Michael van Gerwen may have lost to Luke Littler on Thursday but the three-time world champion sent a timely reminder of his quality.
The Dutchman produced a comical moment after his opponent came close to hitting a nine-darter on night seven of the Premier League.
Littler was in sensational form for his quarter-final with Van Gerwen after losing his last three matches against him.
The teenager averaged 114 to ensure he stormed through to the semi-final and secured another two points in the competition.
Luke Littler was shown how it’s done by Michael van Gerwen after he missed a nine-darter
Sky Sports
Littler almost capped off his win with a nine-darter, which would have been a record-equalling fourth in 2024.
He left himself needing 144 with the final three darts and hit two treble 20s to set himself up for the double 12.
But, to the disappointment of the crowd at the Motorpoint Arena, his final dart went well inside the intended target.
Van Gerwen was far from being on a finish, still needing a further 274 in the eighth leg.
The 34-year-old clearly wanted to show Littler how it’s done as he brilliantly hit a 144 of his own.
Van Gerwen hit two treble 20s and the TV camera operators remained focused on the treble 20 bed.
But Van Gerwen, out of shot, threw his final dart into the double 12.
He clearly enjoyed the moment, smiling as he walked back past Littler, but the commentators missed what Van Gerwen had done at the time.
Fans on social media were quick to point out the genius moment from the seven-time Premier League champion.
One X user wrote: “Luke Littler can give it and take it that 144 from MvG is brutal.”
A second posted: “MVG was laughing coz he hit the D12 to score 144 instead to show Litter ‘how it’s done’.”
While a third wrote: “MVG hitting a 144 with double 12 and nobody realising this makes this so much funnier what a legend.”
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Michael van Gerwen confused camera operators as they missed him hitting a double 12
Sky Sports
One pointed out that Van Gerwen has done it before, writing: “Didn’t even realise MVG played the 144 after Littler missed it, he done the same to Chisnall in the worlds a few years back on 141.”
Littler remained focused and won the match on his next visit to complete a 6-2 win.
But he again lost in the semi-final, the fifth time he has done so in seven weeks of the Premier League.
Nathan Aspinall put on a fine display as he beat the youngster for the first time in a professional arena.
Michael van Gerwen clearly enjoyed the moment after hitting a 144
Sky Sports
Aspinall made it to the final for the third time in four weeks but lost to world No 1 Luke Humphries.
Humphries beat Aspinall 6-3 to move on to 17 points and above Van Gerwen in the table.
Littler remains third with 13 points ahead of next week’s night in Dublin.
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