Price Picks Up Title In Premier League's Belgian Debut
ByPaul Higham
BBC Sport Journalist
12 February 2026
100 Comments
Gerwyn Price ended Michael van start to the Premier League by claiming a 6-3 success in night 2's last in Antwerp.
Van Gerwen won the season opener in Newcastle recently and beat Luke Littler in the semis on his method to another final.
But the seven-time champion was no match for Welshman Price, who had come through two final-leg deciders before raising the title in more comfy fashion.
Littler had earlier opened the tournament's first see to Belgium by edging a final-leg decider of his own versus rival Luke Humphries.
For Price it was a welcome success to confirm the fine type he had been in of late.
"I believe I'm playing some of the best stuff I have actually played, I'm simply not winning competitions," Price told Sky Sports after his triumph.
"There's no way I can't win a major, bigger Pro Tours, Europeans. Averages are simply for program and if you play well on your darts and win matches you win competitions. I'm going to get some."
The PDC Premier League checked out Belgium for the very first time in the competition's 21-year history, and the 10,000 darts enthusiasts inside the AFAS Dome were treated to a lot of thrills.
Premier League Darts 2026 fixtures, results and table
5 days ago
Premier League: Price beats Van Gerwen to win Antwerp final - as it happened
Littler beats Humphries on night of returns
The night started with a bang as the 2 most significant darts stars worldwide played out a premium contest that decreased to a final-leg decider.
Humphries and Littler both struck 7 180s and averaged over 102 and 105 respectively, however both were remarkably poor on the outer ring - missing 28 doubles between them.
Humphries was the much better gamer throughout, however at 4-1 up he started missing doubles severely, 17 in all by the end of the match, as Littler crafted an escape to make it 5 straight wins against his big rival.
World number 2 Humphries has now lost 11 of his 15 Premier League conferences with Littler, with his last triumph of any kind versus the 19-year-old can be found in the competition's final last May.
The previous four defeats before this one came in tournament finals, and perhaps it is becoming a psychological barrier now for the defending Premier League champion as his scoring was solid all game, however he could just not get over the line.
Comebacks were a theme of the opening quarter-finals with all bar Van Gerwen's walk versus an out-of-sorts Josh Rock filled with enjoyment.
Stephen Bunting ended up bottom of the table last year after failing to win a single match in the very first 8 weeks, however aimed to have one stitched up when leading 4-0, only to watch Jonny Clayton reel off six straight legs to win 6-4.
And Price had to originate from 3-1 and 4-2 to beat Gian van Veen in the very first of his 2 6-5 success on the night.
Price goes distance as MVG sinks Littler
Price's 2nd final-leg decider came versus buddy and Wales World Cup team-mate Clayton in a nip-and-tuck battle.
Price had four 180s to Clayton's 3 and averaged simply over 100 - however was required to win the final two legs under extreme pressure to make the final.
It was no real surprise offered Price had won nine in a row versus his compatriot and 15 of their previous 16 conferences.
Van Gerwen did not impress in his opener however certainly carried out in a strange 6-4 triumph over Littler where 7 of the 10 legs broke the darts.
The Dutchman balanced just over 100 with an off-colour Littler down at 95 and - oddly for him - only managing a single maximum, while Van Gerwen struck 4.
But it was the completing under pressure that made the distinction as the Dutchman hit 6 of 13 efforts at a double, consisting of rounding off a 10-darter, in an efficiency that was a lot more like the Van Gerwen of old.
Despite incredible back-to-back surfaces of 167 and 160 in the final Van Gerwen was always 2nd best, but a win and a last after two nights is a terrific start considering he failed to win a single night in last season's competition.
The results likewise leave Littler and Humphries in 5th and 6th in the table with just one win each, however there is no panic right now with 14 weeks of fixtures staying.
Premier League Darts night two outcomes
Thursday, 12 February - FAS Dome, Antwerp
Luke Littler 6-5 Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Josh Rock
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Gian van Veen
Littler 4-6 Van Gerwen
Clayton 5-6 Price
Van Gerwen 3-6 Price
Premier League Darts table
Premier League Darts format and points system
Premier League Darts is played across 16 initial weeks in the league phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.
Each of the eight players is guaranteed to deal with the other 7 in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week 8 and week 16 fixtures done off the table. It suggests we will get fourth v 5th in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots possibly on the line.
Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and 5 for winning the night.
The leading 4 gamers after the group phase development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first dealing with fourth and second versus 3rd in a best-of-19-leg match. The last, which is the finest of 21 legs, follows.
If gamers are level on points after the 16 weeks then locations are chosen by nights won and then matches won.
Premier League Darts night three order of play
Thursday, 19 February - OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Quarter-finals
Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen
Luke Humphries v Josh Rock
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler
Jonny Clayton v Gerwyn Price
Semi-finals
Bunting/Van Veen v Humphries/Rock
Van Gerwen/Littler v Clayton/Price
Final
Bunting/Van Veen/Humphries/Rock v Van Gerwen/Littler/Clayton/ Price
Darts