0)
First 100+ checkout of the match - and it's Littler's to hold throw.
Van Gerwen nowhere near him in scoring this time and the 17-year-old takes out 130 with a T20, T10 and D20. Belter.
Littler 0-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 4-0)
A hold of throw for Van Gerwen to start set five.
The pair trade 180s in the process but Van Gerwen's scoring is much bigger and he's allowed time to take out tops.
He needs another visit as Littler puts pressure on eventually but in the third dart, he takes out D10.
Legs won
Littler - 12
MVG - 3
All getting a touch silly isn't it. And Littler hasn't yet done something mind-blowing yet, either.
So we've still got that to look forward to...
SET FOUR TO LITTLER!!
LITTLER FOUR. VAN GERWEN NIL.
The three-time champ is getting an absolute thumping here.
Van Gerwen has darts for the leg too. Missing D16, then D8 and then BUSTS his score on 8, hitting D13 instead.
Littler had just missed the bullseye for a 170 again in the visit prior. So he's back for 25.
Single 5, double 10. 4-0. And a HUGE roar in celebration from Littler who pumps his hands to the crowd as they sing.
Told the missus to pop the kettle on, I'll be home shortly!
Littler 2-1 Van Gerwen (SETS 3-0)
BREAK OF THROW FROM MVG!
Better from him, though it looked as though the opportunity had passed when missing his one dart at D16.
Littler follows him there, with two darts to claim the set but his two goes at D16 miss the outside of the wire.
MVG comes back and hits single 16 before cleaning up D8. Not even any sort of celebration from him.
