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Bunting Claims First Premier League Win as Littler Falls Early
Stephen Bunting celebrated a remarkable victory against Gerwyn Price to secure his first-ever nightly Premier League win in Berlin, while Luke Littler faced an unexpected early exit from the tournament.
Bunting, who had been struggling for the past eight weeks without a win, showed a dramatic turnaround in form. He notably hit a nine-darter in practice, then went on to defeat Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries, and Price in a thrilling last-leg decider, finally breaking his losing streak.
In contrast, reigning champion Littler was determined to make history by becoming the first player to achieve five nightly wins in a single season. However, the 18-year-old faltered against Chris Dobey in his first match and ended up suffering a defeat.
Premier League Darts – Night Nine Results
Quarter-finals
Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Stephen Bunting
Luke Humphries 6-3 Rob Cross
Chris Dobey 6-2 Luke Littler
Gerwyn Price walkover Michael van Gerwen
Semi-finals
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Luke Humphries
Chris Dobey 2-6 Gerwyn Price
Final
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Relief and Joy for Bunting
After a frustrating eight weeks, Bunting finally secured his first Premier League win by overcoming Aspinall with an impressive average of 103.4 in the opening match. This victory marked his first in the Premier League in a decade.
“It’s unbelievable, a pinch-me moment,” Bunting said following his win. “I’ve given my all every single week despite facing some negative feedback on social media. I’ve worked hard behind the scenes, and it feels great to finally achieve a win.”
The St Helens player continued to showcase his skills by winning his next match against Humphries with a scoreline of 6-2, achieving a 95.66 average, hitting 40 percent of his doubles, and scoring three 180s.
Price, benefiting from a bye in the quarter-finals due to Michael van Gerwen’s shoulder injury, faced Dobey, defeating him comfortably 6-2 to advance to the final against Bunting. However, in a nail-biting final, it was Bunting who emerged victorious, executing a stunning 107 checkout in the deciding leg.
“This is such a special moment. There was a time when I thought I might finish with zero points in the Premier League,” Bunting reflected. “To get off the mark and win a night is a feeling I can’t describe. I was confident after hitting that nine-darter in practice.”
Mark Webster expressed his delight at Bunting’s victory, stating, “To see him win tonight is wonderful. No competitor wants to show up week after week and leave without points. Bunting has overcome significant self-doubt, and winning tonight will undoubtedly boost his confidence.”
Littler Faces Upset Against Dobey
Littler’s pursuit of a fifth nightly win faced an abrupt halt when Dobey capitalized on Littler’s missed doubles, marking a significant 6-2 victory. This unexpected result showcased Dobey’s consistency as he averaged 93 and successfully converted six out of eleven doubles.
The defeat highlighted a challenging night for Littler, who struggled with his accuracy, missing an unusually high number of doubles (2/13).
Webster Comments on Littler’s Performance
Sky Sports’ Mark Webster remarked, “Littler’s performance was atypical. He struggled with his doubles and ultimately left himself with too much to do. It’s a crucial win for Dobey, providing him a boost in confidence.” Humphries notably excelled himself in the quarter-finals, defeating Rob Cross with an average of 98 and executing seven 140s en route to victory.
Injury Forces Van Gerwen to Withdraw
Michael van Gerwen was forced to withdraw from the evening’s matches shortly before they began due to a shoulder injury. The Dutch player had been optimistic about maintaining his successful run at the Premier League in Berlin, where he had previously triumphed in the play-offs last year.
As a result of van Gerwen’s withdrawal, Price received a bye into the semi-finals, gaining two league points and a +1 leg difference, while van Gerwen left without any points and ended with a -6 leg difference. Richard Veenstra will step in to replace van Gerwen at the European Tour event in Riesa this weekend.
Upcoming Premier League Fixtures
Next Matches: Night 10 at AO Arena, Manchester on Thursday, April 10
Quarter-finals
Chris Dobey vs Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall vs Rob Cross
Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting vs Luke Humphries
The Premier League heads to the AO Arena in Manchester for Night 10 on April 10. Fans can look forward to a thrilling matchup featuring home favorite Luke Littler against Gerwyn Price, in addition to Michael van Gerwen taking on Chris Dobey. This exciting event can be seen live on Sky Sports Action starting at 7 PM.
Source
www.skysports.com