Aspinall Wins In Aberdeen As Littler Seals Top Spot
ByFrank Keogh
BBC Sport senior reporter
15 May 2025
113 Comments
Updated 16 May 2025
Nathan Aspinall took the Premier League nightly win in Aberdeen to close on a play-off place while Luke Littler sealed top area.
Aspinall is on the verge of certifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a dramatic evening which saw Gerwyn Price hit a nine-darter.
Dobey declared a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 versus world champion Littler, who earlier won a timeless versus world number one Luke Humphries that featured 14 180s.
Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries could not halt Littler, who averaged 115.96 to guarantee he would end up top of the league stage.
Defending champ Littler had currently gotten approved for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May alongside Humphries and Price.
Price hit his 2nd nine-darter of the project however ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.
Aspinall moved above seven-time champ Michael van Gerwen into 4th spot with a 6-3 victory over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his final accomplishment.
If Van Gerwen does not declare the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall - who completed fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will claim the last play-off area.
"All I have said to my household, I don't desire to come 5th once again. I've put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] again next week and the pressure is on him," stated the English gamer.
"It's a do or die video game. I save myself 3 hours of misery if I can beat him at 8pm, I'm going to the O2 which is a dream of mine. It's in my hands."
Relive Aspinall's win on dramatic night in Aberdeen
Darts schedule, results, prize cash
29 May 2025
Littler beats Humphries in classic
Littler versus Humphries measured up to its billing as the pair delivered a spectacular quarter-final.
Humphries struck nine maximums to his opponent's 5, however he could not stop Littler's charge.
In a match that ended up in under 12 minutes, there were a total of 40 100-plus check outs - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.
Humphries started by striking 6 perfect darts, while Littler needed just 10 to win the third leg.
"Are you kidding me? This is an outright joke," said Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle in commentary.
"If this is your first time seeing a darts match, this is not the standard."
Price strikes nine-darter however loses
For the 2nd time in the Premier League this season, Price struck a nine-darter and lost.
He also produced a perfect leg when beaten by Littler in Manchester in April.
The 2021 world champ has the consolation of strolling off with another set of 18 carat gold darts from sponsors BetMGM, worth an approximated ₤ 30,000.
There have now been five nine-darters in this year's event. No previous edition of the competitors has actually had more than 2.
Van Gerwen remains without a night win in 2025 and in serious danger of losing out on the play-offs for just the 2nd time.
His only lack from the finals considering that his launching season in 2013 was available in 2020 when he ended up sixth in the table.
While he matched Aspinall with a 97 average and 42% checkout, the Englishman got to the double twice as lot of times, which shown crucial.
Rob Cross can not make the play-offs after a 6-2 loss to Dobey, who averaged 107 however is likewise out of contention after his final defeat.
Premier League Darts Night 15 results
Final
Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Chris Dobey
Semi-finals
Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey 6-5 Luke Littler
Quarter-finals
Michael van Gerwen 3-6 Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price 4-6 Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey 6-2 Rob Cross
Luke Littler 6-3 Luke Humphries
Premier League Darts table
Premier League Darts format and points system
Premier League Darts is played throughout 16 weeks in the league phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.
Each of the 8 players is guaranteed to deal with the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week 8 and week 16 components done off the table. It suggests we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.
Players make two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final, and 5 for winning the night.
The top four gamers after the group phase development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with very first dealing with 4th and 2nd against third in best-of-19-leg matches. The final, which is the very best of 21 legs, follows.
If players are level on points after the 16 weeks then places are chosen by nights won and then matches won.
Premier League Darts night 16 order of play
Thursday, 22 May - Sheffield
Luke Littler v Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries v Rob Cross
Gerwyn Price v Chris Dobey
Darts