Premier League Darts LIVE RESULT: Dobey BEATS Bunting in final as Littler’s wait for record fifth nightly win goes on
NIGHT 11 of Premier League Darts has concluded after a thriller in Rotterdam.
Luke Littler's wait for a record-breaking fifth nightly win will go on after he was beaten 6-5 by Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals.
The Bullet couldn't go all the way in the Netherlands after Chris Dobey beat him 6-2 in the final.
It's the Newcastle-native's first nightly win in the Premier League, and it puts him three points off the play-offs.
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: Sky Sports app/website
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Good morning darts fans!
Another blockbuster Premier League night - but maybe not in the way many expected.
It finished with 7th vs 8th as the Rotterdam final when Chris Dobey faced Stephen Bunting.
Dobey came out on top for his first nightly win in over two years as the players complained about conditions on the Rotterdam Ahoy stage.
It leaves it all to play for heading into the final five weeks before the play offs....
Premier League darts - Night 11 full results
Quarter-finals
- Chris Dobey 6-3 Luke Humphries
- Gerwyn Price 3-6 Nathan Aspinall
- Stephen Bunting 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
- Luke Littler 6-5 Rob Cross
Semi-finals
- Chris Dobey 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
- Stephen Bunting 6-5 Luke Littler
Final
- Chris Dobey 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Van Gerwen still has 'fire'
Michael van Gerwen says the fire is still there as he continues to chase a top four spot.
The absence a fortnight ago due to injury hasn't helped but he still has belief he can reach the 02 play offs.
He said: “It’s not the most pleasant moment in my career. I’ll never give up. I’ll fight for everything. I know it’s still there. You don’t lose talent like that.
“You need to keep hold of your own belief and as long as you can do that, a lot is possible. The last two years haven’t been consistent.
“I won absolutely nothing but in the rankings, I won the most prize money after the two Lukes.
“But for what I have in my tank, it’s underperforming, simple as that.
“The Premier League doesn’t move on for anyone. When I pulled out, I couldn’t throw a dart. The 6-0 walkover defeat doesn’t help but it is what it is.
“I still believe I can make the top-four, 100 per cent. But you have to win points.
“The fire is in my belly to perform. I have to keep grafting.”
Five weeks to go
And the Premier League moves on to Liverpool next week!
A home game for Stephen Bunting, but home advantage hasn't been kind to Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen in the past fortnight.
Here's the quarter final line-up:
- Luke Humphries vs Nathan Aspinall
- Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Littler
- Rob Cross vs Stephen Bunting
- Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey
'Hope we stop coming here'
Gerwyn Price slammed the draught on stage in Rotterdam, calling on the PDC to stop going to the Ahoy Arena.
The fuming Welshman was beaten 6-3 by Nathan Aspinall in the second quarter-final of Night 11 in the Premier League.
There have been complaints by players in the past about the wind impacting their throws in front of 11,000 orange-clad fans and the Iceman claimed it affected his performance.
Price, 40, went on Instagram to air his issues, saying: “Gutted for myself, gutted for everyone that supports me.
“I’m so sorry but this week was pointless and we move to next week.
“Darts were blowing everywhere and after leg one, which was lucky, I knew it’s pointless."
Long losing run
That win tonight was Dobey's first nightly win in over TWO YEARS!
The last coming back in February 2023.
What a time to do it.
What that means
Luke Littler extends his lead at the top to seven points over Luke Humphries.
It's tight for those play offs, with Nathan Aspinall two points clear of fifth after his quarter final win.
Chris Dobey now three points behind Gerwyn Price (4th) and Michael van Gerwen (5th) with five weeks to go!
He continues
"I learnt from playing local stuff. My dad never let me win. That stubborn mindset, I have to take my hat off to that!
"I believe I can still get into the top four if I can keep this performance up. I think I have a good chance."
Jubilant Dobey reacts
He knows he's back in the play off picture after that.
Dobey told Sky Sports: "It feels great to be back in the wining circle.
"I knew I could do it, it's just about performing on the night. I am a fighter, kept believing and I am here to win.
"Three great performances and I am back in the play-off mix."
What a win
A terrific night for Chris Dobey and a really top night for him with a string of really good victories.
Beating Luke Humphries 6-3, in-form Nathan Aspinall 6-2 and then a much-needed win over Stephen Bunting - which would've seen him drop to the foot of the table had he lost.
Now, he's three points outside the play off spots!
Super Chris Dobey wins in Rotterdam!
Chris Dobey 6-2 Stephen Bunting
A huge, huge win for Hollywood as he reins supreme in Rotterdam!
Never in any trouble at all in that final to cap off a great night for the Geordie.
He moves up to sixth and back in the play off mix!
Chris Dobey 5-2 Stephen Bunting
Bunting holds and it looked like Dobey was quite happy to let Bunting run away with it.
That until a 180 piles the pressure on Bunting's 40 remaining but the Bullet takes it out first dart.
Dobey now with the darts for the match....
Chris Dobey 5-1 Stephen Bunting
Dobey absolutely cruising in this final - he needs just one more leg!
He's outscoring Bunting and his doubles have been superior too.
He can afford to leave himself on tops with Bunting not taking out the big fish. He comes back for 20, D10 to wrap it up.
Chris Dobey 4-1 Stephen Bunting
DOBEY BREAKS - A DOUBLE BREAK FOR HIM!
Superb stuff, he was always well clear in the leg until a 180 from Bunting left 38.
He is then allowed back with three darts to take it, failing with all three.
Dobey returns for 32 and pins it first time to really give himself daylight.
Chris Dobey 3-1 Stephen Bunting
Beauty from Dobey, who has won three legs on the spin!
He has six darts for 92 with Bunting not on a finish back on 174.
But he needs just the three, Dobey, ending on D12 for a three-dart finish to double his lead!
Chris Dobey 2-1 Stephen Bunting
DOBEY BREAKS!
Some really good visits from Dobey including opening a gap with a 162 during it.
He leaves 52 from 146 and Bunting follows and fails to take out 161 himself.
Chance for Dobey then and he takes it with a two-darter to lead!
Chris Dobey 1-1 Stephen Bunting
And a routine hold of throw in response from Dobey!
He leaves 32 after a miss at D16 with Bunting leaving 170! He can't get near it so Dobey comes back for D16 and cleans up to level up.
Chris Dobey 0-1 Stephen Bunting
Bunting off and running with a strong hold of throw.
Leaving 40, he watches on as Dobey can only leave 170 himself.
So no real pressure on this attempt at tops but he pins it with his first dart.
Chris Dobey vs Stephen Bunting
Drama expected in this one as 7th vs 8th.
Chris Dobey will either jump to 6th win a win, or drop to bottom and 8th if he loses!
Plenty on the line - Bunting to throw first!
At long last
Here they come and it's Chris Dobey welcomed to the crowd first.
A couple of selfies on the way before Bunting makes his way down, doing likewise.
Uh oh
When you get knocked out in time to watch Man Utd choke a 2-0 lead to be drawing 2-2 with Lyon.
Done and dusted in time for extra time at least, Luke.
Come on then
Where on earth are these two? A late start to this final it would seem.
Final odds
Chris Dobey 6/5
Stephen Bunting 4/6
Who predicted this final?
Chris Dobey vs Stephen Bunting?
Not the bookies anyway!
They were 16/1 and 10/1 to win the night, respectively!
A huge basement battle which will see one of them potentially enter the play off shake-up!
The wait goes on
He was pretty confident of wrapping up a fifth nightly win at some stage.
But time is slowly running out for Luke Littler as he comes up short once again...