World Champion Luke Littler says retaining his Premier League Darts title "would mean everything" as he prepares to face Michael van Gerwen in Belfast.

There are plenty of reasons to think Littler will waltz to glory. He has the highest competitive average of any selected player over the past six months – 98.64 – and has won

Luke Littler has congratulated Michael van Gerwen after the 18-year-old lost to the Dutchman on the first night of the Premier League Darts on Thursday. The teenager had entered the showdown hoping to lay down a marker as he looks to win the competition for the second year on the trot.