Van Gerwen reached the semi-finals in a rematch of last month’s final at Alexandra Palace where Littler became darts’ youngest world champion, aged 17.

There was a little bit of added spice to the build-up when Van Gerwen criticised the teenager’s timekeeping at a media day on Wednesday.

Littler kept his fellow players waiting for 45 minutes and said he had overslept after taking a morning nap.

“They need to stop treating him like a baby. He’s not a baby any more, he’s 18 years old now,” Van Gerwen said.

Littler said before the match: “He’s not wrong, I was late. I’m 18 now, responsible for my actions and did get a little telling off.”

There was no hanging about when the pair reached the oche as they traded 11-dart legs before Littler’s 161 checkout made it 2-2.

Van Gerwen hit a 114 finish to go 4-3 ahead but went on to miss four match darts and Littler nailed bullseye to force a decider, before the Dutchman finally prevailed on double eight.

Humphries saw off Nathan Aspinall 6-2, while Stephen Bunting’s return to the Premier League after a decade away ended with a 6-4 loss to Cross.

Dobey edged the finishing as he beat Wales’ 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price 6-4 in the opening match.