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00:00In one night, in the entirety of last year's tournament, what a start it would be if you could beat
00:06Littler here and then win the final.
00:08It would be the perfect start, but if you want to negotiate Littler, and yeah, we can go off the
00:14first performances because there was a gulf between them in terms of the standard, but we saw it from Johnny
00:19Clayton last week, just because you play well in match number one doesn't necessarily mean you're going to play as
00:24well or better in match number two.
00:26One hundred and twenty-five.
00:34One hundred and forty.
00:37Here we go, and the reigning World Series Finals champion beat Littler in the decisive game.
00:44Ninety-seven.
00:45He was in Amsterdam towards the back end of last year.
00:48That's the last time he beat him.
00:52One hundred and forty.
00:54That gets him down to a two-darter.
01:03One hundred and forty.
01:05Down to a tonne after just nine darts, but that is the worst possible first dart from NVG.
01:13One hundred and forty.
01:14One hundred and forty.
01:14Generally, it would have been better if it had fallen out the board.
01:19Around the treble twenty and not in it.
01:22Michael, you require entrance.
01:25Not moving.
01:29Didn't need to.
01:30Worked his way in expertly.
01:31mighty Michael Van Gogh and that is the opening leg and it's one against the dogs and I think it
01:40is of Michael we know the levels he's got we know the competitiveness he said this year you know
01:45people have got to still beat him and he wasn't getting a lot back from Josh Rock and when you
01:50are that in that scenario it's sometimes hard to produce some of your best stuff
02:01185
02:10140
02:1960
02:3058
02:31it's a sluggish start from Luke Littler a little like he was against Humphreys but just from the numbers
02:39105 average I think he's played brilliantly but it really did pick up towards the end and even then
02:44had to survive darts and various legs from Humphreys
02:50he found himself in a position didn't he being 4-1 down
02:53just not really looking like he was going to progress through to the next round
02:58but Luke Littler we've said this before he can find a way he's never out of a match
03:0950
03:1052
03:10Michael
03:11McQuire 110
03:13double his lead
03:2078
03:21double 16 missed the combo Littler single 12 for tops you would think
03:28we've got a level game it's break back immediately for Littler
03:34those kind of shots last week against Luke Humphreys that Michael van Gerwen was finding those big combination finishes that
03:41denying his opponent an opportunity back to the board
03:44do you have that feeling that if Luke Littler starts to warm to the game like he did in his
03:49quarter-final then
03:50Michael van Gerwen is going to have to find more of those big finishes
03:5492
04:04134
04:0512
04:13114
04:13114
04:14both players still searching for their first maximum of this match
04:18don't normally have to wait for long
04:20with these two up on the stage
04:2416
04:28Wayne picked up on it
04:30in his opening game Littler
04:32Yes, he was hitting a lot of 180s
04:34But if he wasn't finding it in the first dart
04:37He was not very good at making the adjustments
04:39I mean, just from there
04:40That is better
04:51Really high with the first
04:52And with the second
04:54But good cover shot in the end
04:59That could work
05:01Does work
05:02Gets the job done with the 107
05:05Michael Van Gogh
05:06Missing a one-trouble combo
05:07To take a 2-0 lead in this game
05:09But it's a similar shot from Littler
05:12That puts him 2-1 up now
05:14140
05:2290 seconds
05:26140
05:35That's about 140
05:36Visits for Michael Van Gerwen
05:53It's the general level of hubbub among this 10,000 strong crowd
05:57Feels like they're waiting for some fireworks which are yet to arrive
06:06Not going for it
06:07Going to set up
06:08Single 18
06:10Sensible play with Littler not down to a finish
06:17Absolutely
06:17Absolutely
06:18Absolutely
06:19Just give yourself the best chance of getting that leg
06:22And it was no mistake on the outer ring for Michael Van Gerwen
06:25Good leg, Lucas Van Gerwen
06:36That leg there, leg four
06:38That's one of the match so far
06:45First 180 of this contest and it's Michael Van Gogh and he produces it
06:52There would be no surprise with her if he fired back one himself
06:57Look, look, look
07:06He's a man who's smashed all sorts of 180 records in the last two or three years
07:13Sometimes I think that's a driving force for him is breaking records
07:17Being the first to do something
07:19He could be the first to win here in Antwerp
07:21But Michael Van Gerwen making it very difficult for him
07:26Oh, hang on
07:27Hang on, Littler
07:29The 170 is missed
07:31Van Gerwen does get a chance to complete the 10 darter
07:35What a leg of darts
07:37Michael Van Gerwen
07:3810 darter to break Littler
07:41But Littler very nearly saved himself with the biggest check out of the lot
07:47He said you were waiting for something
07:48And that's a great response and a great start
07:50From Michael Van Gerwen
07:54The blue touch paper has been lit
07:57Michael Van Gerwen has started to fire
07:59At this particular point averaging just an excess of 109
08:05It's a big performance for Michael Van Gerwen
08:0881
08:1758
08:25And he's got room for another
08:27Doesn't get it but Littler's going to have to do
08:30Very well just to leave a finish
08:35And he has done very well
08:36And look what he's left
08:41Left the big fish once again and will be back
08:43And Michael Van Gerwen just making a bit of a mess
08:45And saves it with the last darter
08:49This time
08:50Can't get it started
08:57To establish a two leg gap
08:59Something he could have done earlier in the game
09:09How costly will the miss prove to be
09:15And that he costly indeed
09:17Luke Littler breaks back once again
09:20Levels up at three apiece
09:23Well it feels so similar to his performance against Luke Humphreys
09:27Now granted he's managed to stay level
09:29In this game or get level at this point
09:32Whereas against Humphreys he was 4-2 down
09:36And was flirting with being 5-1 down
09:40But it was from this point on that he started to ignite
09:43And really come back into the game strongly
09:4956
09:54Can't find a big treble
09:55It's an opening for MVG if he can take it
09:59132
10:07140
10:15Persevering on the treble 20
10:17It's an 40 gets him to a finish
10:18And that is brilliant work from Michael Van Gerwen
10:24The feeling of a match
10:25That one of them is going to poke out the big fish at some point
10:28Because Michael Van Gerwen left it again
10:31Deep leaving it
10:32Somebody will hit it
10:34It's not going to be Michael Van Gerwen on this occasion
10:41To lead the game
10:45Can't get the treble
10:5074 for MVG
10:52Double 16
10:54Hits back against Littler
10:5714 darter
10:58Break and throw
11:018th leg
11:02Michael acceptance
11:03And still
11:04Van Gerwen
11:05Has the advantage
11:08Van Gerwen against throw
11:10Has been exceptional
11:13140
11:17At this point as a player
11:19You're thinking
11:19Right
11:19It's getting to the business end
11:21Just hold your throw
11:21140
11:24They've only managed to do it
11:27What?
