Premier League Darts LIVE RESULTS: Littler LOSES to former world champ Smith who sets up final vs home hero Price

  • Early leader

    Michael Smith leads the way after night one and is out on top on five points.

    Price sits second on three, with Cross and Littler on two.

    That'll be all change next week as they four all meet each other in the quarter finals next week.

  • View of SunSport's Rob Maul inside Cardiff's Utilita Arena

    Michael Smith became the Prince of Wales in darts as he broke Gerwyn Price’s heart and blocked out the local whistlers.

    Bully Boy crushed local hero Price 6-2 in a demolition job in the final of Night One of the Premier League.

    Price, 38, came into the final with the full crowd’s support of the Utilita Arena but he was unable to provide them with the win as they all left for home.

    Smith, 33, begins his campaign with five points to top the eight-man table and bank the £10,000 win bonus.

    And more importantly he silenced the pesky punters who had tried but failed to put him off in the semi-final with Luke Littler.

    When Smith was throwing for key doubles against the teen sensation, an imbecile in the venue was whistling constantly to try and put him off.

    When he managed to take out the double and knock out Boy Wonder, the St Helens thrower turned around angrily and did a neck-slitting gesture.

    At least when he overcame the Iceman, he did not react or give it back to those who were causing the distraction.

  • Some run

    A tremendous night for Smith, beating MVG and Littler before thumping the home favourite in the final.

    He's handed a trophy for winning tonight - a new addition to the 2024 Premier League.

  • Smith reacts

    Michael Smith was pleased with his win on night one, admitting he was just focusing on his own darts.

    He also understood the stick he took from the Cardiff faithful, especially in the final.

    He told Sky Sports: "“It was just my own darts tonight, that’s all I was focusing on.

    “Whether 6-0 or 6-5, just hold your own throw.

    “Final the easiest of the matches? Not with the crowd it wasn’t!

    “I don’t blame them as they wanted to cheer on their own man. I’m sorry I won!

    “I got a telling off from my wife last week because she said I was throwing so slow I made it look hard work.

    “So upstairs I was making sure they were on fire, out of my hand, out of my hand. I’ll find it eventually.”

  • Gerwyn Price 2-6 Michael Smith

    GAME SHOT AND THE MATCH!

    Michael Smith tops the table after winning night one of the 2024 Premier League!

  • Gerwyn Price 2-5 Michael Smith

    Michael Smith starts 140, 180 - his fifth maximum of this match - Price hasn't had one!

    He kicks clear and it's all down to the doubles now.

    He's left himself 10 - Price is on 219!

  • Gerwyn Price 2-5 Michael Smith

    Price takes out 100 to stay in the match.

    Smith throwing to win Night One in Cardiff.

  • Gerwyn Price 1-5 Michael Smith

    Sensational from Smith.

    107 checkout and makes the mistake of drifting into T7 with his first.

    He's quick with the maths and fires in T18 and D16 in emphatic fashion to clinch the leg on his throw.

    One leg away now, Smith.

  • Gerwyn Price 1-4 Michael Smith

    BREAK OF THROW!

    Michael Smith looks back to his old self here!

    He takes out a 120 finish in sublime fashion and Price has an uphill battle to get back into this one now.

  • Gerwyn Price 1-3 Michael Smith

    A bounce out prevents a fifth successive 180 start.

    But it doesn't matter to Smith who takes out 20 with Price alongside him on 16 and waiting on an opportunity.

    Smith not giving him any at the minute and it's silenced the crowd once again!

  • Gerwyn Price 1-2 Michael Smith

    BREAK OF THROW!

    Michael Smith with a break having started with yet another 180 in his first visit of the leg.

    He's on 75 when Price leaves himself 146 and puts a bit of pressure on.

    Smith ends up with one dart at tops and nails it.

  • Gerwyn Price 1-1 Michael Smith

    Smith again starts with five out of six perfect darts and leaves himself 76 after nine darts.

    Price is left behind on 299 when Smith couldn't take take out the 76.

    Pressure then comes when he can't take out the 20, busting himself after leaving himself on 5.

    He gets another visit and takes it out on D5 this time.

  • Gerwyn Price 1-0 Michael Smith

    Smith opens with a 180 in response to Price's first though.

    He can't capitalise on that with two low shots to leave himself 90 after 12 darts.

    Sloppy scoring from Price is matched by poor set-up play by Smith finding a T1.

    Price takes out 80 to clinch the opening leg.

  • Here we go!

    The Cardiff final is here - Price with the darts.

  • Receptions

    The pair all smiles as they shake hands on stage and share a laugh.

    That came after a huge ovation for Price and loud boos for Smith.

    The crowd had been half asleep for the previous hour but are slowly lifting the atmosphere ahead of this one.

  • Latest odds

    Home advantage has Gerwyn Price just ahead in the betting for this one.

    But Smith isn't all that far behind as the walk-outs get set to begin.

    • Gerwyn Price - 4/6
    • Michael Smith - 6/5
  • Time for the final...

    The two best players on the night meet for the five Premier League points - and the cool £10,000 bonus that goes with it.

    Gerwyn Price has home support and Michael Smith has beaten MVG and Luke Littler already tonight.

    It should be a good one...

  • View of SunSport's Rob Maul inside Cardiff's Utilita Arena

    Luke The Nuke is out but he had missed double 15 by millimetres to move into the final.

    Littler had beaten six world champions over the past six weeks.

    Christian Kist, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price (twice), Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries (twice) have all lost to the teenager since December 20.

    Smith wins their first meeting and avoids being added to that scalp list.

    Bully Boy was also targeted by the Welsh whistlers and when he won, he did a neck slitting sign to the culprits, saying: Keep quiet.

    He was angry with what was going on and Littler did not seem impressed either.

    Why did the referee not say something?

  • Michael Smith 6-5 Luke Littler

    What a tense final leg - with both players having match darts!

    Littler on 94 throws a stray dart into 7 before composing himself for T19 to leave D15 - next door to his favourite double.

    He hits the wire but just the wrong side.

    Smith - who had an unlucky bounce out on previous visit - returns to take out 55, hitting 15, miss, D20 to take the victory and reach tonight's final.

    He turns round to take a pop at the whistlers in the crowd - he looks absolutely raging!!

    Smith vs Price to come....

  • Michael Smith 6-5 Luke Littler

    GAME SHOT AND THE MATCH - MICHAEL SMITH!

  • Michael Smith 5-5 Luke Littler

    We're into a deciding leg!

    Littler this time misses when trying to clear up 40, missing D20 and D10.

    He gets another visit though as he's well ahead in the leg and clears up with D5.

  • Michael Smith 5-4 Luke Littler

    Rapid-fire leg that one as Smith takes out 68 with Littler on a finish but on 164.

    He puts himself a leg away from today's final.

  • Michael Smith 4-4 Luke Littler

    We're level again as Littler takes out 40.

    Not by design but he leaves his favourite D10 after hitting the 20 and takes it out in the next throw.

    Security staff are dotting about looking for the whistlers who are trying to spoil things.

  • Michael Smith 4-3 Luke Littler

    BREAK OF THROW!

    He's back within a leg again, Littler!

    Littler takes out the bullseye to take out 85 with Smith just behind him and it's right bang in the middle of the board.

    He'll need another of those...

  • Michael Smith 4-2 Luke Littler

    BREAK OF THROW!

    Littler left 170 and couldn't take it out, leaving 40.

    Bully Boy is on 81 after nine darts and Smith pounces, taking it out in a three-dart combination to take the break!