00:00The lights dimmed, the base dropped and the flashy BetMGM promo heralded a new era.
00:07The 2026 Premier League of Darts is officially back.
00:11But as the Rose Show rolled into Newcastle's Utilita Arena,
00:14the glitz of the pre-show gave way to a gritty reality check for the sport's biggest superstars.
00:21The headline was written before a dart was even thrown.
00:24A World Championship final rematch between Luke Littler and Jean Van Veyn.
00:29However, the script was flipped in front of a boisterous Geordie Kraut.
00:33Littler, the world number one and pre-tournament favourite looked human for the first time in months.
00:39Despite flirting with perfection with six perfect darts early on,
00:42the new crumbled on his doubles, allowing Van Veyn to snatch a 6-4 revenge victory
00:47that sent the debutant into the stratosphere and the defending champion home early.
00:53Van Veyn's dream debut didn't stop there.
00:56He survived a 1-0-9 average onslaught from Johnny Clayton to reach the final.
01:00But that was where the green machine reminded everyone of the pecking order.
01:05Michael Van Veyn, after a self-described shocking 20-25, looked like a man possessed.
01:12He dismantled Stephen Bunting and Luke Humphries before clinical finishing
01:15saw him edge Van Veyn 6-4 in an all-Dutch final.
01:19The message from night one is clear.
01:22The young guns may own the promos, but the veteran king still owns the hockey.
01:27Next stop, Antwerp.
01:29What's the best?
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