Chris Dobey shines in Rotterdam to earn long-awaited Premier League triumph | Darts

Luke Littler’s await a record-breaking fifth nightly win of a single Premier League season goes on as Chris Dobey reigned on evening 11 in Rotterdam.

Dobey took his first nightly win in two years with a 6-2 victory over Stephen Bunting, who noticed off Littler within the semi-finals. After avoiding a scare to edge out Rob Cross 6-5, Littler fell 3-2 behind to Bunting after which drew the ire of the Dutch crowd when he frolicked altering his barrels – to no avail, as Bunting charged right into a 5-2 lead.

Littler celebrated pulling it again to 5-3 and it signalled a change of momentum as he got here again to stage issues up. However in a tense deciding leg, Littler missed double 9 when on the lookout for a 138 checkout and Bunting made him pay as he superior to the ultimate towards Dobey.

Few would have predicted a remaining between the 2 gamers who began the evening final within the standings, however Dobey had appeared sturdy all night, opening with a 6-3 win over Luke Humphries, the world No 1, earlier than dispatching Nathan Aspinall, final week’s winner, 6-2.

Within the remaining, Dobey seized a 4-1 lead when Bunting blew his probability 3 times on double 19 to chop the deficit, successfully the tip of his problem as Dobey took full management for his first nightly win because the opening evening of the 2023 season.

“It feels nice to be again within the winner’s circle,” Dobey stated. “I knew I may do it. It’s about acting on the evening and three nice performances, I’ve put myself again within the combine.

“I’m a fighter. I got here by means of it. I’ve been in matches the place I’ve been cruising after which ended up shedding. It’s about getting myself again amongst the elite. I’m right here to win and I by no means gave myself any doubt. I’m a fighter and I’ll be right here till the tip.”

Bunting had begun the night by dispatching Michael van Gerwen, the house favorite, who appeared off his recreation from the beginning however rallied from 5-2 all the way down to 5-5 earlier than Bunting finally superior. Littler virtually fell sufferer to Cross within the opening spherical. Cross had wanted 150 to take the deciding leg however, after hitting successive treble 19s, he missed double 18 and Littler checked out 145 to grab it.