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 place while Luke Littler sealed top area.
Aspinall is on the verge of qualifying 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 versus world champion Littler, who earlier won a classic versus world number one Luke that included 14 180s.
Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries could not stop Littler, who balanced 115.96 to guarantee he would complete top of the league phase.
Defending champ Littler had already qualified for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May alongside Humphries and Price.
Price hit his 2nd nine-darter of the campaign but 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 success over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going 4 points clear after his last victory.
If Van Gerwen does not claim the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall - who ended up fifth in 2023 and 2024 - will declare the last play-off spot.
"All I have actually stated to my household, I do not wish to come fifth once 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 player.
"It's a do or pass away video game. I conserve myself three hours of suffering 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 cash
29 May 2025
Littler beats Humphries in timeless
Littler against Humphries measured up to its billing as the pair delivered a spectacular quarter-final.
Humphries struck nine maximums to his opponent's 5, but he could not stop 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 hitting six perfect darts, while Littler required just 10 to win the third 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 watching a darts match, this is not the standard."
Price strikes nine-darter but loses
For the second time in the Premier League this season, Price struck a nine-darter and lost.
He also produced an ideal leg when beaten by Littler in Manchester in April.
The 2021 world champion has the alleviation of strolling 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 occasion. No previous edition of the competition has actually had more than 2.
Van Gerwen remains without a night win in 2025 and in serious threat of losing out on the play-offs for only the 2nd time.
His only lack from the finals considering 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, and that proved 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 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 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 components done off the table. It means we will get 4th v 5th in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.
Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final, and five for winning the night.
The top 4 gamers after the group stage development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first dealing with fourth and second against third 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