Luke Littler – Dutch Masters: Live score and updates as three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen BEATS the 17-year-old darts sensation in the final

What a final! What a finish! Litlter has to go big and he is mightly close to doing so with two perfect darts at 170 but pulls his bullseye effort into the green.

Van Gerwen has to nail double 14, can he do it? Of course he can, the three-time world champion’s experience shows through but that was an incredible effort from Littler.

It’s the Duthcman’s 16th World Series title and with form like tonight you expect Littler to reach the same incredible tally one day!

It’s a maximum start from Littler and he follows that up with another perfect dart. This is the chance for Littler and he has to take it with two darts at double eight.

He misses both, Van Gerwen responds like a true champion is to win the leg and he is now just nine darts away from winning the Dutch Masters!

Littler levels again and a winner could be crowned just two legs from now. The Englishman is continuing to come up with the answers. Can he continue to do so?

Littler has a chance at 121 to win the leg and is so close to doing so but is just milimetres away from bullseye. Van Gerwen checks out 14 to win the leg and turns to pump his fist at the crowd. The supporters are loving this.

It’s outstanding throwing from Littler as he fires two into bullseye but it’s not the best tactical move as he leaves himself with an awkward finish. Fortunately his talent shines through as he nails double eight to win the leg.

These two are matching each other leg-for-leg!

There’s no separating these two as Van Gerwen holds his throw with some sensible scoring. Littler doesn;t let off as he nails in a maximum but Van Gerwen is brilliant with his two-dart finish. He needed that!

Van Gerwen can’t match Littler’s scoring but the Englishman struggles with a triple-digit checkout. MvG fails in his efforts at rounding out 151 and LIttler pins double 10,

Van Gerwen leads at the break and he lets the crowd know about it, but it’s not been comfortable for the Dutchman. What a start to the match this has been, Littler is firing in the maximums but Van Gerwen is responding.

Something has to give eventually surely? The first to eight wins and this could go either way.

We have a match on our hands as Littler nails double top. He subtly points to the crowd as the scores are level again. Neither player is giving anything so far as we approach the break.

Littler piles the pressure on to leave himself with double 10 but Van Gerwen doesn’t give him a chance at it as he checks out 24. The home favourite is back in the lead as we continue to race through the legs.

It’s a blistering start from Littler as he nails a maximum and follows-up with a 140 to leave 85. Van Gerwen responds with is own 180 before Littler fails to find bullseye. The Dutchman responds to level tge match. Great darts.

Littler takes the lead on Van Gerwen’s throw. He missed his first attempt at double 10 but doesn’t make the same error again. The 17-year-old star is in front and will throw first on the next leg. Good pace to this match so far.

Stunning from Luke Littler as he nails a 180 on his third visit tot he board. He is left with a 124 checkout but takes his time to leave himself with double 20 that he nails to level the match.

There’s no messing around from Van Gerwen as he holds throw to claim the first leg. His doubling hasn’t been strong tonight and he lets out a scream of relief as he seals the first leg.

Both players are out, the crowd in Den Bosch is absolutely rocking and we are ready to get underway. The first to eight legs tonight will take the Dutch Masters title. Game on!

It’s time for the walkons as Littler and Van Gerwen go head-to-head in tonight’s Dutch Masters final. Can the Englishman secure back-to-back World Series titles over the Dutchman. Let’s find out.

Littler admitted after his Bahrain Masters triumph over Van Gerwen that he hadn’t picked up a dart since his previous world championship defeat at the start of January. Now he has a chance to win his second consecutive world series event.

The teenage darts sensation beat Van Gerwen 8-5 in the Middle East and he would be desperate to do that again tonight.

Littler is playing with freedom tonight while home favourite Van Gerwen has struggled to find consistency in his double finishing.

We should be underway shortly.

After losing the Bahrain Masters final to Littler on January 19, Van Gerwen sent a warning to the 17-year-old.

He lost 8-5 against Littler on the night and now we have rematch this evening at the Dutch Masters final.

Read what Van Gerwen previously said below.

Van Gerwen 7-4 Van Veen

He’s done it and Michael van Gerwen will play Luke Littler in the Dutch Masters final after beating Gian van Veen. It’s a repeat of the Bahrain Masters just a little over a week after Littler beat the three-time world champion in the Middle East.

Can teh 17-year-old darts sensation produce a huge upset in Van Gerwen’s native Holland? Stick with us for what promises to be a mouthwatering final.

