Michael van Gerwen produced the highest losing average of the 2026 Premier League Darts season so far on Night Twelve in Liverpool, averaging a stunning 107.54, yet still left the stage as the loser after a 6-5 semi-final defeat to Luke Littler. The Dutchman also fired in fourteen maximums in just twenty legs across the night, numbers that would normally be more than enough to win a match convincingly.
Van Gerwen's 107.54 average tops a list already packed with eye-catching figures, including Stephen Bunting (107.47 and 106.66), Jonny Clayton (107.44), and Luke Humphries (106.29). The fact that a player records such a high average twice without being rewarded with a win—as Bunting has done—says a lot about the fierce competition in the field. The current edition of the Premier League Darts shows that an average above 100 is no longer a guarantee of success; it is now more of a minimum requirement just to stay competitive.
For Van Gerwen, this defeat will undoubtedly feel bitter, especially given his impressive numbers. At the same time, he can take confidence from his form, because with performances like this it is only a matter of time before the wins follow again. One thing is certain: if this is the standard required to contend for trophies, the darts world is in for plenty of fireworks this season.
