Sport Michael Smith earned a psychological boost over Luke Littler ahead of their meeting at Premier League Darts finals night at the O2 tonight. The teenager was beaten by ‘Bully Boy’ Smith in the semi-finals last Thursday as the regular season wrapped up in Sheffield. In the other semi-final in Yorkshire, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen duelled in what was also a dress rehearsal for their upcoming meeting in the London play-offs, and it was Humphries who prevailed in ruthless fashion.
It was a fitting finish to the 2024 campaign as the night began with Smith defeating Nathan Aspinall to secure fourth place in the Premier League Darts table and the last remaining spot in the play-offs. Littler, who guaranteed himself the top seed by downing Peter Wright in their quarter-final, has continued to defy his inexperience by impressing pretty much every week of his debut in the competition. But world champion and fellow first-timer Humphries is also well-fancied to lift another trophy.
Finals night features 19-leg semi-finals before a 21-leg final. Proceedings are set to start at 7.30pm BST.
Play-offs, London (May 23) Semi-final: Luke Littler vs Michael Smith Semi-final: Luke Humphries vs Michael van Gerwen Final: Luke Littler or Michael Smith vs Luke Humphries or Michael van Gerwen Night 1, Cardiff Quarter-final: Peter Wright 3-6 Rob Cross Quarter-final: Gerwyn Price 6-4 Nathan Aspinall Quarter-final: Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Michael Smith Quarter-final: Luke Littler 6-2 L.