Van Gerwen surges into a two-leg lead and he is now just one leg away from the Dutch Masters final. It’s not been great from the experienced pro but he looks to have grinded out victory.

Van Gerwen’s double woes continue but he retakes control as Van Veen falters. Can the three-time world champion now push on to the final where Luke Littler is waiting.

The quality has raised in this leg as both players find a few tidy trebles. MvG is left with two darts at double top but misses and Van Veen makes no mistake with the same finish. All square.

Much better from Van Gerwen as he gets the leg off to a maximum start. He follows that up with a poor three darts to give Van Veen hope. The 21-year-old misses a double 13 finish and Van Gerwen gets back in front as he rounds out an 11-dart leg.

Van Gerwen is playing aggressively but it’s not working for him as he tries to finish with a bullseye. He is let off as Van Veen fails to find double 11 and eventually Van Gerwen takes the leg.

Van Veen hits a nice bullseye to leave himself with a two-dart finish after capitalising on Van Gerwen’s struggles. Double finishing hasn’t been great from either player so far but Van Veen nails double top and takes the lead.

Van Veen struggles at the start of the leg before hitting three huge darts to leave himself with a 16 finish. Van Gerwen tried to checkout with a bullseye before Van Veen checks out 16 to level the score.

Van Gerwen wins a leg against the throw for the first time in the game as he starts to find form. Van Veen is showing signs of a slow start and that is exactly what he doesn’t want against a player like the three-time world champion.

The world number two recovers to take the leg and level the match but he doesn’t look entirely comfortable. Van Veen will just want to hold his own throw for as long as he can in this game.

It’s a nervy start from both players that ends with Van Veen holding his throw to win the leg after Van Gerwen missed double 16.

If three-time PDC world champion Michael van Gerwen can get past his Dutch countryman Gian van Veen in this match, then we will have a repeat of the recent Bahrain Masters final.

Littler is through and waiting, who will be joining him?

Littler 7-4 Price

Littler wins the game to check out eight as Price fails to find any such form that would suggest he could pull off a comeback.

Luke ‘The Nuke’ is through to the Dutch Masters final as his sensational run of form in the PDC World Series continues.

Brilliant stuff from the 17-year-old. Stick with us for more updates.

The scoring power of Littler is putting him within touching distance of the Dutch Masters final. Price failed to get over 100 twice before being offered a finish in that match and Littler is back to his best but can’t check out 40.

Price then misses an effort at double five and somehow Littler misses another three darts and even fails to find double one. Price can’t do any better as he is left with four and Littler finally, finally, wins the leg after 19 darts.

It’s absolutely brilliant darts from Littler as he nails a beautiful maximum and checks out a 28 finish. That’s better from the Englishman and you sense something is building. It’s the first to seven legs in this semi.

Price has a great chance to level the match with a difficult bullseye finish but slightly pulls his shot. Littler misses a double five and Price doesn’t let him off again.

The 17-year-old darts sensation leads as we head into a short break and probably deservedly so but after a fast start to the match, both players have struggled to finish triple digit checkouts in the last few legs. It’s game on when we get back underway with the match finally poised.

Littler takes the seventh leg to give himself a 4-3 lead at the break. There’s very little celebration from the youngster as both players exit the oche for a break. The quality has certainly dropped in the last few legs.

Littler turns it on again with a 180 to leave himself with a 98 finish. He rushes his attempt to win the leg with a missed double 12 before Price nails a double 10 to win the leg. The Welshman turns to the crowd as he pulls level.

Both players miss treble digit finishes and drop below 50 as the leg falls under the previous standard in the game. Littler eventually takes the leg as he finally checks out 40.

Littler has drifted away from treble 20 in the last two legs now while Price is nailing the spot to hit a maximum on his way to levelling the match. Littler will want to get ahead next leg to stop Price’s confidence from building.

Price needed that as he replies to take a leg off of Littler’s throw and reminds the 17-year-old that this won’t be an easy semifinal to get through. 2-1 and Price can level this on his own throw next leg.

Early advantage goes to Littler as he takes a leg on Price’s throw. The more senior competitor has had a muted start in this semifinal and doesn’t look comfortable early on.

Littler takes the first leg as the 17-year-old darts sensation holds his throw to finish strongly. Littler found form with his first maxium of the match and leave himself with a 104 finish that he completes with a brilliant double 20

Good evening and thank you for joining us for tonight’s Dutch Masters semifinal between Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price.