Gerwyn Price stormed to victory on a dramatic night nine of the Premier League in Manchester, but the Welshman's clinical performance was almost overshadowed by a fiery quarter-final clash between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen.

Price was in imperious form, averaging a stunning 105.84 to defeat Van Veen 6-2 in the final. The win, his second nightly triumph of the campaign, propelled 'The Iceman' up to second in the overall standings, proving that when the pressure is on, his focus is unbreakable.

However, the real drama unfolded earlier in the evening. In a nail-biting quarter-final, Gian van Veen edged out Luke Littler 6-5 in a thriller. The tension boiled over in the deciding leg when Van Veen, after missing a match dart at double 15, turned to see the teenage sensation celebrating his miss.

This sparked an immediate and angry reaction from the world champion, Littler, who gestured for his opponent to hurry up. The drama intensified as Littler then squandered three match darts of his own, responding with a 'cry-baby' mime to the crowd. Van Veen kept his cool, hitting double six to seal the win, which was followed by a frosty, brief handshake.

After the match, Van Veen didn't hold back, telling Sky Sports, "From my perspective... I looked around and he was celebrating that I missed. That was out of order." He clarified his respect for Littler's talent and impact on the sport but stood firm on his view of the incident. Despite the quarter-final exit, the phenomenal Littler retains his spot at the top of the Premier League table.

It was a night that had everything: high-stakes darts, raw emotion, and a masterclass in composure from the eventual champion, Gerwyn Price. These moments of intense rivalry and supreme skill are what make the Premier League stage so electrifying.