Littler Triumphs As Brighton Sees 2 Nine-darters

6 March 2025


Luke Littler won night five of the Premier League in Brighton on an evening which saw two nine-dart surfaces.


The 18-year-old declared his 2nd night triumph of the year with a 6-3 win in the last over Nathan Aspinall.


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


"I've constantly been confident in my own capability, but the way my darts are addressing the minute, it's probably the finest I've ever used a consistent basis," Littler told Sky Sports.


World primary Luke Humphries hit 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.


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


In a rematch of January's world last, where Littler become darts' youngest champ, he came out on top again in Brighton with a 6-2 success 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


Humphries beats Littler to win Exeter final


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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 versus Cross.


But the 30-year-old, who was seeking his 3rd nighttime win of the project, ended up losing 6-4 to his fellow Englishman.


It was the 17th ideal leg in the Premier League considering that its inception in 2005.


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


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 functions as he decreased 6-3 to Van Gerwen, while Stephen Bunting remains without a point after a fifth consecutive defeat, beaten 6-2 by Aspinall, who balanced 106.


Sky repeatedly apologised to viewers after their TV images eliminated at different stages 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 gamers is guaranteed to face 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 we will get 4th 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 extra point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.


The leading four gamers after the group phase progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and 2nd versus third 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