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 location while Luke Littler sealed top spot.


Aspinall is on the brink of qualifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a remarkable night which saw Gerwyn Price struck a nine-darter.


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


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


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


Price struck his 2nd nine-darter of the project however ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.


Aspinall moved above seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen into fourth area with a 6-3 success over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going 4 points clear after his last accomplishment.


If Van Gerwen does not declare the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall - who ended up fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will claim the last play-off spot.


"All I have said to my family, I don't want to come 5th again. I have actually put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] once again next week and the pressure is on him," said the English player.


"It's a do or pass away video game. I save myself 3 hours of torment 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 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 completed in under 12 minutes, there were an overall of 40 100-plus check outs - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.


Humphries started by striking six perfect darts, while Littler required just 10 to win the third leg.


"Are you joke me? This is an outright joke," said Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle in commentary.


"If this is your first time viewing a darts match, this is not the standard."


Price strikes nine-darter but loses


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


He also produced a best leg when beaten by Littler in Manchester in April.


The 2021 world champion has the alleviation of walking off with another set of 18 carat gold darts from sponsors BetMGM, worth an estimated ₤ 30,000.


There have actually now been 5 nine-darters in this year's occasion. No previous edition of the competitors has 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 second time.


His only lack from the finals since 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 lot of times, which shown important.


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


Each of the 8 gamers is ensured to deal with 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 means we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the last league-stage night, with the play-off spots possibly 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 leading four 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 against 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The last, which is the finest of 21 legs, follows.


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