World number eight Aspinall has confounded critics who opposed his inclusion in the eight-man competition, having been ranked 11 when the picks were made.
His inclusion was questioned by fellow players Mike de Decker and Dave Chisnall amid suggestions his popular walk-on song Mr Brightside helped his case.
The Stockport-born player has battled online abuse over his participation, as well as recovering from injuries and dartitis to reach the final four.
“I came off social media because of the abuse I was getting,” said ‘The Asp’ after his second nightly win, in Aberdeen a week ago.
“I’m not being exaggerated here, but it ruined my life for a month, not just my life, my family’s. It was horrific. “
Aspinall has also come back from elbow, wrist and back injuries, along with tackling dartitis – a condition where players have a mental block when it comes to throwing on the stage.
Missing out on qualification seals a miserable campaign for Van Gerwen, whose last nightly win came back in April 2024.
The three-time world champion had seven victories and two runner-up spots from his previous 12 campaigns, with his last Premier League title in 2023.
“This is probably one of the hardest Premier Leagues I have ever played in – not in terms of players, but in terms of myself,” Van Gerwen admitted.
His cause was not helped when missing the ninth event of the season in Berlin with a shoulder injury sustained while trying to put a shirt on.
Nathan Aspinall took the Premier League nightly win in Aberdeen to close on a play-off place while Luke Littler sealed top spot.
Aspinall is on the brink of qualifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a dramatic evening which saw Gerwyn Price hit a nine-darter.
Dobey claimed a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 against world champion Littler, who earlier won a classic against world number one Luke Humphries that featured 14 180s.
Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries could not halt Littler, who averaged 115.96 to guarantee he would finish top of the league phase.
Defending champion Littler had already qualified for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May alongside Humphries and Price.
Price hit his second nine-darter of the campaign but ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.
Aspinall moved above seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen into fourth spot with a 6-3 victory over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his final triumph.
If Van Gerwen does not claim the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall – who finished fifth in 2023 and 2024 – will claim the last play-off spot.
“All I have said to my family, I don’t want to come fifth again. I’ve put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] again next week and the pressure is on him,” said the English player.
“It’s a do or die game. I save myself three hours of misery if I can beat him at 8pm, I’m going to the O2 which is a dream of mine. It’s in my hands.”
The 2022 European champion opened with a 6-0 defeat of Dylan Slevin, then dispatched Chris Landman 6-3 in the last 16.
Landman briefly fought back to level at 3-3 – but from that moment Smith never lost another leg all day.
Barry Hearn reveals pool is the ‘next darts’ and predicts sport will be massive in five years
He next sunk Danny Noppert 6-0 and Luke Woodhouse 7-0 in the semis.
And he demolished Brendan Dolan 8-0 in the final – with an average of 104.5.
Smith polished off the Northern Irishman with legs of 14, 12, 13, 14, 12 and 14 darts.
His joy in Germany means he has jumped up to World No. 14.
Smith said: “I’m so happy with the win.
“I’ve got the little plaques at home with the scoresheets from my Players Championship wins. They’re my little trophies, and they mean a lot to me.
“I’m going to add another one to the wall today, and it’s another incentive when I’m at home practising, because I want to win all the time; who doesn’t?
“If you’ve won a major title you can win anything. I honestly believe I’m going to win more, but I need to keep working hard.”
Leicester’s Mattioli Arena will host the PDC’s Players Championships 17 and 18 on June 17-18.
A Darts icon has backed a proposed venue change for the PDC World Darts Championships.
Alexandra Palace has been the tournament’s home since its 2008 move from the Circus Tavern in Essex.
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Alexandra Palace has been the home of the World Darts Championship since 2008Credit: AFP
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There has been talk that the tournament could leave the hallowed walls of Ally PallyCredit: PA
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Iconic referee Russ Bray believes a change of venue could make senseCredit: GETTY
But the iconic venue’s future hosting the annual competition is in doubt as Saudi Arabia has been mooted as a potential new location for the tournament.
