MVG shades Luke Humphries to take Premier League win

Michael van Gerwen admitted he was not at his best despite winning night three at the 2024 BetMGM Premier League at Glasgow's OVO Hydro with a 6-5 final win over Luke Humphries.

The Dutchman won in Berlin last week and on a night when teenager Luke Littler disappointed a supportive crowd by checking out in the quarter-finals, he again showed his mettle in a last-leg decider against the world champion

Van Gerwen, who is three points clear of Michael Smith at the top of the table, said: "Even without my best performance I think I did a great job and sometimes that is really important.

"Double six let me down tonight but outside that my finishing and the way I played the game was a good standard.

"Of course my score could have been a lot better but sometimes that is darts. Another win, it is good.

"I always believe in my ability and I think I did the right things at the right moments.

"I have put so much pressure on myself. No targets. I'd say I'm at 90% of my game."

Humphries led 1-0 and 4-2 and perhaps should have made it 5-2 but the Dutchman came back to 4-4 and a 180 in the ninth leg helped him forge ahead 5-4 only to see Humphries respond to level and take it into the final leg when another 180 gave Van Gerwen the advantage and he clinched victory with double top.

In his first season in the competition Humphries said: "It was important to play well. I was proud of the way I played and I am where I want to be, in the top four.

"It is my first year in it and I am going to enjoy it."

Littler made an early exit after a thrilling battle with Gerwyn Price.

The 17-year-old was given a great reception by the crowd but the Welshman stood strong.

The 2021 world champion just missed double 12 for a nine darter at 3-2 down - Nathan Aspinall