Michael van Gerwen ended Luke Littler’s Premier League title defence in Belfast, securing a 6-5 quarter-final victory despite the teenager’s remarkable 113.91 average.
The clash at the SSE Arena saw the defending champion fail to secure any points in his opening game of this year’s tournament.
It marked Van Gerwen’s first victory over Littler in five meetings, and their second encounter since the World Championship final at Alexandra Palace on January 3.
The dramatic contest played out in front of 9,000 fans at the Northern Ireland venue, where the world No.2 ultimately prevailed.
Luke Littler lost to Michael van Gerwen in a Premier League classic
PA
The match came just a day after controversy surrounding Littler’s timekeeping, when he arrived late to a group photoshoot after oversleeping.
Van Gerwen, 35, had branded the teenager “lazy” and insisted the PDC “need to stop treating him as a baby”.
The Dutch star argued that darts’ biggest name should act like a man after recently turning 18.
Littler acknowledged his mistake, telling reporters: “I always let my darts do the talking, but he’s not wrong. I was late and now I’m 18, I’m responsible for my actions and I did get a little telling off.”
The incident had left seven stars waiting in the cold during the scheduled photoshoot.
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Despite trailing late in the match, Littler managed to level the score at 5-5 after Van Gerwen missed multiple match darts.
However, a crucial missed treble in the decisive eleventh leg proved costly for the Warrington teenager.
The match concluded with van Gerwen hitting double eight for victory, with Littler showing sportsmanship by gesturing to quiet the crowd as his opponent took the winning shot.
Wayne Mardle made a low-key return to Sky Sports commentary duties during the Belfast clash.
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Michael van Gerwen claimed revenge on Luke Littler in Belfast
PA
The 51-year-old had been absent from television screens following the death of his wife Donna, aged 52, who passed away after a short illness before Christmas.
Mardle had missed the entire PDC World Darts Championship on compassionate grounds, opting for an understated comeback without fanfare.
Meanwhile, world champion Luke Humphries reflected on the modern game’s friendly nature, saying: “Maybe it’s because we spend more time with each other and maybe you just get more friendly.”
He noted that while fist-bumps and high-fives have become common, it’s “important to make sure that you don’t let it affect your performance.”
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