World champion Luke Littler beats Jonny Clayton to win night 12 of Premier League Darts in Liverpool
Clayton three points clear of Littler at top of table after 12 of 16 league-phase rounds - full standings after Thursday's matches
Final: Clayton 1-6 Littler
Semi-finals: Van Veen 5-6 Clayton,Van Gerwen 5-6 Littler
Quarter-finals: Van Veen 6-4 Price,Bunting 5-6 Clayton,Rock 3-6 Van Gerwen,Humphries 2-6 Littler
Image source, Getty ImagesThanks for tuning in as Luke Littler won night 12 of Premier League Darts in Liverpool.
Jonny Clayton remains top of the standings with 75% of the season having been played, while Littler is second.
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I think this has been the best night so far this year
Martin
Do you agree? Get hitting those thumbs
Premier League Darts heads to Aberdeen next week for night 13.
Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton are on opposite sides of the draw, so could meet in another final.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Luke Littler closes the gap on Jonny Clayton in top spot and is now three points behind following his third nightly win.
Michael van Gerwen remains inside the play-off places, while Luke Humphries drops to sixth, five points off the top four.
Result: Clayton 1-6 Littler
Image source, PA MediaWorld champion Luke Littler, speaking to Sky Sports after his night 12 win in Liverpool:
"I'm very happy with myself and we move on to next week.
"After the semi-final I had to let a reaction out just for myself, just to get myself up there and get myself going.
"It's really great to see Michael [van Gerwen] have a good game against me, that's probably the best game we've played against one another for a long time. He put me under pressure in all legs and it was good to get another win over Michael.
"Usually the doubling is not there but I'm thankful it was there tonight - there were a lot of crucial doubles at crucial times through the night."
Asked whether he made an extra effort to be dialled in and more focused: "Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight. There was a little bit [of booing] but this week was nothing compared to last week. I've just got to forget about it, I was definitely focused and wanted to win tonight, and that's what I've done."
On wanting top spot in the league table: "I'm very close to Jonny now and I'm going to go chasing. I want to finish top once again and if it's not to be then it's not to be, but there are still four weeks left to play for."
Result: Clayton 1-6 Littler
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports
That was a brilliant performance from Luke Littler, averaging over 104 and six 180s.
It was not poor from Jonny, in fact it was one of his best performances of the evening, but it just wasn't good enough to beat the world number one.
Luke Littler tells Sky Sports that he was very thankful he hit some "crucial doubles" at crucial times to win in Liverpool.
He also says the reception he received tonight was not as bad as the one he received in Rotterdam a week ago.
Full quotes to come...
Aled Williams
BBC Wales Sport at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
A disappointing end to Jonny Clayton’s bid to win a third successive nightly final as rival Luke Littler closes the gap at the top with a resounding win.
The Welshman remains top of the table with four events remaining ahead of the play-offs at the end of May.
No doubt these two will be among the four that will feature at London’s O2.
Result: Clayton 1-6 Littler
A 180 for Jonny Clayton, but another for Luke Littler too.
Littler ends up being the first down to a finish. He leaves 58. Clayton then gets another 180 to leave 82.
But it doesn't matter. 18 and tops wraps it up for Littler.
Image source, Getty ImagesClayton 1-5 Littler
Jonny Clayton manages to pull a leg back. Luke Littler can't take out 148, but Clayton sees off 61.
Clayton 0-5 Littler
He doesn't take out 141, but he sets up tops. Jonny Clayton isn't down to a finish yet.
He pins double 20 with his first dart at it.
A fourth 180 of the match for Littler, too.
Clayton 0-4 Littler
Jonny Clayton has 124 remaining, but he only manages to score 24.
Luke Littler is waiting on 167 and gets the first treble, but then hits the single 19. He leaves 72 instead. Clayton leaves 40 and Littler has one dart at tops himself, but he goes inside.
Clayton goes inside on tops, then outside on double 10, then inside.
Littler wraps it up on double five.
This is running away from Clayton. That was nine darts from 124 for the Welshman and he still didn't finish.
Clayton 0-3 Littler
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports
Jonny has to be careful here - you don't want the game to get away from you early, because once it does, it's hard to win.
Clayton 0-3 Littler
Image source, Getty ImagesMake that five maximums.
Five perfect darts from Luke Littler to begin the leg.
He is the first to get down to a finish, leaving 95. Jonny Clayton then sets up 68.
Littler goes for the outer bull before hitting the treble 20. He then goes for double five but goes over.
Clayton can't wrap it up on his visit and Littler takes out 10 in one dart.
Clayton 0-2 Littler
Four 180s already in this game, by the way. Both players throw one in this leg.
Littler has 68 left and has one dart at tops. He pins it.
Clayton 0-1 Littler
That was quick!
Jonny Clayton has a dart at the bullseye for a 121 out, but hits the 25.
Luke Littler takes out double 11 to win the first leg.
Clayton 0-0 Littler
Here we go!
Clayton v Littler
Will Jonny Clayton win his fifth night of this year's Premier League?
We'll find out shortly. The players are on their way out.
Clayton v Littler
Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports
Image source, PA MediaYou need a bit of luck. Stephen Bunting had a dart to beat Jonny Clayton in his opening game, then Gian van Veen had a dart at bullseye.
Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't.
You have to be there to clean up and Jonny is doing that time and again.
Jonny has now won eight games on the bounce and he is just a machine at winning darts matches on the Premier League stage. He's now on 32 points, which is incredible.
