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 location while Luke Littler sealed leading area.


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


Dobey declared a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 against world champ Littler, who earlier won a traditional against world number one Luke Humphries that included 14 180s.


Despite balancing 110.01, Humphries could not halt Littler, who balanced 115.96 to guarantee he would complete top of the league phase.


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


Price struck his second nine-darter of the campaign but ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.


Aspinall moved above seven-time champ Michael van Gerwen into fourth area with a 6-3 success over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his final victory.


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


"All I have actually stated 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] again next week and the pressure is on him," stated the English gamer.


"It's a do or pass away video game. I conserve myself 3 hours of misery 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 significant night in Aberdeen


Premier League Darts schedule, results, reward money


29 May 2025


Littler beats Humphries in traditional


Littler against Humphries measured up to its billing as the set delivered an awesome quarter-final.


Humphries struck 9 maximums to his challenger's 5, however he might not halt Littler's charge.


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


Humphries started by hitting 6 best darts, while Littler required simply 10 to win the third leg.


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


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


Price strikes nine-darter however loses


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


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


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


There have actually now been 5 nine-darters in this year's event. No previous edition of the competitors has 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 since his launching season in 2013 was available 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 shown important.


Rob Cross can not make the play-offs after a 6-2 loss to Dobey, who balanced 107 but is also out of contention after his last 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 throughout 16 weeks in the league phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.


Each of the eight gamers is ensured to deal with the other 7 in the quarter-finals in weeks one to 7 and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 components done off the table. It suggests we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off areas possibly on the line.


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


The leading 4 gamers after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and 2nd versus 3rd in best-of-19-leg matches. The final, which is the very best of 21 legs, follows.


If gamers are level on points after the 16 weeks then places are decided by nights won and then 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