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 area.


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


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


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


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


Price hit 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 fourth spot with a 6-3 success over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his final accomplishment.


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 fifth 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 die video game. I conserve myself three hours of anguish 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 dramatic night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, cash prize


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in timeless


Littler versus Humphries measured up to its billing as the set provided a breathtaking quarter-final.


Humphries struck nine maximums to his challenger's 5, but he might 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 began by hitting six perfect darts, while Littler required just 10 to win the 3rd leg.


"Are you joke 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 norm."


Price hits nine-darter however loses


For the 2nd time in the Premier League this season, Price hit a nine-darter and lost.


He also produced a best leg when beaten by Littler in 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 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 severe threat of losing out on the play-offs for just the second time.


His only absence from the finals since his debut season in 2013 was available in 2020 when he finished 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, and that proved vital.


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


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


Players earn 2 points per quarter-final win, an extra point if they win their semi-final, and five for winning the night.


The top 4 players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with very first dealing with fourth and 2nd against third in best-of-19-leg matches. The final, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.


If players 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