Littler Triumphs As Brighton Sees Two Nine-darters
6 March 2025
Luke Littler won night five of the Premier League in Brighton on an evening which saw 2 nine-dart finishes.
The 18-year-old declared his 2nd 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 again, four days after whipping James Wade 11-2 to win the UK Open.
"I've constantly been confident in my own capability, however the way my darts are going at the minute, it's probably the best I have actually ever used a consistent basis," Littler told Sky Sports.
World primary Luke Humphries hit the very first Premier League nine-darter of 2025 in the quarter-finals however was beaten by Rob Cross, who went on to seal his own ideal leg versus 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.
Littler's success sees him cut the gap on league leader Humphries to two points from 7, with the set conference in Nottingham next week.
In a rematch of January's world last, where Littler end up being darts' youngest champ, he came out on leading 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 last in this year's competitors.
All the action as it occurred in Brighton
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Humphries beaten despite nine-dart finish
Humphries hit the best leg with 2 180s before a 141 checkout to go 2-0 ahead against Cross.
But the 30-year-old, who was seeking his 3rd nightly win of the project, wound up losing 6-4 to his fellow Englishman.
It was the 17th ideal leg in the Premier League because its inception in 2005.
But 2018 world champion Cross struck seven 180s of his own and averaged 111.19 as he grabbed the victory.
Littler was far from his finest 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 cost for missing out on functions as he went down 6-3 to Van Gerwen, while Stephen Bunting remains without a point after a fifth successive defeat, beaten 6-2 by Aspinall, who balanced 106.
Sky repeatedly apologised to audiences after their TV images cut out at different phases during the early part of the evening.
Premier League Darts Night 5 results
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 across 16 preliminary weeks in the league phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.
Each of the 8 gamers 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 5th in Sheffield on the last league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially 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 top 4 players after the group stage development to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing 4th and 2nd 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