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 nighttime win in Aberdeen to close on a play-off location while Luke Littler sealed top spot.
Aspinall is on the brink of certifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a dramatic evening which saw Gerwyn Price struck a nine-darter.
Dobey declared a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 against world champion Littler, who earlier won a classic against world number one Luke Humphries that included 14 180s.
Despite balancing 110.01, Humphries could not stop Littler, who balanced 115.96 to ensure he would complete top of the league phase.
Defending champ Littler had actually currently gotten approved for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May along with Humphries and Price.
Price struck his second nine-darter of the project but ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.
Aspinall moved above seven-time champ Michael van Gerwen into fourth area with a 6-3 triumph over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his last accomplishment.
If Van Gerwen does not declare the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall - who fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will claim the last play-off area.
"All I have stated to my family, I don't wish to come 5th once again. I've put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] again next week and the pressure is on him," stated the English gamer.
"It's a do or pass away video game. I save myself 3 hours of anguish 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, prize money
29 May 2025
Littler beats Humphries in timeless
Littler against Humphries lived up to its billing as the pair delivered a breathtaking quarter-final.
Humphries struck nine maximums to his opponent's 5, however he could not halt Littler's charge.
In a match that completed in under 12 minutes, there were an overall of 40 100-plus gos to - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.
Humphries began by hitting 6 perfect darts, while Littler required simply 10 to win the third leg.
"Are you joke me? This is an absolute joke," said Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle in commentary.
"If this is your very first time watching a darts match, this is not the norm."
Price strikes nine-darter but 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 champion has the consolation of walking off with another set of 18 carat gold darts from sponsors BetMGM, worth an estimated ₤ 30,000.
There have now been 5 nine-darters in this year's event. No previous edition of the competitors has actually had more than 2.
Van Gerwen stays without a night win in 2025 and in severe danger of losing out on the play-offs for only the second time.
His only lack from the finals given that 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 crucial.
Rob Cross can not make the play-offs after a 6-2 loss to Dobey, who averaged 107 but is also out of contention after his final 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 eight gamers is ensured to face 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 means we will get fourth v fifth 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 5 for winning the night.
The leading 4 gamers after the group stage progress 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 last, which is the finest 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