Gian van Veen talking to Sky Sports about his fitness as he recovers from kidney stones: "I have thrown darts for 90 minutes in total. After throwing for half an hour in each of the past three days I was too tired to keep throwing darts.

"People who know me know I normally turn up four hours early to practise but tonight was just two because I don't want to tire myself out. I don't know what to expect but I'm going to give it my all."

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Gian van Veen missed last week with kidney stones, but even that wasn't perhaps as painful as Gerwyn Price throwing away a 5-0 lead in the Dublin final to lose to Luke Littler.

Price had been utterly dominant in Dublin and only lost one leg all night when sitting on that 5-0 lead, but he completely lost the plot.

It'll be interesting to see how he shapes up tonight with that still fresh in the mind.

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Amazingly, Gian van Veen is in Berlin and ready to play despite having surgery on kidney stones last week

"It feels good to say that I am in Berlin and I am planning to play tomorrow night," he wrote on X yesterday. "Missing last week has left its mark on the standings. Currently sitting in sixth place. The road back is ongoing and I'm excited to be here again. Time to get back to work."

We've had Jonny Clayton win this season while struggling with gout, so will it be another case of 'beware the injured dartist' tonight?

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A repeat performance from Luke Littler who beats Stephen Bunting 6-3, just as he did last week in Dublin.

That was a pretty special encounter with Littler averaging 104.73 and Bunting 105.68 with five 180s between them, two ton-plus finishes for The Nuke and that brilliant 167 for The Bullet.

Littler's so good though that it almost seemed like a regulation win, but Bunting's form there would've beaten plenty of other players not named Luke Littler.

Doubles could have been better as Bunting missed six of nine attempts while Littler was better as he hit six of 14, but you have to take your hat off to both of them really for a really entertaining game of darts.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

This game hasn't relented for a second.

Stephen Bunting takes out 68 on double 16 to hold his throw and make Luke Littler serve it out on his own throw.

Two 140s in that leg for Bunting as the averages now just tick over 107...

A 108 finish for Luke Littler, his second ton-plus checkout of the match, moves him into a 5-2 lead and just one leg away from victory.

This is stellar stuff with both men currently averaging just over 106!

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

Credit to Stephen Bunting here.

He was 4-0 down and had nothing to go at because of the brilliance of Luke Littler.

What a match.

So close! Luke Littler is looking to reel in the Big Fish again on 170 but after two treble 20s his effort at the bull is the width of a wire away.

He loves that Big Fish but the slippery little devil just wriggles out of the net, and Stephen Bunting kept calm to step up and hit double eight to hold and get within two.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

There was no reaction from Luke Littler there. Head down and plough on.

That is an insight into his mindset. It is remarkable for a 19-year-old.

Wow! Stephen Bunting with a massive 167 checkout to get a leg on the board!

It was going to take something special to get Bunting back into this, and taking out a brilliant 167 to break the Luke Littler throw is special alright.

Especially hitting the bullseye to finish it off having missed five previous shots at double...

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

That is 10 legs in a row for Luke Littler in the Premier League - six to win last week's final and four here.

Come on now!

Stephen Bunting can't take out 81 and with Luke Littler sat on 103 that spells trouble. And sure enough the world champion hits tops to go four ahead.

That's five out of five doubles missed by Bunting so far - not exactly the stats you need against Littler.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

While Stephen Bunting is playing well, there is the odd tight dart coming in here.

Luke Littler is just doing his thing.

Stephen Bunting has another outside chance on 127 but after nailing the first two darts he misses the double eight to grab a break straight back and instead Luke Littler cleans up to move three ahead.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

We said that Stephen Bunting needed to make a fast start but he's already in bother.

A first 180 of the match for Luke Littler but the leg turns into a bit of a mess when they reach their doubles - with double one eventually winning it.

Stephen Bunting had the chance to hold his throw when he hit 60 needing 100, but he missed two doubles and Littler was able to return to clean up for the break of throw.

Luke Littler has the darts and makes them count by taking out the awkward double 15 to win the first leg.

The crowd get excited when Stephen Bunting hits treble 20 when on 170, but the second hits the wrong bed and the chance is lost.

Thumbs up for Stephen Bunting, thumbs down for Luke Littler....