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 top area.


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


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


Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries might not stop Littler, who averaged 115.96 to ensure he would complete top of the league stage.


Defending champion Littler had currently gotten approved for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May alongside 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 spot with a 6-3 victory 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 claim the last play-off area.


"All I have actually stated to my household, I do not wish to come fifth once 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 game. I save myself 3 hours of torment 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, reward cash


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in timeless


Littler against Humphries measured up to its billing as the pair provided an awesome quarter-final.


Humphries hit nine optimums to his challenger's 5, however he could not halt 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 hitting six best darts, while Littler needed simply 10 to win the third leg.


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


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


Price hits nine-darter however loses


For the 2nd 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 champ has the alleviation 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 stays without a night win in 2025 and in serious threat of losing out on the play-offs for just the second time.


His only absence from the finals because his debut season in 2013 was available 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 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 last defeat.


Premier League 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 stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.


Each of the 8 players is ensured to face the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks one to 7 and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 components done off the table. It indicates we will get fourth v 5th in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off areas 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 leading four players 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 last, which is the finest 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