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 nighttime win in Aberdeen to close on a play-off location while Luke Littler sealed top area.
Aspinall is on the brink of certifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the last on a significant night 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 included 14 180s.
Despite balancing 110.01, Humphries could not halt Littler, who balanced 115.96 to ensure he would finish top of the league stage.
Defending champion Littler had currently qualified for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May together with Humphries and Price.
Price hit his second nine-darter of the campaign however ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Bunting.
Aspinall moved above seven-time champ Michael van Gerwen into fourth spot with a 6-3 triumph 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 finished fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will declare the last play-off area.
"All I have actually stated to my household, I do not desire to come 5th again. I have actually put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] once again next week and the pressure is on him," stated the English gamer.
"It's a do or die video game. I conserve myself three hours of misery if I can beat him at 8pm, I'm going to the O2 which is an imagine mine. It's in my hands."
Relive Aspinall's win on dramatic night in Aberdeen
Premier League Darts schedule, results, prize money
29 May 2025
Littler beats Humphries in timeless
Littler versus Humphries measured up to its billing as the pair provided a spectacular quarter-final.
Humphries struck 9 maximums to his challenger's 5, however he might not stop Littler's charge.
In a match that finished in under 12 minutes, there were a total of 40 100-plus check outs - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.
Humphries began by striking 6 best 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 enjoying a darts match, this is not the standard."
Price hits nine-darter but loses
For the second time in the Premier League this season, Price hit a nine-darter and lost.
He likewise 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 five nine-darters in this year's event. No previous edition of the competitors has had more than 2.
Van Gerwen stays without a night win in 2025 and in severe risk of missing out on out on the play-offs for only the second time.
His only absence from the finals since his debut season in 2013 came in 2020 when he completed sixth in the table.
While he matched Aspinall with a 97 average and 42% checkout, the Englishman got to the double twice as numerous times, and that shown vital.
Rob Cross can not make the play-offs after a 6-2 loss to Dobey, who balanced 107 but is likewise out of contention after his last 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 7 in the quarter-finals in weeks one to 7 and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 components done off the table. It suggests we will get fourth v 5th in Sheffield on the last league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.
Players earn 2 points per quarter-final win, an extra point if they win their semi-final, and five for winning the night.
The leading 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 second against 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The last, which is the very best of 21 legs, follows.
If players are level on points after the 16 weeks then locations are chosen 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