Darts results LIVE: Luke Littler WINS Austrian Open after Joe Cullen triumph, Premier League build up to Aberdeen

Ab some of that

Here's how Thursday night's quarter-finals look on the 14th of the 16 Premier League Darts nights - in Aberdeen.

Peter Wright v Michael Smith
Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries

I'm the Iceman thaw-ever

Gerwyn Price has two dramatic ways of looking at his darts future.

On the one hand, Wales' 39-year-old ex-world champion reckons he will begin to take it easier in his mid-40s.

But the Iceman also believes he will never stop playing.

He said: "I don't think I'll ever quit but I will start to slow down in about six or seven years time.

But I'll never hang my darts up so to speak, I'll just keep going as long as I can."

PDC tour is Beau restrictor

Modest MODUS Super Series winner Beau Greaves claims she won’t try to qualify for the PDC Tour as she’d get “destroyed” at that level and lose her confidence.

The 20-year-old has performed competitively at the world championship and Grand Slam of Darts.

She almost got through at Wolverhampton in a group including Premier League Darts star Nathan Aspinall, Damon Heta and Ricardo Pietreczko.

But Greaves told the MODUS Super Series’ YouTube page: “I think I’m a really realistic dart player.

“Even if I got through Q-School and got a Tour Card, I’d get destroyed on that Tour. It would kill me confidence wise.

“I’d have to be playing above myself all the time to get results and why would I want to put myself in that position, when I can play things like this (MODUS Super Series ed.), the Women’s Series, the WDF Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Development Tour.

“I’ve got so many more doors open to me than I’d have with the PDC.”

MVG 'adjusting' his game to regain top form

Michael van Gerwen is a man with a secret "plan" to return to the top.

The three-time world champ, 35, remains the global No2 and is fourth in the Premier League Darts table.

But MVG believes his form has dipped - so he's determined to make the "adjustments" needed to regain his true status.

He told PDC Europe: I've spoken with Vincent van der Voort (fellow Dutch player) about this because I've lost a few finals and I slipped down a little bit in important moments.

"You need to look at where can I adjust? Where can I do better?

"I've got a plan for this year, I'm on a mission and we need to make sure we can change that around.

But asked to give details, he kept his darts close to his chest as he replied with a smile: "You will see."

Mad Max beyond 200 thrown

Luke Littler and Co took it to the max more times than ever before - with a crazy new record in Austria.

Darts superstars landed the maximum score of 180 no less than 245 times in Graz as the Nuke won his second Euro tour title.

The 17-year-old made the top individual contribution to that total with 21 of those triple treble-tops.

The tournament haul pipped by six the 239 maximums achieved at the Baltic Sea Darts Open in 2023.

Ally Pally deal set to be extended

PDC bosses say only "something very special" would lure the world championship away from the Ally Pally.

The iconic venue and famous atmosphere add to the holiday atmosphere over Christmas and the new year.

But tickets sell out each July - even before going on general sale.

That means disappointment for thousands of fans.

But the PDC negotiating over extending the tournament's stay at the 3,200-capacity Ally Pally beyond 2024-25.

Rocket theory on snooker lacking a Littler

Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed why he reckons snooker will struggle to find a teen sensation to ignite the sporting world like Luke Littler in darts.

The Rocket has already highlighted a lack of academies for cue starlets in Britain.

But he also believes his sport has the type of extra thinking and tactics that might lack the wham-bam appeal of the oche.

O'Sullivan, who is chasing a record eighth world crown this week, said: "With snooker, there's so many in-between shots, there's so much to learn, there's so much safety.

"In darts, once you get the action right, it should in theory go where you want. 

"If you make it to the final here, you’re playing one match for maybe around 10 hours. 

"Whereas in darts, you’re only playing for maybe an hour to two hours. It’s really different.”

Hump still at the top

Here is the top 10 in the PDC Order of Merit after the Austrian Open

1 Luke Humphries £1,541,000
2 Michael van Gerwen £1,075,500
3 Michael Smith £1,065,750
4 Nathan Aspinall £620,500
5 Gerwyn Price £610,750
6 Rob Cross £591,250
7 Dave Chisnall £503,750
8 Peter Wright £496,500
9 Dimitri Van den Bergh £494,000
10 Damon Heta £486,250

Luke leads world of change after Austria

Luke Littler's Awesome Austrian achievement of course underlined his staggering rise aged 17.

But his tournament success in Graz last weekend also spearheaded a series of interesting changes in the PDC Order of Merit list.

Top of those adjustments was the Nuke himself climbing to a career-best 25th in the rankings - incredible since his senior emergence only came over Christmas as a world championship finalist.

Littler overtook Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski.

Meanwhile, runner-up Joe Cullen moved level with Dirk van Duijvenbode in 15th position.

Semi-finalist Ross Smith was elevated to a career-high No14.

Martin Schindler overhauled legend James Wade into 22nd place and Dutchman Gian van Veen is at No37 as he gets closer and closer to the top 32.

Basildon's Ritchie Edhouse made Finals Day for the third Euro Tour tournament in a row to reach the world's leading 50.

Littler set to swap Holland for Wembley

Manchester United fan Luke Littler could sit out the Dutch Darts Championship to watch the FA Cup final.

The Rosmalen tournament is from May 24-26 - with the Wembley showpiece on Saturday, May 25.

Littler's Austrian Darts Open success this weekend gave the 17-year-old two Euro tour titles.

