Premier League Darts LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler prepares for Night Nine in Belfast after Swedish Festival win – updates

Luke at that

Luke Littler and Chris Dobey cruised to victory at the Swedish Darts Festival pairs tournament on Saturday.

The duo beat ex-PDC star turned Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle and Madars Razma 2-0 in the first semi-final and went on to face Viktor Tingström and Dennis Nilsson in the final.

Littler and Dobey broke their Swedish opponents straight away after the latter checked out 94.

Teen superstar Littler then ended the match with an 86 checkout to seal the win.

It comes after the 17-year-old suffered a defeat to Michael Smith on night eight of Premier League Darts in Dublin last week.

That meant he was knocked out in the quarter-finals.

What is the Premier League Darts prize money?

The prize fund for Premier League Darts is a whopping £1million, with £275,000 of that going to the winner.

• Winner: £275,000
• Runner-up: £125,000
• Losing semi-finalists: £85,000
• Fifth: £75,000
• Sixth: £70,000
• Seventh: £65,000
• Eighth: £60,000

Scores on the doors

Luke Humphries is leading the Premier League darts table after picking up his third successive win - with the roadshow moving on to Belfast next.

Teenage sensation Luke Littler has made a phenomenal start to his debut season, sitting third with 11 points - and heads into Nottingham in fine form after winning the Belgian Open.

The 17-year-old starlet has been fired into the limelight ever since his phenomenal performance at the 2023-24 World Championships.

The wonderkid was the youngest-ever finalist at the prestigious tournament but was beaten on the night by World No1 Luke Humphries.

Since then, however, Littler has picked up his first title as a pro, winning the Bahrain Darts Masters.

But the teen sensation did lose in the Dutch Darts Masters final to Michael van Gerwen.

After the Worlds, Littler was invited to play in the Premier League, and the 17-year-old has continued to raise eyebrows on his debut season.

'Best feeling ever'

Beaming Richie Howson says there's "no better feeling" than winning his first major title.

Howson beat Andy Hamilton in today's final of the World Seniors’ Champions of Champions tournament in Blackpool.

The Londoner, 58, a three-time runner-up last year, revealed his ecstatic reaction on making it fourth time lucky.

He said: "I've finally, finally done it. The emotions just run through. 

"And the crowds have been absolutely fantastic this weekend, and all you can hear is them cheering.

"There's no better feeling. Everyone wants to be a winner and it's a great feeling."

Darts chiefs back transgender star

Darts chiefs have defended Noa-Lynn van Leuven - the transgender star who won one of this weekend's four PDC Women’s Series tournaments.

Dutch team-mates Aileen de Graaf and Anca Zijlstra pulled out of the national side in protest over her inclusion.

But PDC boss Matt Porter has previously stressed that Van Leuven passed all tests for eligibility.

Transgender darts players must meet stringent testosterone levels for at least 12 months and cannot change gender identity for at least four years.

Porter said last year: “Noa-Lynn has qualified by right.

"She is there on a level footing with every competitor in this sport.”

Humphries doubts he'll match MVG

Premier League Darts player Luke Humphries doubts he'll ever match the achievements of second-placed Michael van Gerwen.

World champion Humphries, 29, leads the Dutchman by seven points after winning three of the Prem's first eight nights.

But 34-year-old MVG is rated a legend by many, having won three world crowns in all.

And Humphries said: "I've worked so hardon myself to get to this level but Michael has been at this level - and higher a lot longer.

"I'll probably never achieve what he's achieved but I'm getting to a level that I'm really really proud of."

Adams sparks mystery over his future

Martin Adams roused curiosity from darts fans with an enigmatic message over his future.

The defeated semi-finalist has already revealed arthritis in his shoulder is impeding his play - while also insisting he's addicted to carrying on playing.

Wolfie said: "I love playing darts and I love the crowds.

"I've had loads of people asking me 'can I have photograph?' I will go back out there and we'll do all that. That's what it's all about."

He added: "I'll be playing on the Modus Super Series. I'll be doing some of the Seniors Tour events that that go on.

"You might even see me somewhere else, but I can't say where at the moment."

But he added: " "It won't be in the WDF, no."

Richie claims he never thought he'd win a title

Richie Howson admitted he thought he'd never win a final after his "absolutely amazing" triumph over Andy Hamilton.

Howson was a triple runner-up in major seniors tournaments last year.

But he won five of the last six legs to defeat Andy Hamilton 13-10 in today's final of the Champion of Champions events.

Howson told World Seniors Darts Tour TV: "It's the most amazing feeling, absolutely amazing.

"I thought today would never come - and it has! I'm really really happy."

Asked for his feelings on throwing for double eight to clinch victory, he replied: I've done it, that's all I could think - I've finally done it. 

"And the crowd have been fantastic."

Adams vows to battle on despite arthritis

Beaten semi-finalist Martin Adams admits glory days will be harder to come by  - after being diagnosed with arthritis.