And retired referee Russ Bray believes a change of venue could make sense given the recent growth of the sport and the potential increase of prize money.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “The PDC’s [Professional Darts Corporation] a business, like you say, it is a business.
“Barry and Eddie [Hearn, respective chairman and ex-chairman] and Matt [Porter, CEO of PDC], these guys, they’ll sit down and talk.
“Obviously, if they can pay the players £2million for winning the World Final because we’ve got to go somewhere else, then I’m pretty certain that’s what they will do. It makes sense.”
Matchroom supremo Barry Hearn has already been approached by the Saudis about bringing the competition to The Kingdom.
But he knocked them back after they informed him fans wouldn’t be able to drink alcohol at events.
The 76-year-old said: “The Saudis asked me for [the] darts about a couple of months ago.
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once – Barney also won four BDO titles – and none of Eric Bristow’s five BDO titles are included.
1994 – Dennis Priestley
1995 – Phil Taylor
1996 – Phil Taylor (2)
1997 – Phil Taylor (3)
1998 – Phil Taylor (4)
1999 – Phil Taylor (5)
2000 – Phil Taylor (6)
2001 – Phil Taylor (7)
2002 – Phil Taylor (8)
2003 – John Part
2004 – Phil Taylor (9)
2005 – Phil Taylor (10)
2006 – Phil Taylor (11)
2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
2008 – John Part (2)
2009 – Phil Taylor (12)
2010 – Phil Taylor (13)
2011 – Adrian Lewis
2012 – Adrian Lewis (2)
2013 – Phil Taylor (14)
2014 – Michael van Gerwen
2015 – Gary Anderson
2016 – Gary Anderson (2)
2017 – Michael van Gerwen (2)
2018 – Rob Cross
2019 – Michael van Gerwen (3)
2020 – Peter Wright
2021 – Gerwyn Price
2022 – Peter Wright (2)
2023 – Michael Smith
2024 – Luke Humphries
2025 – Luke Littler
Most World Titles
14 – Phil Taylor
3 – Michael van Gerwen
2 – John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright
1 – Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
“I asked them a simple question. ‘Can we have alcohol?’
“And they said no. I said, ‘Well then you can’t have the darts.'”
Luke Littler taunts fans with ‘crying’ gesture after Man Utd fan suffers abuse at Premier League Darts in Leeds
Hearn, however, does believe The Kingdom could make a good home for the World Snooker Championships.
The veteran promoter has recently threatened to take the competition away from the Crucible unless the iconic venue is given a major revamp.
Luke Humphries ended his 10-week wait for a Premier League nightly victory with a tense 6-5 win over Luke Littler in Leeds.
The 30-year-old, who had not won a final since beating Littler on Night 4 in Exeter, came from 2-0 down to beat ‘The Nuke’ in a thriller.
World number one Humphries averaged 100.96, with 18-year-old Littler at 99.89.
Wearing a Leeds United-inspired yellow and blue shirt at the First Direct Arena – days after his footballing heroes won the Championship title to mark their Premier League return in style – ‘Cool Hand Luke’ made a sluggish start as Littler took charge.
But Humphries, who was defending his Leeds crown from 12 months ago, then won three straight legs and edged 5-3 ahead.
As both mixed errors with brilliance in their performances, Littler hit back to take the match to a final-leg decider.
Both men missed bull finishes for 100-plus checkouts, but Humphries kept calm to hit double 10 and seal the much-needed success.
“When you know you’re playing against Luke Littler you know you’re not going to get away with mid-game performances, you need to be at your best to beat him,” he told Sky Sports.
“We weren’t at our best but it was a decent final and I do seem to raise my performance against him.
“It is extra special to win in Leeds, I feel at home here. I know it isn’t my hometown but it does feel extra special. I won here last year and it gave me extra confidence for the finals night and hopefully it does again – and I can get that elusive Premier League crown that I’ve always dreamed of.”
