Michael van Gerwen beats Luke Littler 8-6 to claim World Series win in Dutch Darts Masters final | Darts News

Luke Littler beat Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price earlier than shedding 8-6 to Michael van Gerwen in the Dutch Darts Masters final; Watch the 2024 Premier League Darts season each Thursday from February 1, beginning in Cardiff, dwell on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen denied teenage sensation Luke Littler a second successive World Series title after claiming an 8-6 victory in a exceptional Dutch Darts Masters final.

Littler got here via a final-leg decider to despatch Luke Humphries in a repeat of this month’s dramatic World Championship final, then noticed off Gerwyn Price 7-4 to attain a World Series final for the second week working.

The 17-year-old was as soon as once more pitted towards Van Gerwen, who had survived scares towards Raymond van Barneveld and Gian van Veen to attain the final, the place the Dutchman avenged final week’s Bahrain Darts Masters loss by taking the title on residence soil.

Littler outscored his opponent with a 106.71 common and made extra 180s than Van Gerwen, though the three-time main champion got here via a detailed contest to raise the trophy at De Maaspoort in Den Bosch.

Van Gerwen denies Littler extra glory

The first two legs went with throw earlier than Van Gerwen responded to shedding the third by instantly breaking again with a shocking 11-darter, earlier than taking out a 78 end on D12 to transfer 3-2 forward.

Littler replied with a 104 checkout on tops for a 12-dart maintain because the pair continued to commerce legs, whereas Van Gerwen fired in a well timed 130 end to edge 5-4 up after being put underneath stress by {the teenager}.

Littler missed a bullseye alternative in the 11th leg however received the subsequent in a 14-darter, solely to be punished by a Van Gerwen 13-dart leg in the 13th after lacking two darts on D8 to break the Dutchman’s throw.

The occasion was agonisingly shut to going right into a final-leg decider when Littler shaved the bullseye wire when chasing the ‘Big Fish’ end, as Van Gerwen punished by taking out an 85 end and securing victory with a 12-darter.

Littler: MVG obtained me in the top!

Luke Littler, talking to ITV: “I put him underneath stress or tried to – he simply would not miss! The crowd have been superb, they need Michael to win and I get that. But what number of 140s did I hit? He lastly obtained me on the finish.

“Hopefully I have never burnt myself out for the Premier League subsequent week! I can not wait to go to Cardiff.”

Michael van Gerwen, talking to ITV: “Luke Littler could have a brilliant future forward of him, everyone knows that. His scoring energy is immense. He does not care about something and he does his personal factor. I feel that is good. It was a fantastic match.

“I wanted my greatest efficiency. We all know I had some actually powerful video games in the final 12 months and I underperformed a number of occasions. You have to be sure you maintain your combating spirit.”

Dramatic day in Den Bosch

Van Gerwen had earlier come again from 5-2 down to snatch a quarter-final victory towards Van Barneveld, breaking throw with a 144 end and 12-dart leg earlier than taking out 124 in the decider, whereas Littler additionally wanted a final leg to see off Humphries.

Littler broke Humphries with a 105 checkout and responded to shedding the subsequent 4 legs by rattling off three consecutive 14-darters to edge 5-4 forward, then recovered from losing three match darts in the 10th leg to nail the bullseye for an 88 checkout in the subsequent.

Price booked his semi-final spot after firing six maximums in a 6-3 victory over Kevin Doets, the place he opened with eight excellent darts in the penultimate leg earlier than lacking D12, whereas Gian van Veen received the primary 5 legs of his victory by the identical margin towards Danny Noppert.

Littler by no means trailed in match towards Price, who solely transformed 4 out of 16 makes an attempt at double, with the Englishman successful three straight legs and throwing a 98.21 common to defeat the Ice Man on the semi-final stage for the second successive week.

Van Gerwen additionally struggled together with his ending towards Van Veen, lacking 18 of his 25 makes an attempt, though replied to being damaged by his compatriot in the eighth leg to win the subsequent three and full a 7-4 victory and safe his showdown with Littler.

What’s subsequent for Humphries and Littler?

Littler and Humphries solely have to wait till Thursday to meet once more, with the pair closing out the quarter-final fixtures on the opening evening of the BetMGM Premier League in Cardiff.

Reigning champion Van Gerwen begins his bid for a record-extending eighth Premier League crown towards final 12 months’s world champion Michael Smith, whereas Peter Wright opens towards Rob Cross and Price takes on Nathan Aspinall.

The Premier League consists of 16 mini-events throughout the common season for gamers to earn factors, with every league evening comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final over one of the best of 11 legs.

Players obtain two factors per semi-final look, three factors per runner-up end and 5 factors per final win, with the highest 4 in the season-long standings then progressing to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 23.

Premier League Darts returns to Sky Sports on Thursday, February 1 as Cardiff kicks off the 17-week extravaganza during to the Play-Offs on Thursday, May 23. Stream darts and more on Sky Sports without a contract through NOW