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 leading area.


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


Dobey claimed a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 versus world champion Littler, who earlier won a traditional versus world number one Luke Humphries that included 14 180s.


Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries could not stop Littler, who averaged 115.96 to guarantee he would finish top of the league stage.


Defending champion Littler had already received the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May along with Humphries and Price.


Price hit his second nine-darter of the project but ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.


Aspinall moved above seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen into fourth 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 ended up fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will claim the last play-off spot.


"All I have actually said to my household, I don't wish to come 5th again. I've put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] again next week and the pressure is on him," said the English player.


"It's a do or die video game. I conserve myself 3 hours of suffering 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 significant night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, cash prize


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in traditional


Littler against Humphries lived up to its billing as the pair delivered a breathtaking quarter-final.


Humphries hit 9 to his opponent's 5, however he might not halt Littler's charge.


In a match that finished in under 12 minutes, there were an overall of 40 100-plus check outs - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.


Humphries started by striking six best darts, while Littler required simply 10 to win the 3rd leg.


"Are you joke me? This is an outright joke," said Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle in commentary.


"If this is your first time viewing a darts match, this is not the norm."


Price hits nine-darter however loses


For the 2nd time in the Premier League this season, Price struck a nine-darter and lost.


He also produced an ideal 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 estimated ₤ 30,000.


There have actually now been 5 nine-darters in this year's occasion. 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 missing out on the play-offs for just the second time.


His only lack from the finals since his debut season in 2013 came in 2020 when he finished sixth in the table.


While he matched Aspinall with a 97 average and 42% checkout, the Englishman got to the double twice as often times, which shown vital.


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


Each of the 8 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 suggests we will get 4th v 5th in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off areas possibly on the line.


Players earn 2 points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final, and 5 for winning the night.


The leading 4 gamers after the group stage development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first dealing with 4th and 2nd 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 places are decided 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