Premier League Darts is back on English soil, and all eyes are on the AO Arena in Manchester tonight as the sport’s brightest young star, Luke Littler, returns to the oche for Night Nine of the 2026 campaign. It’s a homecoming of sorts for the reigning World Champion, who hails from nearby Warrington and proudly supports Manchester United, promising a raucous reception from the local crowd.
There’s no shortage of intrigue as Littler, fresh off a dominant run that’s seen him claim three of the last four Premier League nights, squares up against Dutch prodigy Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals. This is the first time the two have met since van Veen shocked Littler on the opening night, handing him a rare defeat. But the tables have turned since then—Littler sits atop the Premier League table, while van Veen, having recently returned from surgery for kidney stones, is fighting to regain form and momentum.
Fans still recall the drama of their last high-profile clash at Alexandra Palace in January, where Littler stormed back after dropping the first set to van Veen in the World Championship final. According to Littler’s friend and streamer Morgan ‘Angry Ginge’ Burtwistle, the young champion was unfazed by the early setback. “He’s so chill, it’s unbelievable. Honestly, he’s so relaxed, so chilled. Gian gets the first set. I don’t know if anybody saw it but as he walked off he looked over to where we’re all stood and he goes: ‘No more.’ Then he gets seven on the bounce,” Ginge told the Double Tops podcast. Littler’s performance was nothing short of sensational—he averaged 116, hit 16 180s, and reeled in a 170 checkout, ultimately winning 23 legs to van Veen’s eight.
That victory cemented Littler’s status as a two-time World Champion before his 19th birthday, and he’s only accelerated since. In 2025, he racked up six major ranking titles, including the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals. He became the first single tournament millionaire in darts by retaining the Sid Waddell Trophy and joined legends like Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis as a back-to-back world champion. His 83-day unbeaten run across all competitions was finally snapped by Gerwyn Price at the Bahrain Darts Masters, but Littler bounced back instantly, winning the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters and then the Winmau World Masters—leaving only the European Championship missing from his collection.
As the Premier League season has unfolded, Littler has shown remarkable consistency. He opened his account with a victory in Cardiff, followed by a comeback win from 5-0 down to stun Gerwyn Price in Dublin, and secured his third night title in Berlin last week. His tournament average stands at an impressive 102.25, and he’s already hit 64 maximums—more than double van Veen’s tally of 27. Littler has also won seven of his 12 previous meetings with van Veen, including four of their last five encounters.
Yet, Littler isn’t letting success go to his head. In an interview earlier today, he revealed his long-term ambitions and even outlined his retirement plan: “That’s down to me. Whether I still want it in 10 or 15 years, whether I’m financially settled and have enough. The main thing is I have done everything I have wanted to do. The main goal is to win one of every major. Then double and triple, like I have in some tournaments already. Like Michael [van Gerwen] said, once the fire goes out of the belly that’s when we pack it in.” According to Littler, the drive to win is what keeps him going, and he’s determined to complete the full set of major titles, with just the European Championship and World Cup left on his list.
Tonight’s match against van Veen promises to be a real test. The Dutchman, despite his recent health setback, has been a thorn in Littler’s side before and isn’t to be underestimated. Littler is quick to acknowledge his rival’s quality: “He didn’t play the best last week but obviously it’s very hard for him, he said he has lost a lot of energy. I think Gian will bounce back. It won’t surprise me if he averages 110 against me tomorrow night.” Van Veen, who finished runner-up in three of the first four nights this season, is eager to return to winning ways after losing 6-1 to Price in Berlin and slipping to sixth in the league standings.
The rest of the night’s action is equally compelling. Michael van Gerwen, last week’s beaten finalist, faces Stephen Bunting in the evening’s opener—their only previous meeting this year saw van Gerwen triumph on opening night in Newcastle. Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price renew their rivalry in a quarter-final that’s anything but predictable; the two are tied one-all in this season’s Premier League and Price narrowly leads their head-to-head since 2025 by 7-6. The final quarter-final is a rematch between Jonny Clayton and Josh Rock. Rock, who finally broke his duck by defeating Clayton in Berlin last week, faces a Clayton side looking to consolidate his near-certain play-off spot.
With four coveted play-off places up for grabs and eight weeks left in the Premier League, the race is heating up. Littler and Clayton look almost assured of their places, but the midfield remains congested, and every point counts. The winner of tonight’s final will walk away with five points and a £10,000 prize, while the beaten finalist gets three points and semi-finalists earn two each. The quarter-finals are best of 11 legs, the semis best of 19, and the final best of 21—plenty of room for drama, upsets, and perhaps a few more 170 checkouts from Littler.
For Littler, playing in Manchester is special. As his friend Ginge puts it, “Honestly, he’s such a genuine guy.” The local crowd will be firmly in his corner, hoping to witness more history from the teenage sensation who’s already rewritten so many records. But with van Veen, van Gerwen, Price, Humphries, Clayton, Rock, and Bunting all hungry for points and glory, nothing is guaranteed.
The action is just getting underway at the AO Arena, and with so much at stake, fans can expect fireworks on and off the oche. Whether Littler can extend his dominance or if another contender will rise to the occasion remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure—Premier League Darts Night Nine in Manchester is shaping up to be an unmissable night of world-class darts.