But he also hinted at his Wembley detour by revealing his manager had promised him time off to see a major Red Devils' match - if he continued his hot run.

So it appears that - unlike his leading rivals - Littler will miss the Dutch tournament.

Greaves claims PDC Tour would 'destroy' her

Modest MODUS Super Series winner Beau Greaves claims she won't try to qualify for the PDC Tour as she'd get "destroyed" at that level and lose her confidence.

The 20-year-old has performed competitively at the world championship and Grand Slam of Darts.

She almost got through at Wolverhampton in a group including Premier League Darts star Nathan Aspinall, Damon Heta and Ricardo Pietreczko.

But Greaves told the MODUS Super Series' YouTube page: "I think I'm a really realistic dart player.

"Even if I got through Q-School and got a Tour Card, I'd get destroyed on that Tour. It would kill me confidence wise.

"I'd have to be playing above myself all the time to get results and why would I want to put myself in that position, when I can play things like this (MODUS Super Series ed.), the Women's Series, the WDF Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Development Tour.

"I've got so many more doors open to me than I'd have with the PDC."

Beau-tiful history even the Nuke can't match

Beau Greaves is basking in becoming the first woman to win a MODUS Super Series week.

She's even got one over on Luke Littler in one sense.

That's because Greaves became the first MODUS weekly winner not to lose a single match - winning all 12.

Even the Nuke, now 17, couldn't manager that feat when he dominated the event.

Greaves beat Sebastian Bialecki 4-2 in the final,- meaning she dropped only 16 legs overall.

The Doncaster darts ace, 20, averaged 93.79 over the week, peaking at 114.56 against Kevin Painter.

It's one reason the PDC Women's Series. is looking so tasty.

Greaves' rivalry with huge talents Fallon Sherrock and Noa-Lynn van Leuven is a huge boost for the women's game.

Van Gerwen blasts fake fans who use kids

Michael van Gerwen has blasted greedy autograph hunters who use kids and secret filming.

The Dutch legend is fed up with fake fans approaching him to sign items - with the aim of then selling them for a profit.

MVG told Sportnews: "There are regularly people standing around asking us to put our signature on certain products.

"Which they then want to sell online for a lot of money.

"They also secretly film it so they have proof that the signatures are indeed ours."

He added: "Oh well, by now we know these people.

"They are such that they even send their own children to ask for an autograph, they know no shyness."

"They also know that it is much harder to say no to a child who comes asking for an autograph. It's reprehensible what they do."

Humphries considered quitting darts when most 'alone'

Luke Humphries is encouraging others to be "open and hones" with any mental health issues after his own "pride" at "the way I battled the demons in my head".

The PDC king and world No1 told TOYO Tires: “My journey has not been straightforward. It’s been really tough.

"I went through anxiety and mental health through my career.

"It’s stopped me back a little bit. I went out and spoke to the right people and got it sorted.

"I even contemplated giving up the sport. In that moment I felt really alone.

“But I spoke to the right people and I stand here as a world champion and world No.1. For me that makes me me proud than anything lot.”

2000-up for Cullen

Joe Cullen had three corking consolations for defeat against Luke Littler in the Austrian Darts Open final.

Of course, the Englishman's brilliant form was one.

But in his semi-final win he also became only the fifth player ever to have played 2000 legs on the Euro Tour.

Thirdly - and to be sniffed at - Cullen rose to 15th in the world rankings.

PDC Order of Merit standings

Luke Littler may be on a winning roll.

But he is yet to crack the PDC's Order of Merit Top 10.

The No25 has some way to go before catching this lot:

1 Luke Humphries £1,541,000
2 Michael van Gerwen £1,075,500
3 Michael Smith £1,065,750
4 Nathan Aspinall £620,500
5 Gerwyn Price £610,750
6 Rob Cross £591,250
7 Dave Chisnall £503,750
8 Peter Wright £496,500
9 Dimitri Van den Bergh £494,000
10 Damon Heta £486,250

Party time for pals

Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith have been living it large in Las Vegas.

The duo took a break from darts to live it up in Sin City.

From pool parties to clubbing with David Guetta, it looked like a load of fun.

Viva Asp Vegas

Darts stars Smith and Aspinall skip Austrian Open for Vegas pool parties

Latest standings

Let's take a look at the current Premier League table..

PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS TABLE: LATEST STANDINGS AS EIGHT STARS BATTLE FOR HUGE £275K PRIZE

MVG eyes comeback

Michael van Gerwen is hoping for some Prem victories this week.

That's after crashing out in the quarters in Austria.

He said: "Another tough loss in the quarter final in Graz today. Ross Smith played well, and I just couldn't find my rhythm.

"Disappointed with the result, but onto the next one!"

Next up in the Prem

The Premier League heads to Aberdeen this week.

And it's sure to be a mouth-watering occasion.

Here are the upcoming fixtures on Thursday:

• Peter Wright v Michael Smith
• Luke Littler v Nathan Aspinall
• Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
• Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries

Top tale for Beau

Beau Greaves has overtaken English rival Fallon Sherrock at the top of the PDC Women's Series Order of Merit.

Greaves finally got her season into gear by making the final of all four events last weekend - winning twice.

Greaves is in first place after eight of the 24 Women's Series tournaments with £8,400.

She took over the lead position from Fallon Sherrock, who recorded a sole run to the final as her best result of the weekend.

The "Queen of the Palace" brought her total prize money to £6,900, keeping Mikuru Suzuki (£6300) and Noa-Lynn van Leuven (£5900) still below her.