Aspinall Wins In Aberdeen As Littler Seals Top Spot

ByFrank Keogh
BBC Sport senior journalist


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 leading spot.


Aspinall is on the edge of qualifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a remarkable night which saw Gerwyn Price struck a nine-darter.


Dobey declared a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 versus world champ Littler, who earlier won a timeless against world primary Luke Humphries that included 14 180s.


Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries might not halt Littler, who balanced 115.96 to ensure he would end up top of the league phase.


Defending champ Littler had currently received the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May together with Humphries and Price.


Price struck his second nine-darter of the campaign however ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.


Aspinall moved above seven-time champ Michael van Gerwen into fourth area with a 6-3 success over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going 4 points clear after his last triumph.


If Van Gerwen does not claim the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall - who completed fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will declare the last play-off area.


"All I have actually stated to my household, I do not wish to come fifth once again. I've put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] once again next week and the pressure is on him," stated the English player.


"It's a do or pass away 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 remains in my hands."


Relive Aspinall's win on dramatic night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, cash prize


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in traditional


Littler against Humphries measured up to its billing as the set provided a breathtaking 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 sees - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.


Humphries began by striking 6 ideal darts, while Littler needed simply 10 to win the 3rd leg.


"Are you kidding me? This is an absolute joke," said Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle in commentary.


"If this is your very first time seeing a darts match, this is not the standard."


Price strikes nine-darter but loses


For the second time in the Premier League this season, Price struck a nine-darter and lost.


He likewise produced a perfect leg when beaten by Littler in Manchester in April.


The 2021 world champion has the consolation of strolling off with another set of 18 carat gold darts from sponsors BetMGM, worth an approximated ₤ 30,000.


There have actually now been 5 nine-darters in this year's occasion. No previous edition of the competition has actually had more than 2.


Van Gerwen remains without a night win in 2025 and in serious risk of missing out on out on the play-offs for just the second time.


His only absence from the finals since his launching season in 2013 came 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, and that proved essential.


Rob Cross can not make the play-offs after a 6-2 loss to Dobey, who balanced 107 but is also out of contention after his last defeat.


Premier League Darts Night 15 outcomes


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 across 16 weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, and a final each night.


Each of the eight players is guaranteed to face the other 7 in the quarter-finals in weeks one to 7 and 9-15, with week 8 and week 16 fixtures done off the table. It implies we will get 4th v 5th in Sheffield on the last league-stage night, with the play-off areas possibly on the line.


Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an extra point if they win their semi-final, and five 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 first facing fourth and second against 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The final, which is the very best of 21 legs, follows.


If gamers are level on points after the 16 weeks then locations are decided by nights won and after that 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