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 place while Luke Littler sealed top spot.


Aspinall is on the edge of certifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a remarkable 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 featured 14 180s.


Despite balancing 110.01, Humphries could not halt Littler, who averaged 115.96 to ensure he would finish top of the league stage.


Defending champ Littler had actually already 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 campaign however ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.


Aspinall moved above seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen into 4th spot 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, who ended up 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 5th again. I've put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] again next week and the pressure is on him," said the English gamer.


"It's a do or pass away game. I save myself three hours of anguish 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 remarkable night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, cash prize


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in timeless


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


Humphries hit nine optimums to his challenger's 5, but he could not stop Littler's charge.


In a match that completed in under 12 minutes, there were a total of 40 100-plus check outs - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.


Humphries started by hitting six perfect darts, while Littler required simply 10 to win the third 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 however 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 alleviation 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 competition has had more than 2.


Van Gerwen stays without a night win in 2025 and in major threat of losing out on the play-offs for only the 2nd time.


His only absence from the finals considering that his launching 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 often times, which proved important.


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 across 16 weeks in the league phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.


Each of the 8 players is ensured to face the other 7 in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 fixtures done off the table. It means we will get 4th v 5th in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off areas possibly on the line.


Players make 2 points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final, and 5 for winning the night.


The leading 4 players after the group phase progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with very first dealing with fourth and 2nd versus third 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 chosen 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