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 maiden victory of the Premier League season after being edged out by reigning champion Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling final in Berlin.

A deciding leg was required to determine the winner of the second event of the season in the German capital.

Littler was left to rue missing two match darts at double 10 to clinch victory, after Van Gerwen had failed to hit a bullseye to seal victory.

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

‘To have games against Luke Littler is always good,’ Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.

Littler missed two match darts in the final to clinch a maiden victory in the Premer League

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

‘I am really pleased 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 really well, especially in the important moments and keep the pressure on my opponents.

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

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

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

Littler earned successive 6-5 wins over Rob Cross and Luke Humphries, earning a third straight win over the latter after losing last month’s World Championship final.

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

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

Van Gerwen hailed a fantastic night for darts after a series of high quality matches

The Dutchman added that he wants to keep on facing 17-year-old sensation Littler in finals

‘It’s good, I hope we can keep it that way as well,’ Van Gerwen said, when asked about facing Littler in another final.

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

‘It is only week two, everyone was saying “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 backing up his win in Cardiff with a semi-final in Berlin.

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

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