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 location while Luke Littler sealed top spot.
Aspinall is on the verge of qualifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a dramatic evening 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 top Luke Humphries that featured 14 180s.
Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries might not halt Littler, who balanced 115.96 to guarantee he would end up top of the league phase.
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 2nd 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 4th area with a 6-3 success over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his last accomplishment.
If Van Gerwen does not declare the 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 household, I do not wish to come 5th again. I have actually 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 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, prize money
29 May 2025
Littler beats Humphries in traditional
Littler against Humphries lived up to its billing as the pair delivered an awesome quarter-final.
Humphries struck 9 maximums to his challenger's 5, but he could not halt Littler's charge.
In a match that ended up in under 12 minutes, there were an overall of 40 100-plus gos to - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.
Humphries started by striking 6 ideal darts, while Littler required just 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 first time enjoying a darts match, this is not the norm."
Price strikes 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 champ has the consolation of walking off with another set of 18 carat gold darts from sponsors BetMGM, worth an approximated ₤ 30,000.
There have actually now been five nine-darters in this year's event. No previous edition of the competitors has actually had more than 2.
Van Gerwen remains without a night win in 2025 and in severe threat of losing out on the play-offs for only the 2nd time.
His only lack from the finals since his debut 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 lot of times, which proved essential.
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 final 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 phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.
Each of the eight gamers is ensured 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 indicates we will get 4th v 5th in Sheffield on the last league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.
Players make two points per quarter-final win, an extra point if they win their semi-final, and 5 for winning the night.
The leading 4 players after the group phase development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing 4th and 2nd versus 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The last, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.
If players 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