LUKE LITTLER showed his class in defeat as he put his Michael van Gerwen feud to bed.<br /><br />The Nuke crashed out to Mighty Mike in the opening round of the first night of 2025 Premier League Darts.<br /><br />The 18-year-old managed an astonishing average of 113.91 - the second-highest losing average in the 21-year history of the Premier League after Phil Taylor posted 115.8 in his defeat to Raymond van Barneveld in Glasgow in 2015.<br /><br />Yet that was not enough to progress past his Dutch rival, who exacted revenge for losing in the final of the World Darts Championship last month.<br /><br />Littler had the chance to win the game but shot narrowly wide of the treble 19 he needed to then hit a bullseye checkout.<br /><br />He was seen grimacing from the miss before Van Gerwen stepped up to the oche to finish the match.<br /><br />But as he did so, the crowd began booing to try and put him off.<br /><br />Littler wagged his finger at the crowd telling them not to boo the 35-year-old.<br /><br />The teen could have reacted differently given how Van Gerwen had scolded him for turning up 45 minutes late to a Premier League Darts photoshoot.<br /><br />Van Gerwen had blasted: "They need to stop treating him as a baby. He’s not a baby anymore, he’s 18 years old. It happens. He has to learn. You have to learn the hard way.<br /><br />"It’s a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions, simple as that. If he turns up late for an interview, I don’t mind.<br /><br />"But seven other people were waiting for him, that’s not nice. But it is what it is."<br /><br />But it didn't seem to matter to Van Gerwen as he clinically scored nine and doubled eight to checkout and win the thrilling match 6-5.<br /><br />Wayne Mardle, 51, also made his return to TV following the tragic death of his wife Donna, who passed away aged 52 following a short illness before Christmas.<br /><br />The former professional player – a five-time world championship semi-finalist – had a mic in his hand for the quarter-final Grudge Match between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, working alongside pal Rod Studd.<br /><br />He also worked on semi-final two between Victor Gerwen and Luke Humphries with co-commentator Dan Dawson at the SSE Arena, which showcased the best sport before 9,000 fans.