Humphries had earlier overcome bottom-of-the-table Stephen Bunting 6-4 in the semi-finals to set up a fourth Premier League final of the season against Littler.
A 6-4 win in the last eight over Michael van Gerwen also confirmed his place at finals night on May 29 at the 02 Arena, while Bunting’s defeat ruled him out of the finals reckoning.
Littler showed his quality in a convincing 6-3 semi-final victory over Gerwyn Price, where the defending Premier League champion came back from 2-0 down to dominate.
Price’s 6-5 quarter-final victory over Rob Cross had booked his place in the final four.
A dart bounces off the board on his return, a few for him in recent weeks which hands Humphries a look out a finish position.
He dose not take and Littler hits the double 6 to open this encounter.
Finale
Both have set the standard for darts this last 12-24 months and continue to do so.
Even in a relative off night, they are by far the best two in the elite field.
Implications on the standings are minimal as the two are certain of their O2 spot and a win for Littler would guarantee the already-known: top spot.
TV lot are backing Humphries and it’s weird one because neither have played anywhere near their best stuff for any sustainable period of time tonight.
Yet, you would not be surprised if they pulled it all out for this encounter.
The latest instalment of dart’s hottest ticket, Littler vs Humphries is upon us.
Luke Humphries 6-4 Stephen Bunting*
Bunting unable to convert a 180 attempt on his third visit, and would follow it up with a 77 and another double 16 miss which failed to clear the 32.
It was solid but not enough as Humphries finishes this contest with a double 20.
Luke vs Luke up next in Leeds.
Luke Humphries* 5-4 Stephen Bunting
Some lax play from Humphries would hand Bunting the momentarily initiative which he was unable to take at double 6.
He would be granted the chance again and took it.
He has made one comeback this evening…
Luke Humphries 5-3 Stephen Bunting*
The Humphries pressure proving evident with multiple 100s+ setting up a bullseye finish, which he takes.
The end is near… or is it?
Luke Humphries* 4-3 Stephen Bunting
What you can do, I can do from these two.
Humphries produces a 180, Bunting matches to go with his 140.
Humphries unable to convert his leg dart on the doubles, same for Bunting. The crowd favourite, who has yet to give them something to get up for, eventually pops the decisive won.
Littler will compete in the 17-week extravaganza alongside some of the sport’s biggest names, including MVG and World No1 Luke Humphries.
SunSport brings you all the information you need ahead of the return of Premier League Darts.
Who is in the Premier League Darts 2025 line-up?
The top four darts players on the Order of Merit plus four Wildcards make up the eight-player field for the Premier League.
Here are all eight players competing this year:
It means two former world champions miss out – in the form of Peter Wright, 54, andMichael Smith, 34, following their alarming slump in form.
Premier League Darts 2025 schedule and results
Night One – Thursday, February 6 The SSE Arena, Belfast Quarter-Finals Chris Dobey 6-4 Gerwyn Price Stephen Bunting 4-6 Rob Cross Luke Littler 5-6 Michael van Gerwen Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Luke Humphries Semi-finals Chris Dobey 6-4 Rob Cross Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Luke Humphries Final Luke Humphries 6-1 Chris Dobey
Night Two – Thursday, February 13 OVO Hydro, Glasgow Quarter-Finals Rob Cross 5-6 Luke Littler Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Stephen Bunting Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Gerwyn Price Luke Humphries 6-4 Chris Dobey Semi-finals Luke Littler 6-2 Michael van Gerwen Gerwyn Price 4-6 Luke Humphries Final Luke Littler 6-5 Luke Humphries
Night Three – Thursday, February 20 3Arena, Dublin Quarter-Finals Luke Humphries 6-4 Stephen Bunting Gerwyn Price 6-4 Luke Littler Rob Cross 3-6 Nathan Aspinall Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Chris Dobey Semi-final Luke Humphries 3-6 Gerwyn Price Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Michael van Gerwen Final Gerwyn Price 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Night Four – Thursday, February 27 Westpoint Exeter Quarter-Finals Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Rob Cross Gerwyn Price 4-6 Luke Humphries Chris Dobey 5-6 Nathan Aspinall Stephen Bunting 3-6 Luke Littler
