Premier League Darts in Newcastle LIVE as Luke Littler and Gian van Veen meet in World Championship rematch

Lethal Luke Humphries faces Gerwyn Price at the start of his BetMGM Premier League crown defence in Newcastle as the elite kick-off the roadshow on Tyneside.

Cool Hand heads eight of the PDC’s most-glittering stars taking to stages across various venues over the initial 16 weeks before Finals Night at London’s O2.

Humphries, the World No.2, claimed the title last year and is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen by going back to back and faces the Welsh hero on night one.

Luke Littler, who has an Ally Pally Final rematch against Gian van Veen, won the title in 2024 and the World No.1 and World Champion and the biggest threat to those aspirations of a quickfire double.

Seven-times winner Van Gerwen kicks-off against Stephen Bunting with Dutchman aiming to find his best form after a patchy spell.

Josh Rock and Van Veen are making their debuts in the competition with the World Cup winner opening the show against Jonny Clayton, also a former Premier League winner, in the curtain-raiser at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle.

Luke Humphries says he must start lashing Luke Littler to create one of sport’s greatest rivalries.

The World No.2 is adamant he can’t keep getting Nuked. Humphries is determined to become just the third man in history to retain the Premier League crown after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. Cool Hand beat Littler in last year’s O2 Final, but it’s been one-way traffic in the other direction since.

The World No.1 won subsequent showpiece clashes at majors such as Grand Slam, Grand Prix and The Masters last weekend to exact constant revenge. Humphries and Littler are consistently clear of the rest, but the Premier League king insists it’ll stop being a proper battle if he keeps losing.

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