Mighty Michael van Gerwen detonated his 2026 Premier League campaign into life with a statement victory that felt equal parts reminder and warning, subduing fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen 6–4 to stride away with maximum points and immediate command of the table.
Newcastle did not merely host the opening night – it bore witness to a very familiar resurrection. Under the lights on the banks of the River Tyne, this was Double Dutch with intent.
Two men from the same nation, separated by generation and reputation, navigating the bracket with ruthless efficiency to set up a final that crackled with narrative.
And while modern darts often asks which version of Van Gerwen will turn up, the North-East English city received the one that built an empire. Yet, the seven-time champ’s evening did not begin in explosive fashion.
Against Stephen Bunting, Van Gerwen initially looked curiously mortal, surrendering the opening two legs and inviting questions before they had time to settle. Then the switch flipped. Six legs followed in relentless procession, the tempo accelerated, the body language sharpened, and the Scouser was abruptly reduced to a spectator inside his own match.
From there, the Green Machine detected weakness and pounced. Luke Humphries, usually the very definition of double-ring reliability, endured a nightmarish spell on the outer wire. Sub-20 percent finishing at this level is an engraved invitation – and Van Gerwen accepted with merciless precision, barely missing a step as he cruised into the final with clinical inevitability.
Across the divide on the other half of the draw, Van Veen authored a debut to remember.
The reigning PDC World Youth Champ overcame Luke Littler in a poised, pressure-soaked encounter, trading blows through eight legs before holding firm and breaking throw to announce himself on the Premier League stage. It was composed, fearless darts from a player who looks increasingly comfortable among the elite.
The task did not soften. Next came Jonny Clayton – another previous Premier League winner. At 2–2, Van Veen surged, rattling off a three-leg burst that put daylight between himself and the former champion.
The Ferret clawed back, synonymous of what they slender bodied mammals tend to always, but the 24-year old held his nerve to secure a place in the showpiece.It was not unfamiliar territory. The pair had crossed paths recently in Bahrain, and once again Van Gerwen dictated the terms.
Finishing was the difference all night – the elder of the two was sharp, authoritative, and utterly unyielding. Van Veen stayed close, threatened, lingered on the coattails, but never found the break he needed. MVG slammed the door shut every time.
Next stop: Antwerp, Belgium Some will arrive desperate to erase Newcastle from memory. Others will seek to weaponise it.
But one thing is already abundantly clear – Mighty Michael has returned, and he has not come quietly.
PDC PREMIER LEAGUE – Night One
Newcastle, England (Thursday 6th February)
Results
Quarter-FInals
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Josh Rock
Gian van Veen 6-4 Luke Littler
Luke Humphries 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Luke Humphries
Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Gian van Veen
—–Ends—–
Images: Kieran Cleves
