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Clayton out for repeat win over Littler in Belfast

Jonny Clayton and Luke Littler will face each other in Thursday's quarter-final at the SSE Arena [Getty Images]

Jonny Clayton will aim for a repeat win over world number one Luke Littler when the pair meet in their Premier League quarter-final at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday night.

The Welshman defeated the back-to-back world champion 6-1 at the semi-final stage of the Glasgow edition of the competition on his way to moving to the summit of the Premier League leaderboard.

The defeat was Littler's joint-heaviest reverse since he began participating in the Premier League, although the 19-year-old responded in style by collecting his fifth European Tour title at the inaugural Poland Darts Open on Sunday.

"This is where I want to be, playing darts on the biggest stages," said two-time World Cup champion Clayton.

"The crowds are fantastic. You look around and the venues are massive. There is no better feeling, it's a great feeling.

"I'm enjoying myself, and when you enjoy what you're doing, things seem to happen for you.

"I've been here before, I've done this before, so I know how important points are week in, week out, and it's going okay so far."

Littler arrives in Belfast in sixth position in the standings, level on points with reigning champion Luke Humphries, who will play Stephen Bunting for the right to face Littler or Clayton in Thursday night's semi-finals.

Humphries averaged 106 in beating Josh Rock on the third night of Premier League in Scotland, but paid the price for squandering match darts for a second consecutive week – this time against Gian van Veen in the last four.

Rock and Bunting have yet to secure their first victories of the Premier League season, the former having lost to Clayton, Michael van Gerwen and Humphries in quarter-finals in the three nights to be staged so far.

In contrast, Dutchman Van Veen has made a strong start to the competition as he has advanced to nightly finals in Newcastle and Glasgow.

However, Rock has won each of his last four meetings against the 2025 European Championship winner and twice World Youth champion.

Van Veen beat Bunting and Humphries in progressing to the Night Three decider in Glasgow, where he was beaten by Clayton.

Clayton averaged more than 104 to defeat Van Veen 6-2 in the Scottish capital, the 2021 Premier League champion clinching victory with an outstanding 156 checkout.

Thursday's other quarter-final sees seven-time champion Van Gerwen take on 2023 runner-up Gerwyn Price in a repeat of Antwerp's Night Two decider.

Van Gerwen, a victor in the first week of the competition, withdrew from last week's event in Scotland because of a medical issue but despite that absence the Dutchman sits just one point off top spot in the standings.

You can follow live text commentary from night four of the Premier League on Thursday on the BBC Sport website and app.

Thursday's Belfast Premier League programme

Quarter-finals

Luke Littler v Jonny Clayton

Stephen Bunting v Luke Humphries

Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price

Gian van Veen v Josh Rock

Semi-finals

Littler/Clayton v Bunting/Humphries

Van Gerwen/Price v Van Veen/Rock

Final

All matches best of 11 legs

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