Night nine rolls into Manchester as Luke Littler targets a hat-trick – Premier League preview

Luke Littler heads into Thursday’s action with his sights firmly set on securing a fourth nightly win in just five weeks, as the 2026 BetMGM Premier League roadshow rolls into Manchester. The teenage sensation has rapidly turned his campaign around and now finds himself in a commanding position at the summit of the standings.

Night Nine will take place at the AO Arena, where Littler will be one of the headline attractions. Competing close to home, the Warrington-born star will be eager to deliver another standout performance in front of a passionate local crowd. His recent form suggests he is more than capable of doing just that.

After a relatively quiet opening to the season, Littler has surged into top gear over the past few weeks. Victories in Cardiff, Dublin and Berlin have propelled him to the top of the league table, underlining a remarkable turnaround. These performances have not only demonstrated his scoring power but also his growing confidence on the biggest stage in weekly darts competition.

Currently ranked world number one, Littler is aiming to finish top of the Premier League standings for the third consecutive year. He arrives in Manchester holding a narrow but important two-point advantage over his nearest rival, Jonny Clayton. With the competition entering a crucial phase, maintaining that lead will be a key objective.

Speaking ahead of the event, Littler admitted he feels far more comfortable than he did earlier in the campaign. His recent displays back that up, particularly in Berlin where he posted averages of 105, 108 and 106 across the night. Those numbers highlight not only consistency but elite-level scoring under pressure.

Reflecting on the season so far, Littler acknowledged how quickly momentum can shift in the Premier League format. Clayton had looked dominant at one stage, but the standings have since changed dramatically. Now sitting at the top, Littler is determined to stay there and force his rivals to chase him down over the remaining weeks.

In the quarter-finals, Littler will face Gian van Veen, renewing a rivalry that continues to develop. Their meeting is a repeat of January’s World Championship final at Alexandra Palace, adding extra intrigue to the contest. Van Veen claimed victory when they met earlier in the Premier League season on the opening night in Newcastle, and he will be looking to repeat that success.

The Dutchman made an impressive start to his debut Premier League campaign, reaching three finals in the first four weeks. However, his momentum has stalled more recently, and he currently sits sixth in the table. A recent procedure to treat kidney stones briefly disrupted his progress, although he returned to action in Berlin and will be hoping to rebuild his form.

Van Veen remains within touching distance of the top four, sitting just four points behind Michael van Gerwen, who currently occupies the final qualification spot. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, continues to show flashes of his best form. He impressed in Berlin with victories over Luke Humphries and Josh Rock before falling short against Littler in a high-quality final despite averaging over 103.

Van Gerwen has been candid about his performances this season, suggesting he could have accumulated more points. Nevertheless, he remains firmly in contention and is confident there is more to come from his game as the competition progresses.

He begins his night against Stephen Bunting, who has been producing strong performances despite not always getting the results. Bunting has recorded averages of 104 and 107 in recent matches but was denied by Littler on both occasions, highlighting the fine margins at this level.

Another standout tie will see reigning champion Humphries take on Gerwyn Price. Price currently holds third place and has built a useful cushion over Humphries, who is still searching for his first nightly victory despite maintaining a tournament average just above 100—second only to Littler.

The final quarter-final features Clayton against Rock, a rematch of their recent clash in Berlin. On that occasion, Rock emerged with a convincing 6-3 win, securing his first victory of this year’s Premier League and ending a difficult run of results. Clayton, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back after consecutive early exits, though he remains well-positioned in the standings.

As always, the Premier League’s points system ensures every night carries significant weight. Players earn five points for a nightly win, three for finishing runner-up, and two for reaching the semi-finals. These points accumulate to determine the league table, with the top four progressing to Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena on May 28.

With the race for qualification intensifying and form fluctuating across the field, Night Nine in Manchester promises to be another pivotal chapter in this year’s Premier League campaign.

Night nine rolls into Manchester as Luke Littler targets a hat-trick – Premier League preview 

2026 BetMGM Premier League

Night Nine – AO Arena, Manchester

Thursday April 2

Quarter-Finals

Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting

Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries

Gian van Veen v Luke Littler

Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock

Semi-Finals

Van Gerwen/Bunting v Price/Humphries

Van Veen/Littler v Clayton/Rock

Final

v

All matches best of 11 legs