Premier League 2026 - Preview Night 8
2026 BETMGM PREMIER LEAGUE - NIGHT EIGHT PREVIEW
Luke Littler is looking to go top of the BetMGM Premier League standings as the darting roadshow rolls into Berlin's Uber Arena on Thursday.
Littler came off the canvas twice to claim his second nightly win of the season during his remarkable triumph in Dublin last week, and is hoping to continue to make inroads as Night Eight of the 2026 Premier League returns to the German capital on March 26.
The 2024 champion defeated Stephen Bunting in a high-quality tussle before coming back from 5-3 and 5-0 down to see off Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price respectively to win his second night in three weeks, and assert himself in second place in the table. The World Champion sits just three points adrift of league leader Jonny Clayton, threatening to move into first place and possibly secure his third first-placed league finish in his third appearance in the Premier League.
"I've finished top in the last two years and I want to do it again," said Littler, who faces Bunting in his opening game in a rematch of their quarter-final in Dublin. "With the start Jonny had and the start I've had, obviously it's good to see I've closed the gap to Jonny in second spot. "I'm right behind him now, so we'll go and chase him!"
Luke Humphries is also on the ascendency, moving into the top four for the first time since Night One after condemning Clayton to his first quarter-final loss of the season with a 6-3 triumph that included an average north of 103.
The defending champion scooped his ninth European Tour trophy over the weekend after once again seeing off Clayton to win his maiden Belgian Darts Open title, and hopes the win can ignite his Premier League season.
"I'm working so hard to try and push every dart player and be the best version of myself," claimed Humphries, who opens his Berlin campaign against Michael van Gerwen. "I love this sport, I love being a part of it and winning trophies means the world to me. "I put myself under pressure in Wieze, but it was really nice to get that winning feeling again. "When you're not winning as much, it becomes harder and you feel the nerves, but hopefully I'm going to keep pushing now."
Elsewhere, league leader Clayton takes on last-place Josh Rock in the opening quarter-final of the night, with the Northern Irishman hoping to pick up his first win in the competition. The final quarter-final sees Dublin's runner-up Gerwyn Price pitted against Gian van Veen, who is hoping to return to Premier League action after being forced to withdraw with kidney stones last week.
Eigth Night's Quarterfinals:
Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock
Luke Humphries v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler v Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price v Gian van Veen
Littler came off the canvas twice to claim his second nightly win of the season during his remarkable triumph in Dublin last week, and is hoping to continue to make inroads as Night Eight of the 2026 Premier League returns to the German capital on March 26.
The 2024 champion defeated Stephen Bunting in a high-quality tussle before coming back from 5-3 and 5-0 down to see off Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price respectively to win his second night in three weeks, and assert himself in second place in the table. The World Champion sits just three points adrift of league leader Jonny Clayton, threatening to move into first place and possibly secure his third first-placed league finish in his third appearance in the Premier League.
"I've finished top in the last two years and I want to do it again," said Littler, who faces Bunting in his opening game in a rematch of their quarter-final in Dublin. "With the start Jonny had and the start I've had, obviously it's good to see I've closed the gap to Jonny in second spot. "I'm right behind him now, so we'll go and chase him!"
Luke Humphries is also on the ascendency, moving into the top four for the first time since Night One after condemning Clayton to his first quarter-final loss of the season with a 6-3 triumph that included an average north of 103.
The defending champion scooped his ninth European Tour trophy over the weekend after once again seeing off Clayton to win his maiden Belgian Darts Open title, and hopes the win can ignite his Premier League season.
"I'm working so hard to try and push every dart player and be the best version of myself," claimed Humphries, who opens his Berlin campaign against Michael van Gerwen. "I love this sport, I love being a part of it and winning trophies means the world to me. "I put myself under pressure in Wieze, but it was really nice to get that winning feeling again. "When you're not winning as much, it becomes harder and you feel the nerves, but hopefully I'm going to keep pushing now."
Elsewhere, league leader Clayton takes on last-place Josh Rock in the opening quarter-final of the night, with the Northern Irishman hoping to pick up his first win in the competition. The final quarter-final sees Dublin's runner-up Gerwyn Price pitted against Gian van Veen, who is hoping to return to Premier League action after being forced to withdraw with kidney stones last week.
Eigth Night's Quarterfinals:
Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock
Luke Humphries v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler v Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price v Gian van Veen