Luke Littler is beaten by Michael van Gerwen in his maiden Premier League Darts final… as the 17-year-old misses two darts to win deciding leg in Berlin after knocking out two world champions

Teenage sensation Luke Littler missed out on his first win of the Premier League season after being knocked out by reigning champion Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling final in Berlin.

A decisive stage was needed to determine the winner of the second event of the season in the German capital.

Littler had to miss two match darts at double 10 to earn the victory, after Van Gerwen failed to hit a bullseye to seal the win.

Van Gerwen, a record seven-time Premer League champion, hit double four to record a 6-5 win.

“It’s always good to play games against Luke Littler,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.

‘It was a great night for darts when you look at all the averages and how everyone played.

‘I’m very happy with my own performance today, I was able to give it the final push and I feel like it was important for me.

I played very well, especially in the important moments, and kept the pressure on my opponents.

‘I feel good and there is more to come.’

Van Gerwen had fought back from a 4-1 deficit against Nathan Aspinall in his quarter-final match to win 6-4 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

The three-time world champion then held off a similar fight from last week’s winner Michael Smith in Cardiff to claim a 6-5 win in the last four.

Littler recorded back-to-back 6-5 wins over Rob Cross and Luke Humphries and recorded a third straight victory over the latter after losing last month’s World Cup final.

Van Gerwen expressed hope that he will continue to play Littler in more finals in the future, after meeting the teenager three times in quick succession.

Littler won their first meeting as a 16-year-old to capture the Bahrain Masters title, before Van Gerwen responded by winning the Dutch Masters.

“It’s good, I hope we can keep it that way,” said Van Gerwen, when asked whether he would play another final against Littler.

‘In this format you have to be good week after week in the Premier League. It’s non-stop and I think that was good for me. I always put energy into my playing and that helps me in the long run.

‘It’s only week two, everyone said “last week you lost in the first round”

“Don’t worry, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

Smith remains top of the Premier League standings after underlining his win in Cardiff with a semi-final in Berlin.

Van Gerwen and Littler follow on five points, with the Dutchman finishing second in the rankings after winning the second round of the series.

The 17-event Premier League season continues in Glasgow on February 15.