Price extends winning run over Littler to seal Nottingham win

Gerwyn Price won his second nightly match in this year’s BetMGM Premier League, defeating Luke Littler 6-3 in Nottingham’s Night Six final on Thursday.

The Welshman maintained his astonishing six-game winning streak against Littler at the Motorpoint Arena, defeating the teenage sensation despite a 103 average and seven 180s.

Price surged to victory on Night Three in Dublin, but back-to-back quarter-final defeats to Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen cost him his spot in the top four.

However, the 40-year-old jumped up to third place in the table after defeating Stephen Bunting, Van Gerwen, and Littler on a thrilling night of action in the East Midlands.

Price handed Bunting his sixth consecutive quarter-final defeat in a high-quality opener, despite the St Helens ace averaging 102 and completing a sensational 170 checkout in the penultimate leg.

The Markham ace then dominated Van Gerwen in the final four, averaging 107 and hitting four maximums to set up a thrilling clash with reigning champion Littler.

Price capitalised on Littler’s four missed darts in the first leg to gain the early lead, then fired in back-to-back 14-darters to move ahead 3-0.

Littler opened his account with a 12-darter in leg four, but Price restored his buffer with a superb 123 combination on the bull, followed by another ton-plus checkout to claim the £10,000 extra.

“Luke is the best player in the world at the minute, and he’s going to be for many years,” reflected Price, who is now four points clear in the race for Play-Off qualification.

“It’s the same when you play Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson. You know you need to be at your best to beat these players.

“I’m just glad to get another win tonight. I have tried to be more positive this year, and it is showing on the board.

“In the last few years I’ve been quite negative, but before the World Championship I did some work with a sports psychologist trying to put my frame of mind in the right place, and it’s worked.”

Littler’s fourth weekly final victory propelled him to the top of the table, surpassing his great adversary Humphries, whom he defeated in the evening’s first quarter-final.

The World Champion came back from a 4-3 deficit to overcome the world number one, changing the tide with a clutch 164 combination in leg 8.

The Warrington wonderkid then produced amazing 167, 127, and 164 finishes, all on the bullseye, on his route to a 6-3 semi-final victory over Rob Cross, average 107.

Cross had defeated Chris Dobey 6-2 earlier in the night, converting six of his seven doubles attempts for a ton-plus average.

In the evening’s other quarter-final, Van Gerwen rallied from a 4-3 deficit to defeat Nathan Aspinall, cementing his place in the top four.

The BetMGM Premier League roadshow resumes in Cardiff on Thursday, March 20, with Price headlining Night Seven at home.

The Welshman will face Cross in his quarter-final match at the Utilita Arena, while league leader Littler faces Aspinall in his Cardiff debut.

Humphries and Van Gerwen face off in another high-profile match, while Dobey and Bunting also compete, both anxious for points to jumpstart their respective campaigns.

 

Price extends winning run over Littler to seal Nottingham win 

 

Night Six – Thursday March 13

Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Quarter-Finals

Luke Littler 6-4 Luke Humphries

Rob Cross 6-2 Chris Dobey

Gerwyn Price 6-4 Stephen Bunting

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Semi-Finals

Luke Littler 6-3 Rob Cross

Gerwyn Price 6-1 Michael van Gerwen

Final

Gerwyn Price 6-3 Luke Littler