Luke Littler crashes out of Premier League Darts Night 12 in Rotterdam at first hurdle as Michael Smith beats teenage sensation for a FOURTH time
- The two men faced each other in the quarter-finals in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
- Smith has now beaten Littler four times in the Darts Premier League
Luke Littler crashed out on Night 12 of the Darts Premier League in the quarter-finals after another defeat to Michael Smith.
This was Smith’s fourth Premier League victory against Littler in the Darts Premier League.
Smith beat Littler 6-3 to reach the semi-finals in Rotterdam. He eventually reached the final, but lost to Nathan Aspinall 6-4.
The quarter-final between Smith and Littler was a high-quality match, with both players hitting four 180s and averaging over 100.
However, some merciless cash work from Smith was enough for him to see off the 17-year-old prodigy.
Luke Littler was knocked out of the quarter-finals in Rotterdam by Michael Smith
Smith threw an average of 102.32 to record his fourth Premier League victory against Littler
The Bully Boy actually wasted a match dart to give Littler a burst of light and a potential path back into the game.
But Littler needed 80 and couldn’t find it, with Smith finishing him off via a double six.
While Warrington’s leading dart export recorded an average of 100.34, Smith was its superior with 102.32.
Littler was the Premier League favorite ahead of Luke Humphries, who beat him in the World Darts Championship final in January on night in the Dutch city.
He was two points ahead of his nearest rival and four points ahead of third-placed Michael van Gerwen.
Littler and Humphries are now on 26 points, while Aspinall is third on 23 points.
Smith beat Gerwyn Price in the semi-final to reach Thursday’s showpiece match against Asp, who staged an incredible comeback to beat Luke Humphries 6-4.
Aspinall won the first two matches of the final and although Smith began to progress in the match, Asp remained in control to take a two match lead.
Nathan Aspinall won night 12 by beating Smith 6-4 in the final to move up to third in the Premier League table.
Bully Boy took advantage of the outside ring’s misfires to move back before Aspinall responded to lead 5-3.
Smith continued to fight back and scored a superb 170 in the next match, but after missing three match darts, Asp eventually secured victory with a double eight.