Semi-final Rob Cross 5-6 Luke Humphries Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Luke Littler
Final Luke Humphries 6-4 Luke Littler
Night Five – Thursday, March 6 The Brighton Centre Quarter-Finals 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
Semi-Finals Michael van Gerwen 2-6 Luke Littler Rob Cross 5-6 Nathan Aspinall
Final Luke Littler 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Night Six – Thursday, March 13 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham Quarter-Finals Luke Humphries 4-6 Luke Littler Rob Cross 6-2 Chris Dobey Stephen Bunting 4-6 Gerwyn Price Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
Semi-Finals Luke Litter 6-3 Rob Cross Gerwyn Price 6-1 Michael van Gerwen
Final Luke Littler 3-6 Gerwyn Price
Quarter-Finals Chris Dobey 6-2 Stephen Bunting Luke Humphries 4-6 Michael van Gerwen Luke Littler 6-3 Nathan Aspinall Gerwyn Price 5-6 Rob Cross
Semi-Finals Chris Dobey 1-6 Michael van Gerwen Luke Littler 6-2 Rob Cross
Final Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Luke Littler
Night Eight – Thursday, March 27 Utilita Arena, Newcastle Quarter-Finals Luke Littler 6-0 Stephen Bunting Gerwyn Price 2-6 Rob Cross Luke Humphries 6-3 Chris Dobey Micheal van Gerwen 5-6 Nathan Aspinall
Semi-Finals Luke Littler 6-3 Rob Cross Luke Humphries 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Final Luke Littler 6-1 Luke Humphries
Night Nine – Thursday, April 3 Uber Arena, Berlin Quarter-Finals Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Stephen Bunting Luke Humphries 6-3 Rob Cross Chris Dobey 6-2 Luke Littler Michael van Gerwen w/d Gerwyn Price
Semi-Finals Stephen Bunting 6-2 Luke Humphries Chris Dobey 2-6 Gerwyn Price
Final Stephen Bunting 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Night Ten – Thursday, April 10 AO Arena, Manchester Quarter-Finals Chris Dobey 4-6 Michael van Gerwen Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Rob Cross Luke Littler 6-3 Gerwyn Price Stephen Bunting 1-6 Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals Michael van Gerwen 2-6 Nathan Aspinall Luke Littler 4=6 Luke Humphries
Finals Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Luke Humphries
Night 11 – Thursday, April 17 Rotterdam Ahoy Quarter-Finals Chris Dobey 6-3 Luke Humphries Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Gerwyn Price Stephen Bunting 6-5 Michael van Gerwen Luke Littler 6-5 Rob Cross
Semi-Finals Chris Dobey 6-2 Nathan Aspinall Stephen Bunting 6-5 Luke Littler
Final Chris Dobey 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Night 12 – Thursday, April 24 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Quarter-Finals Luke Humphries 6-3 Nathan Aspinall Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Luke Littler Rob Cross 6-1 Stephen Bunting Gerwyn Price 2-6 Chris Dobey
Semi-Finals Luke Humphries 6-4 Michael van Gerwen Rob Cross 2-6 Gerwyn Price
Final Luke Humphries 4-6 Gerwyn Price
Night 13 – Thursday, May 1 Utilita Arena, Birmingham Quarter-Finals Luke Littler 6-5 Stephen Bunting Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Chris Dobey Luke Humphries 5-6 Gerwyn Price Rob Cross 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
Semi-finals Luke Littler 6-5 Nathan Aspinall Gerwyn Price 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Final Luke Littler 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Night 14 – Thursday, May 8 First Direct Arena, Leeds Quarter-Finals Rob Cross 8-6 Gerwyn Price Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Luke Littler Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Luke Humphries Stephen Bunting vs Chris Dobey
Semi-finals Gerwyn Price vs Luke Littler
Night 15 – Thursday, May 15 P&J Live, Aberdeen Quarter-Finals Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall Gerwyn Price vs Stephen Bunting Chris Dobey vs Rob Cross Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries
Night 16 – Thursday, May 22 Utilita Arena, Sheffield Draw Bracket based on league table following Night 15
Play-Offs – Thursday, May 29 The O2, London Semi-Finals and Final
What is the Premier League Darts format?