11:3157
11:35And again on throw
11:36And Michael Van Gerwen
11:38Hasn't found a big treble
11:40Bit Littler now
11:42Looking to punish that
11:4598
11:48Beat Littler a couple of times in last year's Premier League
11:50Lost four
11:51And the wins he had
11:52Were only by
11:53A solitary leg
11:54On both occasions
11:55One of those times by the way
11:56Littler averaged nearly 114
11:58And still lost
12:01But if Van Gerwen
12:02Is going to beat him here
12:03It looks like it could be close
12:09I'll be honest with you
12:10At this point
12:11It just feels like anyone's game
12:12It's two in the firing
12:13It's a high quality contest
12:14But
12:15For the consistency
12:17Lacking a gear
12:18For MVG
12:21Ball tie for a 164
12:24Nowhere near
12:25Van Gerwen
12:26Didn't take a big bite
12:27Out of that 181
12:28This is tough
12:30Too tough
12:37Looks like
12:38Another break of throat
12:43Game from the 8th leg
12:47Luke Littler
12:489th leg
12:50And Luke to focus
12:51Game on
13:00One
13:00Littler kicks off
13:02With a match
13:02It's his first to the game
13:04Is he going to find
13:04That scoring power
13:05Late on in this match
13:06Just like he did
13:07Against Humphreys
13:0995
13:09Well despite the slow start
13:11Against Humphreys
13:11He ended up with
13:12Seven maximums
13:16Produce a second
13:17In this match there
13:17Four perfect darts
13:19To start the leg
13:19Something he did
13:20A couple of times
13:21Earlier on tonight
13:21Against Humphreys
13:22Is he going to
13:23Wriggle out of an awkward
13:24Situation
13:25Luke Littler
13:26Once again
13:26Tonight
13:28Well then he said
13:29That it was bizarre
13:30With the quarterfinals
13:31The way that they went
13:32But as a semifinal goes
13:33The amount of break
13:34Three apiece
13:35That in itself
13:36Is unusual
13:44Fifty-eight
13:45Duke Acquire
13:46One hundred and sixty-four
13:52That's a big finish
13:53He missed
13:53Previously
13:56This time
13:57He's gone a bit of time
13:58On his side
14:00Needs a second travel
14:01He's got it
14:03He's got all three
14:04Michael Van Gogh
14:05And he asks a question
14:06Once again
14:07Of Littler
14:09Four sixteens
14:13And he can't find them
14:16For yet another
14:17Break of throw
14:18For Van Gogh
14:19And to lead this game
14:20Once again
14:24One darts
14:25That's a double sixteen
14:28Just clips
14:28The wrong side
14:29Of the wire
14:34Double six
14:34For the lead
14:40On he goes
14:41The wrong side
14:41Of the first two
14:45Trying to slide it in
14:46It was a huge deflection
14:51Awkward for
14:51Michael Van Gogh
14:52We're just moving
14:53Across the arc
14:54He finds the perfect angle
15:00Was that the game
15:01Right there
15:02So difficult to call
15:04When there's been
15:04So many breaks
15:05To throw
15:05Because that was
15:06Yet another one
15:07But Van Gogh
15:08Is one hold away
15:10From making it
15:11Back to back finals
15:13And potentially
15:14Back to back titles
15:15To start
15:16This year's
15:16Premier League
15:18And it's a position
15:19That every player
15:19Would want to be in
15:20Except for the fact
15:21That he's only managed
15:22To hold once
15:22In the whole match
15:27Surely he's going
15:28To get matched
15:28Arts in this position
15:29That is how
15:30You punish a poor visit
15:33Michael Van Gogh
15:34Thinks he's got
15:34Luke Littler
15:35Where he wants to
15:36Huge reaction
15:37It was maximum
15:38Number four
15:39For Michael Van Gogh
15:48To turn
15:49Adjustment
15:50From the green machine
15:57What a little
15:58A throw in for the
15:59Bullseye there
15:59He thinks it's done
16:01He's probably right
16:02Match start
16:03For MVG
16:04No it's not
16:05Not just yet
16:07Drags that into the
16:0811s when he wants
16:08To the single 14
16:09But he is guaranteed
16:10Match starts from here
16:11Yeah but I get it
16:13Just felt like
16:14He wasn't going to
16:14Miss anything
16:15Misses a single number
16:19To beat Littler
16:20And keep his winning
16:21Run going
16:27And Michael Van Gogh
16:29Is in back to back
16:31Finals
16:32To start this year's
16:33Premier League
16:34The green machine
16:36Seize off the nuke
16:38Is in the top50
16:38be HUG But
16:38I think it's tudo
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