DON'T LUKE BACK IN ANGER

Littler loses a Belfast belter to Van Gerwen

-  MIKE WALTERS

THEY went at it hammer and tongs again but this time there was no fall-out over poor timekeeping, just a thunderous game of darts.

And as Luke Littler came up short on the opening night of his BetMGM Premier League title defence, Michael van Gerwen won his first game in five meetings with the former boy wonder.

Luke the Nuke's 113.91 average - the second-highest going rate in defeat in the tournament's history was no consolation after a 6-5 loss.

But as Van Gerwen gained a measure of revenge for his PDC World Championship defeat at Alexandra Palace five weeks ago, it was another reminder for Littler that the target on his back is no longer just dartboardsized. It's virtually become a helipad.