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 location while Luke Littler sealed top area.


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


Dobey claimed a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 versus world champ Littler, who earlier won a timeless against 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 end up top of the league phase.


Defending champ Littler had actually currently gotten approved for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May alongside Humphries and Price.


Price hit his second 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 area 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 stated to my family, I do not want to come 5th 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," said the English gamer.


"It's a do or die video game. I save myself 3 hours of suffering if I can beat him at 8pm, I'm going to the O2 which is an imagine mine. It remains in my hands."


Relive Aspinall's win on remarkable night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, cash prize


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in traditional


Littler versus Humphries lived up to its billing as the pair provided a spectacular quarter-final.


Humphries hit nine maximums to his challenger's 5, but 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 six ideal darts, while Littler needed just 10 to win the third leg.


"Are you joke me? This is an outright 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 but loses


For the second time in the Premier League this season, Price hit 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 darts from sponsors BetMGM, worth an approximated ₤ 30,000.


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


Van Gerwen stays without a night win in 2025 and in severe threat of missing out on the play-offs for just the second time.


His only lack from the finals considering that his launching season in 2013 can be found 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 sometimes, which proved essential.


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 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 8 and week 16 fixtures 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 extra point if they win their semi-final, and five for winning the night.


The leading four players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first dealing with 4th and second against 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The last, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.


If gamers are level on points after the 16 weeks then locations 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