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 Gerwen's unbeaten start to the Premier League by claiming a 6-3 triumph 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 last.
But the seven-time champ was no match for Welshman Price, who had come through two final-leg deciders before raising the title in more comfy style.
Littler had earlier opened the tournament's very first check out to Belgium by edging a final-leg decider of his own against competing Luke Humphries.
For Price it was a welcome triumph to confirm the great form he had actually been in of late.
"I think I'm playing some of the very best stuff I have actually played, I'm just not winning tournaments," Price told Sky Sports after his triumph.
"There's no way I can't win a major, larger Pro Tours, Europeans. Averages are simply 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 treated to lots of delights.
Premier League Darts 2026 components, results and table
5 days back
Premier League: Price beats Van Gerwen to win Antwerp last - as it happened
Littler beats Humphries on night of resurgences
The night started with a bang as the 2 greatest darts stars worldwide played out a premium contest that decreased to a final-leg decider.
Humphries and Littler both struck seven 180s and averaged over 102 and 105 respectively, however both were remarkably poor on the outer ring - missing out on 28 doubles between them.
Humphries was the better player throughout, however at 4-1 up he began missing doubles severely, 17 in all by the end of the match, as Littler engineered an escape to make it 5 straight wins against his big competitor.
World second Humphries has now lost 11 of his 15 Premier League conferences with Littler, with his last triumph of any kind against the 19-year-old coming in the tournament's final last May.
The previous 4 beats before this one came in competition finals, and perhaps it is becoming a mental barrier now for the defending Premier League champion as his scoring was solid all video game, but he could simply 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 completed bottom of the table last year after failing to win a single match in the first 8 weeks, but aimed to have one when leading 4-0, just to enjoy Jonny Clayton rattle six straight legs to win 6-4.
And Price had to come from 3-1 and 4-2 down to beat Gian van Veen in the first of his 2 6-5 victories on the night.
Price goes distance as MVG sinks Littler
Price's 2nd final-leg decider came against buddy and Wales World Cup team-mate Clayton in a nip-and-tuck fight.
Price had 4 180s to Clayton's three and balanced just over 100 - however was forced to win the last 2 legs under severe pressure to make the last.
It was no real surprise offered Price had won 9 in a row against his compatriot and 15 of their past 16 meetings.
Van Gerwen did not impress in his opener but definitely did in a weird 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 - strangely for him - just managing a single optimum, while Van Gerwen hit 4.
But it was the completing under pressure that made the difference as the Dutchman hit 6 of 13 efforts at a double, including ending up off a 10-darter, in an efficiency that was a lot more like the Van Gerwen of old.
Despite amazing back-to-back finishes of 167 and 160 in the last Van Gerwen was constantly second best, however a win and a last after two nights is a fantastic start considering he failed to win a single night in last season's competition.
The results also 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 staying.
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 throughout 16 preliminary weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last 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 eight and week 16 fixtures done off the table. It indicates we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off areas possibly on the line.
Players make 2 points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.
The top four gamers after the group phase development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and 2nd against 3rd in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the very best of 21 legs, follows.
If players are level on points after the 16 weeks then locations are decided 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