Littler Triumphs As Brighton Sees Two Nine-darters
6 March 2025
Luke Littler won night 5 of the Premier League in Brighton on an evening which saw 2 nine-dart surfaces.
The 18-year-old claimed his second night victory of the year with a 6-3 win in the last over Nathan Aspinall.
Defending champion Littler struck 5 180s as he triumphed again, 4 days after surging James Wade 11-2 to win the UK Open.
"I've constantly been confident in my own ability, but the way my darts are addressing the minute, it's probably the finest I have actually ever played on a constant basis," Littler informed Sky Sports.
World primary Luke Humphries struck the first Premier League nine-darter of 2025 in the quarter-finals but was beaten by Rob Cross, who went on to seal his own perfect leg against Aspinall before losing a decider.
The set both receive a set of strong gold darts, worth an estimated ₤ 30,000 each, from league sponsors BetMGM.
sees him cut the space on league leader Humphries to 2 points from 7, with the set conference in Nottingham next week.
In a rematch of January's world last, where Littler become darts' youngest champion, he came out on top again in Brighton with a 6-2 victory over Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals.
The Dutchman, a seven-time Premier League champion, has yet to make a last in this year's competitors.
All the action as it happened in Brighton
Humphries beats Littler to win Exeter last
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Humphries beaten in spite of nine-dart finish
Humphries struck the perfect leg with 2 180s before a 141 checkout to go 2-0 ahead against Cross.
But the 30-year-old, who was seeking his third nighttime win of the campaign, ended up losing 6-4 to his fellow Englishman.
It was the 17th best leg in the Premier League since its inception in 2005.
But 2018 world champ Cross hit 7 180s of his own and averaged 111.19 as he got the triumph.
Littler was far from his finest in his opener versus Chris Dobey, where he tracked 5-4 before levelling and clinching the decider with a 110 finish.
Gerwyn Price paid the price for missing out on doubles as he decreased 6-3 to Van Gerwen, while Stephen Bunting remains without a point after a fifth successive defeat, beaten 6-2 by Aspinall, who averaged 106.
Sky repeatedly apologised to audiences after their TV pictures cut out at different phases during the early part of the evening.
Premier League Darts Night 5 outcomes
Luke Littler 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Michael van Gerwen 2-6 Luke Littler
Rob Cross 5-6 Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler 6-5 Chris Dobey
Rob Cross 6-4 Luke Humphries
Stephen Bunting 2-6 Nathan Aspinall
Premier League Darts is played throughout 16 preliminary weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.
Each of the eight players is ensured to face the other 7 in the quarter-finals in weeks 1-7 and 9-15, with the weeks 8 and 16 components done off the table. It means we will get 4th v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots possibly on the line.
Players earn 2 points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.
The leading 4 players after the group stage development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and second against 3rd in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the finest of 21 legs, follows.
Premier League Darts Night 6 order of play
Nottingham, 13 March, 19:00 GMT
Luke Humphries v Luke Littler
Rob Cross v Chris Dobey
Stephen Bunting v Gerwyn Price