Premier League darts announcement LIVE: Full line-up REVEALED as Luke Littler leads the way but two World Champs AXED
THE PREMIER League Darts line-up has now been CONFIRMED - and two former world champions have been AXED from the competition
Tournament holder and new world champ Luke Littler will be looking to retain the title he won during his unprecedented first 12 months in the sport.
Littler will compete in the 17-week extravaganza alongside some of the sport's biggest names, including Michael van Gerwen and World No1 Luke Humphries.
But TWO former world champs have been brutally AXED from the star-studded eight-man field.
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Littler 2-2 Bunting (0-0 in set)
Bunting leaves 41.
And we're in a level game with a double 16.
It looked like it was going to be a whitewash.
Littler 1-2 Bunting (0-0 in set)
Bunting was double tops from a 103 checkout.
Littler can't make him pay - going for a double double.
Bunting wins against the darts with a double 10.
Littler 2-0 Bunting (0-0 in sets)
Max number two from Littler. And he's down to 41.
Double 10 gets him over the line.
A 13-dart leg, a break of throw, and he's threatening to race through set one.
Littler 1-0 Bunting (0-0 in sets)
Littler's already down to a double tops.
But Bunting nails a 180 to get a 104 finish, if he gets it.
But Luke doesn't give him a chance. 14 dart start from Nuke.
Amazing walk-ins
Mega walk-ons from both!
We cannot wait for this one.
It's Littler vs Bunting. It's live and it's next.
MVG Stats
Van Gerwen 3-1 Dobey (6-1 in sets)
Dobey's 180 makes it interesting at the opening of the leg.
But MVG is on 41 after nine darts with his own 180!
Nothing Dobey can do about it.
Match point, MVG. And he misses two darts at double 16.
Dobey needs 164 to keep his night going, but it doesn't go.
MVG ends it! He nails the double 16 and moves into the final!
Van Gerwen 2-1 Dobey (5-1 in sets)
Dobey has 158 left, what MVG took out in the previous leg.
He leaves double 12, handily.
MVG needs 82 to go, and he find the double tops with ease. One more leg.
Van Gerwen 1-1 Dobey (5-1 in sets)
Treble to double 16 doesn't go for MVG. He'll be back.
And he finds it on his return!
He's two legs away, MVG.
Van Gerwen 0-1 Dobey (5-1 in sets)
Dart 7 puts pay to a nine darter for MVG!
Hilarious boos rings around Ally Pally.
Then MVG can't find double 12, giving Dobey an attempt at the Shanghai.
And he finds a 120 finish! Amazing turnaround
Van Gerwen 3-2 Dobey (5-1 in sets)
MVG seals ANOTHER set.
He left tops, with Dobey nowhere near a finish. MVG knows when not to make a mistake.
One more set and he's back in the final.
Van Gerwen 2-2 Dobey (4-1 in sets)
160 would be a really Hollywood finish... but he has to settle for 82.
Van Gerwen sinks double 18 for a 36 checkout.
No celebration, though. MVG keeps it sedate.
Van Gerwen 1-2 Dobey (4-1 in sets)
Double 18 for a 153 finish nearly went for MVG!
But Dobey takes out tops to secure the break.
He needed that, but it would have been amazing from MVG if that went.
Van Gerwen 1-1 Dobey (4-1 in sets)
Dobey wins a leg back, on his throw.
But all MVG has to do is hold his throw to win another set.
Hollywood needs to make something happen.
Van Gerwen 1-0 Dobey (4-1 in sets)
For a break of throw, Dobey misses the double five.
MVG, way out on 158, surely can't make this.
What. An. Out. Shot! Double 19, and he nails his biggest finish of the tournament.
Van Gerwen 3-1 Dobey (4-1 in sets)
MVG requires 140... and he's so close to the finish missing the double 10.
That said, he was close to busting.
Dobey can't get close, still. MVG returns to win the fifth set.
Van Gerwen 2-1 Dobey (3-1 in sets)
MVG is on a finish and but can't make 120 plus, leaving 70.
Dobey is on 152, as MVG leaves two at double 8 and misses both.
But the way Hollywood is playing you won't think he'll sink 152. And he doesn't.
MVG, once again, misses all his darts at double 8.
Dobey is closing in on 52, and he finally finds it with double 8.
Van Gerwen 2-0 Dobey (3-1 in sets)
Ooh! MVG misses tops for a 108 checkout.
That would've been his 10th of the tournament.
But Dobey is not at the races. MVG returns to find double 10 and win another leg.
Van Gerwen 1-0 Dobey (3-1 in sets)
Can MVG sink 126? No!
He leaves 28 - scoring 98.
But Dobey can't find double to close 70 plus, and MVG is making him pay every time.
Van Gerwen 3-0 Dobey (3-1 in sets)
MVG wraps up the set in double quick time.
14 leaves tops, and it goes.
107 average and change for the Green Machine.
He's three sets away from a famous victory.
Van Gerwen 2-0 Dobey (2-1 in sets)
Six perfect darts from MVG.
But his seventh dart ends the run for a nine darter. However, he leaves 32.
He nails double 16 in his return for a 10-dart leg.
Van Gerwen 1-0 Dobey (2-1 in sets)
Two at tops for MVG.
And he only needs one! 100 checkout for the big man.
Hold of throw, though, only.
Van Gerwen 0-3 Dobey (2-1 in sets)
Wrong side of the wire for Dobey.
But MVG can't make him pay, leaving tops.
Double 16 goes Dobey for a special 108 checkout.
He's on the set scoreboard. Magical from Hollywood.
Van Gerwen 0-2 Dobey (2-0 in sets)
Get in!
The Big Fish is reeled in by Dobey, and he breaks MVG.
Van Gerwen doesn't know where to look!
Van Gerwen 0-1 Dobey (2-0 in sets)
MVG leaves 16.
He went the wrong way when he was stuck on 48.
Dobey needs the top of the show, but can't find it.
Double 8 for MVG, first he misses, then he busts his score!
Dobey makes the adjustment and wins the leg - but it's just a hold of throw.