Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price LIVE: Final score in Premier League Darts after Luke Littler result
Smith beat Price in the final after Littler was edged out in the semi-finals on his Premier League Darts debut
Luke Littler picked up two points from his Premier League Darts debut after reaching the semi-finals in Cardiff, where he lost a thriller to eventual winner Michael Smith.
Earlier, Littler won a re-run of the World Darts Championship final against Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals, with a dominant 6-2 victory. He had double 15 to beat Smith in the deciding leg of their semi, but missed and his opponent took full advantage to book a place in the night’s final.
There, Smith comfortably beat home-crowd favourite Gerwyn Price 6-2 to scoop the £10,000 prize and a maximum five points.
The 16-night series will resume in Berlin next Thursday, before the top four go through to the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena in May.
Re-live the action from the Premier League tonight, and get the latest darts betting tips here.
Premier League Darts: Gerwyn Price 1-2 Nathan Aspinall
It’s been a very nervy start by Price, and Aspinall has taken full advantage by clinching the first two legs. Price hits back with a hold of his own throw, but Aspinall has the early edge here.
Premier League Darts: Gerwyn Price v Nathan Aspinall
Next up, home favourite Gerwyn Price against Nathan Aspinall. Price flashes a bright white smile as he is announced as the former champion of the world. Aspinall, by contrast, gets a few pantomime boos, as any Englishman would in Cardiff taking on Price.
Here we go then...
Rob Cross beats Peter Wright 6-3!
Some pictures of that opening battle between Cross and Wright:
Rob Cross beats Peter Wright 6-3!
It’s a slightly scrappy finish by Cross, who misses three shots at double 18 to win the match, but he’s afforded one more chance and he takes it at the first attempt.
Rob Cross is the first player through to the semi-finals.
Premier League Darts: Peter Wright 3-5 Rob Cross
Finally the throw is broken, and it’s Rob Cross who converts 109 with double 16 to take the eighth leg. He needs only one more...
Premier League Darts: Peter Wright 3-3 Rob Cross
Having said that, wow, an utter mess of a leg from both players sees them trade missed doubles. Wright wastes three tries at double five and his head sinks, but Rob Cross can’t convert double 18, or double nine, and throws his third dart anywhere at the board in frustration. Wright returns, and this time he hits double two to draw level at 3-3 in this best of 11 battle.
Premier League Darts: Peter Wright 2-2 Rob Cross
Rob Cross threw first and all of the opening four legs have gone with the throw. It’s not ferociously high scoring, but both players’ finishing has been excellent when they’ve had the chance.
Premier League Darts: Peter Wright v Rob Cross
The words ‘raucous’ and ‘darts’ tend to come together and tonight is a very good example why. It’s bedlam already in Cardiff, the crowd seem well-lubricated, and they are roaring for Scotland’s Peter Wright first up. Rob Cross seems to be the less popular of the two, and he comes in to a more low-key entrance than his opponent before him.
They shake hands and share a joke before throwing some practice darts.
Premier League Darts: Peter Wright v Rob Cross
So first up is Peter Wright v Rob Cross. Here’s Cross speaking yesterday:
“I’ve been so excited, being back in the Premier League. I’ve got my confidence back, my game’s in a good place, home life is in a good place, so I’m excited to get going.”
Premier League Darts format
The Premier League is an exclusive club consisting of the top-four ranked players and four more invitees. Each weekly mini-event consists of quarter-finals, a semi-final and a final over the best of 11 legs. Players who reach the semi-finals win two points per event, with the night’s runner-up collecting three points and the winner awarded five.
Those points contribute to a league table where, after 16 rounds, the top four players advance to the play-offs at the O2 in London in May.
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