Littler Triumphs As Brighton Sees Two Nine-darters

6 March 2025


Luke Littler won night five of the Premier League in Brighton on a night which saw two nine-dart finishes.


The 18-year-old declared his second night success of the year with a 6-3 win in the last over Nathan Aspinall.


Defending champ Littler hit five 180s as he triumphed once again, 4 days after whipping James Wade 11-2 to win the UK Open.


"I've constantly been positive in my own ability, but the way my darts are going at the minute, it's most likely the finest I have actually ever played on a constant basis," Littler informed Sky Sports.


World top Luke Humphries hit the very first Premier League nine-darter of 2025 in the quarter-finals but was beaten by Rob Cross, who went on to seal his own best leg against Aspinall before losing a decider.


The pair both receive a set of strong gold darts, worth an approximated ₤ 30,000 each, from league sponsors BetMGM.


Littler's triumph sees him cut the space on league leader Humphries to two points from 7, with the pair conference in Nottingham next week.


In a rematch of January's world last, where Littler become darts' youngest champ, he triumphed once 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 final in this year's competition.


All the action as it happened in Brighton


Humphries beats Littler to win Exeter final


27 February 2025


Humphries beaten in spite of nine-dart finish


Humphries struck the best leg with 2 180s before a 141 checkout to go 2-0 ahead versus Cross.


But the 30-year-old, who was seeking his 3rd nightly win of the campaign, wound up losing 6-4 to his fellow Englishman.


It was the 17th ideal leg in the Premier League because its beginning in 2005.


But 2018 world champion Cross struck seven 180s of his own and averaged 111.19 as he grabbed the success.


Littler was far from his best in his opener against Chris Dobey, where he trailed 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 defeat, beaten 6-2 by Aspinall, who balanced 106.


Sky consistently apologised to viewers after their TV photos eliminated at different phases throughout the early part of the night.


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 initial weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a last each night.


Each of the eight players is guaranteed to deal with the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks 1-7 and 9-15, with the weeks 8 and 16 fixtures done off the table. It indicates we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the last league-stage night, with the play-off areas potentially on the line.


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


The leading four players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with very first dealing with fourth and second against 3rd in a best-of-19-leg match. The last, 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