Wolfie stunned Phil Taylor with a 10-9 comeback win in the World Senior Champion of Champions yesterday but exited 10-7 to eventual tournament winner Richie Howson in the semi-finals this afternoon.

Adams, 67, has  told Online Darts TV: “Don’t look too hard for the great finishes because I don’t think they’ll be there this time around, because of the shoulder, but there we go

“Arthritis in my shoulder. I had it diagnosed this week, osteoarthritis. 

"You live with it, you manage it. I’m waiting for an injection which will hopefully make things a lot bit easier. 

"We just keep going. I’m not going to stop, I’m going to keep going because I love it.”

Sherrock makes it two wins out of four

Fallon Sherrock landed her second PDC Women's Series title of the weekend - repeating her final victory over big rival Beau Greaves from the opening tournament.

The "Queen of the Palace" was at her imperious best to wrap up the weekend in style.

Rhiannon Graham and Mozhgan Rahmani were both overpowered 4-0.

Sherrock then saw off Adriana van Wijgerden-Vermaat 4-2, Noa-Lynn van Leuven 4-1, Kirsi Viinikainen 5-0, Desiree Geel 5-1 and Greaves 5-1.

She leads the Women's Series Order of Merit after winning the first and last of this weekend's four tournaments - earning £5,000 in all.

Behind Sherrock come third-event winner Mikuru Suzuki (£3.3k), second-tournament winner Noa-Lynn van Leuven (£2.8k) and Greaves (£2.4k).

Suzuki hits top gear to win women's event

The PDC Women's Series has produced its third winner in three events.

Two-time world champ Mikuru Suzuki was in top gear righ from the start of the tournament before beating Deta Hedman 5-4 in the final to claim her fifth Women's Series title.

The Japanese ace saw off Teri-Frances Kidwell 4-0, Kaori Sagawa 4-0, Lorraine Winstanley 4-2, Desiree Geel 4-2 and Yukie Sakaguchi 5-2.

She then stunned Fallon Sherrock in the semi-final- winning 5-4 after trailing 3-0 - before defeating Hedman by the same score.

Big names like Beau Greaves, Lorraine Winstanley, Anastasia Dobromyslova and Lisa Ashton crashed out at the last-32 stage.

Darts chiefs want Littler schedule 'managed well'

Darts chiefs have stressed Luke Littler must have a strong team around him protecting his well-being.

Aged just 17, the sport's youngest ever world finalist has had a hectic schedule for both competition and media appearances in the past three months.

Littler has already suggested he might stop playing in his mid-30s if he gets bored.

And PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter told the Love the Darts: “What’s really positive is Luke’s recent wins are going to help his schedule because it will reduce the number of qualifiers he has to play.

“The media demands are high, still getting a lot of requests for high-end content.

"We saw him on The Jonathan Ross Show, he’s doing Comic Relief, there are a lot of A-list people that want to speak to Luke which is great for him and great for darts and it’s important that it is managed properly.

“His manager Martin (Foulds) is excellent, his family are very supportive, we’re involved.

"It’s a team effort to make sure everything is geared around giving him the optimal opportunity to be the best he can on the oche and just get enough rest and time to be a normal 17-year-old as best he can away from that."

Victory is a hoot for The Owl

Here's how Richie Howson broke his duck in major finals.

The Rainham thrower's walk-in music is Night Boat To Cairo by Madness.

And with great joy "The Owl" squawked like an Egyptian who is sitting pretty on top of the pyramids after beating Andy Hamilton 13-10.

George hails 'deserved' winner Howson

Darts legend Bobby George praised Richie Howson for holding his nerve to finally land his first major title via his fourth final.

Londoner Howson, 58, was runner-up on the senior circuit last year in the World Championship, Masters and Champion tournaments.

And after Howson won five of the last six frames to beat Andy Hamilton 13-10, George told the BBC: "He deserved it.

"As soon as he broke he was in command. He didn't make mistakes near the end.

"He's been a finalist in a major three times but now he's won one. He's kept himself together."

This is how victory feels!

Richie Howson's mix of joy and relief says it all.

He's just won the final at his fourth attempt - coming back strongly from 10-9 down to beat Andy Hamilton 13-10.

RICHIE WINS! Howson 13-10 Hamilton

Howson returned to the oche to bag his second shot at double 8 -and land victory.

Howson on brink...

Howson is close to snatching the leg despite Hamilton throwing first.

But he missed a double eight for victory!

SAVED! Howson 12-10 Hamilton

Hamilton held his nerve - just.. to stay in the match by winning leg 22.

Going for 32, he missed with his first two efforts, took a breather, then landed the third!

ONE FROM VICTORY! Howson 12-9 Hamilton

Howson is throwing first after moving one leg from a huge statement in his career - victory on a live televised event.

Howson 11-9 Hamilton

Howson is the big favourite now after three straight legs.

And it's no fluke - as he's looked the better player at the business end of this match.