Michael van Gerwen, one of the biggest names in darts, found himself in a surprising moment of lighthearted embarrassment during a Premier League match against the young up-and-comer Luke Littler last night. The Dutch darts star, known for his relentless competitive drive and precision, had a rare moment of struggle in what was an otherwise dominant display in Leeds at the First Direct Arena.
Van Gerwen faced Littler in the Premier League semi-finals after defeating Gerwyn Price earlier in the evening. Littler, who had just dispatched Peter Wright with a resounding 6-1 victory, entered the match with plenty of momentum but was ultimately overpowered by Van Gerwen, who handed him a 6-1 defeat. Despite the scoreline reflecting a one-sided encounter, the match had an unforgettable comedic moment that left the fans buzzing.
During one of the legs, both Van Gerwen and Littler found themselves in an uncharacteristic struggle as they failed to complete their checkouts. Van Gerwen appeared poised to close the leg with a commanding lead, but he unexpectedly faltered at the double, missing multiple attempts to seal the deal. This gave Littler a rare opportunity to steal the leg, but the young prodigy failed to capitalize, leaving both men visibly frustrated.
The situation only grew more tense—and more entertaining—as each player continued to falter until they both ended up needing to hit Double 1 to finish the leg. Van Gerwen, ever the showman but visibly irked by the unfolding comedy of errors, shocked the crowd as he threw three darts at the Double 1 without landing a single hit. The packed arena, filled with enthusiastic darts fans, gasped and laughed in disbelief as MVG, one of the sport’s greats, found himself unable to hit the simplest of checkouts.
Sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, Littler turned toward the crowd, grinned, and raised his fist in the air, riling up the already animated audience. His playful display drew a mix of cheers and laughs, injecting a sense of fun into the tense exchange. However, Van Gerwen, catching sight of Littler’s antics, reacted with a dismissive shrug that seemed to say, “Are you serious?” The Dutchman’s wry reaction added another layer of humor to the spectacle.
With the crowd still roaring, Littler stepped up to the oche but, much to his own chagrin and amusement, failed to hit the Double 1 as well. The teenage phenom’s laughter and disbelief mirrored the emotions of the fans, who were thoroughly entertained by the unusual series of misses from both players. Finally, Van Gerwen, regaining his composure, managed to hit the elusive Double 1 and bring the leg to an end, much to the amusement and relief of everyone in attendance.
From there, Van Gerwen surged forward, showcasing the kind of clinical finishing that has made him a multi-time world champion. He brushed aside the earlier mishap and powered through to victory, setting up a showdown in the final against reigning world champion Luke Humphries. The clash with Humphries proved to be a nail-biter, with Van Gerwen narrowly losing 6-5 in a thrilling contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The loss to Humphries left Van Gerwen in third place in the Premier League darts standings. He now trails table leader Luke Littler by 11 points and is six points behind Humphries. With a slim two-point lead over fourth-place Nathan Aspinall, Van Gerwen’s position in the top four—and a spot in the finals at London’s O2 Arena—is far from secure. He faces mounting pressure from fifth-place Michael Smith, who is only three points behind and eager to break into the top tier.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, and Peter Wright find themselves in desperate need of miraculous performances in the remaining fixtures if they hope to qualify for the finals. For Van Gerwen, however, the immediate focus will be on solidifying his spot and keeping his title hopes alive.
Despite the setback, Van Gerwen’s ability to laugh at himself and the unforgettable Double 1 fiasco with Littler showcased his lighter side, endearing him even further to fans. It also highlighted the unpredictability and unique charm of professional darts, where even the best can stumble, creating moments that transcend the competition itself. As the Premier League season progresses, fans can only hope for more memorable moments from Van Gerwen, Littler, and their fellow competitors—on and off the oche.