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


27 February 2025


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