Premier League Darts 2026 results: Luke Littler and Gian van Veen clash as Gerwyn Price wins in Manchester

Despite his early departure, Littler remains in the lead, while Van Veen, who is still recovering from missing night seven in Dublin because he needed surgery to remove kidney stones, is fifth.

The match was a repeat of January’s World Championship final and the dramatic finish further reinforced the sense that there could be a major rivalry between the exciting young pair in the next few years.

Former player Wayne Mardle told Sky Sports: “Luke Littler was happy for Gian van Veen to come in 15th and make Simon Whitlock a ‘well done’ and you shouldn’t do that.”

“As he was doing this, Gian turned around and said: ‘Why did you do this?’

“You’ve got to say Gian handled it better because Luke Littler overplayed his words and was very aggressive in the double seven. Gian held it together really well.

“[Littler] I didn’t expect to be caught. “He got his hand stuck in the cookie jar and he’s not going to do that again.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, three-time world champion John Part added: “I don’t think either player made too many mistakes. “It could end up being quite heated.

“Gian behaved himself more appropriately in a lot of ways. Luke could have handled it a little better.”