Michael van Gerwen scoops opening Premier League Darts weekly title in Newcastle

Michael van Gerwen stormed to the opening Premier League Darts weekly title of the season with victory over fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen in Newcastle.

Seven-time Premier League champion Van Gerwen failed to register a single weekly title in last year’s competition, but he made the perfect start to his 2026 campaign with victory at the Utilita Arena.

The Dutch superstar recorded successive 6-2 wins over Stephen Bunting and Luke Humphries in advancing to Thursday’s final, reeling off six straight legs to brush aside Bunting.

The three-time World Champion then converted six of his eight attempts at doubles to dump out reigning champion Humphries, wrapping up proceedings with consecutive ton-plus checkouts.

Van Gerwen continued from where he left off against Van Veen, storming to the opening two legs in 28 darts, before his younger compatriot halved the deficit with a 14-dart hold.

Van Veen then missed a hat-trick of opportunities to restore parity in leg four, although he responded to a 12-darter from Van Gerwen in leg six with a 110 checkout to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

Van Gerwen then squandered multiple darts of his own to close out victory in leg nine, but he made amends moments later, following up a sixth 180 by pinning double 14 to seal the deal.

“Without playing my A-game I still won, but I had some fantastic finishes at the right moments,” said Van Gerwen.

“I know I can do a lot better than this, but winning gives you confidence. Winning games is the best medicine for performing better.

“It’s always nice to respond well. At the World Masters I had some issues at home, so I had to deal with that, and to bounce back with a win here in Newcastle, it means a lot to me.

“There’s still a lot of room for improvement, but as long as I keep that in mind, anything is possible.”

Despite missing out on a dream debut triumph, Van Veen also enjoyed a night to remember on Tyneside, defeating his recent nemesis Luke Littler and former champion Jonny Clayton.

Van Veen overcame Littler in a repeat of last month’s World Championship final with a hard-fought 6-4 win, before defeating 2021 champion Clayton by the same scoreline.

Earlier in the night, Clayton marked his return to the Premier League with a superb 6-2 success over Josh Rock, averaging 109.8 to prevail in this year’s curtain-raiser.

Humphries, meanwhile, began his defence of the title with a deciding-leg victory over 2023 runner-up Gerwyn Price, surviving two match darts in a dramatic finale, despite averaging 104.

Night Two of the BetMGM Premier League takes place at the AFAS Dome in Antwerp next Thursday, as the sport’s elite invitational heads to Belgium for the first time.

Premier League Darts 2026 Night One Results

Thursday February 5

Utilita Arena, Newcastle

Quarter-Finals
Josh Rock 2-6 Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler 4-6 Gian van Veen
Luke Humphries 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting 2-6 Michael van Gerwen

Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Luke Humphries 2-6 Michael van Gerwen

Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Gian van Veen