Eight players will compete in Premier League Darts 2025, with the top four of the Order of Merit and four wildcards making up the numbers.
Each of the players will meet each other once in weeks 1-7 and again in weeks 9-15, but fixtures for weeks 8 and 16 are drawn based on league standings.
How each player performs on each night will earn them points which will determine their place in the Premier League table.
Here is how the points system works:
Winner: 5 points
Runner-up: 3 points
Two losing semi-finalists: 2 points
Following the conclusion of week 16, the top four in the Premier League table will secure their tickets to Finals Night.
Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena begins with the semi-finals as first in the table takes on fourth and second faces third.
Later, the two remaining players will face off in a blockbuster final to determine the winner of the Premier League.
A former darts star has warned Luke Littler could quit within the next five yearsCredit: Rex
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Dr Linda Duffy was the top women’s player in the 80sCredit: Rex
Littler’s meteoric rise has seen him become a household name.
And he has shown he can mix it with the best while also taking flak from fans.
However, former world darts No1 Duffy believes the pressures of the sport could take their toll unless Littler is properly supported on his journey.
Duffy ruled the roost in women’s darts from 1982 to 1987.
And after leaving the game, she went on to become a chartered psychologist.
Duffy has now used her expertise to fire a warning to Littler’s management team, claiming that the teen sensation could bow out within half a decade without proper “support.”
She told Tungsten Tales: “It’s absolutely crucial he receives proper support. Otherwise there’s a risk he’ll walk away from the game within five years because he’s completely burned out.
“Fortunately he has a good manager who understands the importance of giving him time to rest.
The teenager, who went on to win the world title in December, won the Premier League in 2024 and will be looking to defend his crown over 18 thrilling weeks.
There were two new entries this season, with Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey replacing Peter Wright and Michael Smith.
Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall keep their place in what will be a hotly-contested title race.
SOME of the world’s best throwers head to Germany for the return of the European Darts Open!
It was an unforgettable moment last year for Gary Anderson as the Scotsman secured his first European tour title since 2014 by defeating Rob Cross 8-6 in the final.
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Gary Anderson is the reigning European Darts Grand Prix championCredit: Getty
And the defending champion is back for more, hoping to defend his crown in front of a loud Glaspalast crowd.
However, Anderson will certainly have his work cut out as several household names are set to feature.
This includes reigning world number one, Luke Humphries, but Luke Littler will not compete at this tournament.
Remarkably, there have been as many as nine different winners in ten editions, so there is every chance someone new could be on the throne by the end of the tournament.
Read more on Luke Littler
When is the European Darts Grand Prix 2025?
The European Darts Grand Prix 2025 will get underway on Friday, May 2.
It will then sadly conclude on Sunday, May 4.
Afternoon sessions are set to start at 12pm BST while the evening sessions begin at 6pm BST.
The Glaspalast in Sindelfingen, Germany will host the 11th edition of the tournament.
How to watch the European Darts Grand Prix 2025
The European Darts Grand Prix will be available to watch on PDCTV.
A monthly PDCTV subscription costs fans in the UK £4.99.
An Annual subscription is also available for purchase at £49.99.
MICHAEL van Gerwen has ditched the “lower priority” World Cup of Darts for IBIZA.
The three-time World Champion MVG will not play in Frankfurt on June 12-15 with Gian van Veen now expected to partner Danny Noppert for the Netherlands.
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Van Gerwen will trade in the World Cup of Darts for a holiday in IbizaCredit: Alamy
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Daphne van Gerwen has been married to darts ace Michael since 2014Credit: instagram/@daphnevangerwen/
