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Michael van Gerwen has denied younger sensation Luke Littler a second successive World Collection title after defeating him within the Dutch Darts Masters closing.
The Dutchman beat {the teenager} 8-6 within the metropolis of Den Bosch, avenging a loss to the 17-year-old final week in Bahrain the place Littler lifted the trophy.
Wishing to get well from the loss in the World Darts Championship final, Littler confronted Luke Humphries as soon as extra – this time within the quarter-finals – and beat him in a closing leg thriller.
Luke “The Nuke” then despatched world quantity 5 Gerwyn Value, earlier than falling on the closing hurdle to world quantity two van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen had survived scares in opposition to Raymond van Barneveld and Gian van Veen to succeed in the ultimate however stepped it up when it mattered.
Michael van Gerwen wins the competitors. Pic: AP
Regardless of Littler outscoring his opponent with a 106.71 common and throwing extra 180s than van Gerwen, the Dutchman punished the Warrington teen by taking out an 85 end and securing victory with a 12-darter.
Littler mentioned after the match that he put stress on van Gerwen however “he simply would not miss” and “lastly acquired me on the finish”.
“Hopefully I have never burnt myself out for the Premier League subsequent week! I am unable to wait to go to Cardiff,” he mentioned on ITV.
In the meantime, van Gerwen congratulated Littler saying he would have a “vibrant future forward of him” and praised his “scoring energy”.
Littler after defeating van Gerwen within the closing of the Bahrain Darts Masters final week. Pic: PA
Referring to his personal triumph, van Gerwen mentioned: “I wanted my finest efficiency. Everyone knows I had some actually robust video games within the final 12 months and I underperformed lots of occasions. You need to be sure to hold your combating spirit.”
Littler and Humphries will conflict as soon as extra on Thursday with the pair closing out the quarter-final fixtures on the opening night time of the BetMGM Premier League in Cardiff.
Reigning champion van Gerwen begins his bid for a record-extending eighth Premier League crown in opposition to final 12 months’s world champion Michael Smith.
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