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 leading spot.


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


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


Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries could not stop Littler, who balanced 115.96 to ensure he would end up top of the league phase.


Defending champion Littler had actually currently certified for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May along with Humphries and Price.


Price struck his 2nd 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 triumph.


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


"All I have stated to my household, I don't desire 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," stated the English player.


"It's a do or die video game. I save myself three hours of misery if I can beat him at 8pm, I'm going to the O2 which is an imagine mine. It's in my hands."


Relive Aspinall's win on dramatic night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, prize money


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in classic


Littler versus Humphries lived up to its billing as the set delivered a spectacular quarter-final.


Humphries hit 9 maximums to his opponent's 5, however he could not stop Littler's charge.


In a match that ended up in under 12 minutes, there were an overall of 40 100-plus visits - 21 from Littler and 19 for Humphries.


Humphries started by striking 6 perfect darts, while Littler needed just 10 to win the 3rd leg.


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


"If this is your very first time watching 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 struck a nine-darter and lost.


He also produced an ideal leg when beaten by Littler in Manchester 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 actually now been 5 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 missing out on out on the play-offs for only the second time.


His only from the finals because his launching 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 numerous times, and that proved essential.


Rob Cross can not make the play-offs after a 6-2 loss to Dobey, who balanced 107 however is likewise 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 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 seven and 9-15, with week 8 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 spots possibly on the line.


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


The top four gamers after the group phase development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with very first dealing with fourth and second against 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The last, which is the very best 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