Price Gets Title In Premier League's Belgian Debut

ByPaul Higham
BBC Sport Journalist


12 February 2026


100 Comments


Gerwyn Price ended Michael van Gerwen's unbeaten start to the Premier League by claiming a 6-3 victory 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 2 final-leg deciders before raising the title in more comfy style.


Littler had earlier opened the tournament's first check out to Belgium by edging a final-leg decider of his own versus rival Luke Humphries.


For Price it was a welcome success to verify the great type he had actually remained in of late.


"I believe I'm playing some of the finest things I have actually played, I'm simply not winning competitions," Price told Sky Sports after his success.


"There's no way I can't win a significant, bigger Pro Tours, Europeans. Averages are just for show 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 dealt with to a lot of thrills.


Premier League Darts 2026 fixtures, results and table


5 days earlier


Premier League: Price beats Van Gerwen to win Antwerp final - as it happened


Littler beats Humphries on night of resurgences


The night began with a bang as the 2 biggest darts stars in the world played out a premium contest that decreased to a final-leg decider.


Humphries and Littler both hit seven 180s and balanced over 102 and 105 respectively, however both were remarkably bad on the external ring - missing 28 doubles in between them.


Humphries was the better gamer throughout, however at 4-1 up he began missing out on doubles severely, 17 in all by the end of the match, as Littler engineered an escape to make it five straight wins against his big rival.


World second Humphries has actually now lost 11 of his 15 Premier League meetings with Littler, with his last success of any kind against the 19-year-old coming in the competition's final last May.


The past four beats before this one can be found in competition finals, and maybe it is ending up being a psychological barrier now for the safeguarding Premier League champion as his scoring was strong all game, however he could just not overcome the line.


Comebacks were a theme of the opening quarter-finals with all bar Van Gerwen's stroll against an out-of-sorts Josh Rock filled with enjoyment.


Stephen Bunting finished bottom of the table last year after failing to win a single match in the very first eight weeks, but looked to have one finished when leading 4-0, just to see Jonny Clayton reel off 6 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 triumphes on the night.


Price goes distance as MVG sinks Littler


Price's second 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 three and balanced just over 100 - however was forced to win the last two legs under severe 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 but definitely performed in a weird 6-4 victory over Littler where seven of the 10 legs went against the darts.


The Dutchman balanced simply over 100 with an off-colour Littler down at 95 and - oddly for him - just managing a single optimum, while Van Gerwen struck 4.


But it was the completing under pressure that made the distinction as the Dutchman struck six of 13 attempts at a double, including rounding off a 10-darter, in a performance that was far more like the Van Gerwen of old.


Despite amazing back-to-back surfaces of 167 and 160 in the final Van Gerwen was always second best, however a win and a final after two nights is a fantastic start considering he stopped working to win a single night in last season's competitors.


The outcomes likewise leave Littler and Humphries in fifth and 6th in the table with simply one win each, however there is no panic right now with 14 weeks of components remaining.


Premier League Darts night 2 results


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 weeks in the league phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.


Each of the 8 players is ensured 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 indicates we will get 4th v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off areas possibly on the line.


Players earn 2 points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.


The leading 4 gamers after the group stage development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and 2nd versus 3rd in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.


If gamers are level on points after the 16 weeks then places are chosen by nights won and after that 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