Laura Turner
Ex-Women's World Championship quarter-finalist on Sky Sports

That leg was from the sublime to the ridiculous.

They were both on nine-darters at one point, then the rest of the leg happened.

Six perfect darts to start the leg for Gian van Veen, five for Michael van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen has two darts at double 16 to win the leg, but misses both.

Van Veen can't take out his 46 and misses three darts at double four.

Van Gerwen then misses two more at double 16 - and hits the single seven with his third!

His opponent finally pins the eight to wrap up the leg.

A bounce out doesn't help Michael van Gerwen as he goes for a 154, but he manages to set up tops.

He doesn't take it with his first three darts, then it's a mess on his next throw. Inside on the tens, then a single 12 when he goes for double five.

Gian van Veen then takes out 60 to break.

Gian van Veen gets his first leg of the evening.

Van Veen takes out 100 to win the leg, pinning the treble with his first, missing the double, then getting it with his last dart of the throw.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen looks good. He really does.

He is still world class, don't think he isn't.

That's more like it!

Treble 20, treble 17, double eight.

Michael van Gerwen, despite a few errors, has played well tonight.

Another misplaced dart from Michael van Gerwen as he hits the treble eight when going for treble 16.

Gian van Veen has 48 left but can't find the double after the initial 16. Van Gerwen can.

Michael van Gerwen has just hit a treble 12 as he went for a 60. This has been a peculiar night.

Gian van Veen can't take out 170 as his first dart is a single and Van Gerwen punishes him, finishing on double eight.

Here we go!

Michael van Gerwen, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's hard, I've been doing this 20 years now and so sometimes you have to admit, it gets a bit too much.

"But performing on the stage is something I love the most."

Gian van Veen, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a couple of weeks since I'd had a win so with all the drama, I was just happy to get that win and another extra.

"It gets me right into the mix for top four which is what it is all about.

"I haven't spoken to [Luke Littler] but I won't keep any distance, it'll be same as usual. There are no hard feelings from my side, I don't know about his side. We'll see.

"It's all about getting that quarter-final win every win from now on. Every extra point is a bonus and, of course, I want to get that nightly win as well."

Image source, Getty Images

The two Dutchman in the Premier League are close in the table.

Gian van Veen currently sits in fifth, a point behind Michael van Gerwen.

Van Veen has made four finals this season so far but is yet to win a night.

Van Gerwen's win on the opening night gives him the slight advantage.

Stephen Bunting hit just 28.57% of his doubles, Littler hit 36.36%.

21 darts at at a double for Bunting, six hit. Not exactly a game filled with quality.

The result also means there will be no repeat of last week's game between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen.

Luke Littler averaged 84 and threw no maximums in that game.

He was nowhere near his usual standard.

Three perfect darts from Stephen Bunting to start the leg, followed by a 100. That makes a big difference given Littler struggles to find the treble bed with his first two visits.

Bunting is first down to a finish with 128 left, but leaves double 16.

Bunting manages to pin the double with his second dart at it and wins the match.

A 177 from Luke Littler proves crucial as he keeps up the pressure against Stephen Bunting and is first to get down to a finish.

He tries to take out 113 but goes inside as he searches for tops to win the leg.

Stephen Bunting has 108 remaining, but ends up leaving 48. Littler then pins double 10.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

Littler has come back from far worse situation than this over his Premier League career.

But he needs big trebles or missed doubles from his opponent.

A 180 and a 140 from Stephen Bunting before he misses a dart at double 12 and one at double six to win the leg.

Luke Littler is still all the way back on 247, so Bunting has three more darts at double six. He takes it out with the third of those.