Luke Littler continued his scintillating form to triumph on Night Five of the BetMGM Premier League, as Luke Humphries and Rob Cross produced nine-darters on an astonishing evening in Brighton.
Newly crowned UK Open champion Littler extended his winning run to nine matches with victory at the Brighton Centre, sealed with a 6-3 success against Nathan Aspinall in Thursday’s showpiece.
Littler also overcame Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen on the south coast as he secured his second nightly win of the campaign, to close to within two points of league leader Humphries.
The World Champion survived a scare in his quarter-final clash against Dobey, defying a ton-plus average from the Bedlington star and wrapping up victory with a 110 finish in the decider.
Littler then dispatched seven-time champion Van Gerwen with a 106 average in the last four, before accounting for Aspinall to leave Brighton with a maximum five-point haul and the £10,000 bonus.
There was nothing to separate the pair after six legs, but Littler upped the ante in the latter stages, reeling off three straight legs to prevail with a 100.47 average and five 180s.
“Coming off the back of the UK Open I was playing really well, and I think I played very well tonight,” reflected Littler, who also claimed the spoils on Night Two in Glasgow.
“I’ve always been confident in my own ability, but the way my darts are going at the minute, it’s probably the best I’ve ever played on a consistent basis.
“That is why I can find those extra gears and dig myself out of trouble when I need to.
“My main goal is to make the top four. Whether it’s first, second, third or fourth, it’s about making it to The O2, and that’s when the proper title defence takes place.”
Aspinall, meanwhile, leapfrogged Van Gerwen into third position after defeating Stephen Bunting and Cross to progress to his second nightly final in three weeks.
The Stockport star was imperious in his 6-2 thumping of Bunting, averaging 106.46 and crashing in six 180s to prolong Bunting’s wait for a Premier League victory in 2025.
Aspinall then defied an average of almost 107 from Cross to win through a terrific semi-final, overturning a 4-2 deficit to celebrate his seventh straight win over the former World Champion.
Cross landed a sensational nine-darter in the sixth leg of the contest, although Aspinall wasn’t to be denied, following up a clinical 120 kill with a nerveless 70 checkout in the decider.
Earlier in the night, Cross was on the receiving end of a perfect leg from Humphries, who registered his first televised nine-darter in a remarkable quarter-final tussle.
The world number one produced the moment of magic in leg two, but an inspired Cross won six of the next eight legs to prevail, averaging 111.19 and hitting seven 180s to cap off a virtuoso performance.
Humphries and Cross’ exploits earned the pair 18 carat gold darts - courtesy of tournament sponsors BetMGM – and Humphries reflected on a night of mixed emotions post-match.
“I was disappointed to lose the game, but overall I think the better player won. Rob was fantastic there,” conceded the 2023/24 World Champion.
“I’ve hit about five or six nine-darters in my career, but it’s always a special feeling to do it on the big stage, and the crowd went wild which was amazing!
“Of course I would have rather won the game, but it’s a really nice memento!”
The evening’s other quarter-final tie saw Van Gerwen punish a profligate display from Gerwyn Price to complete a 6-3 victory, which saw the Dutchman cement his place in the top four at Price’s expense.
The BetMGM Premier League roadshow rolls into Nottingham for Night Six on Thursday March 13, as Humphries and Littler go head-to-head in a battle between the league’s top two.
Aspinall and Van Gerwen collide in a crucial contest in the race for Play-Off qualification, while Cross will meet Dobey for the first time since they went head-to-head in the Night One semi-finals.
Elsewhere, Bunting will aim to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat when he takes on Price for a place in the last four at the Motorpoint Arena.
Click here for match stats and results.
2025 BetMGM Premier League
Night Five - Thursday March 6
The Brighton Centre
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler 6-5 Chris Dobey
Rob Cross 6-4 Luke Humphries - Luke Humphries hits a nine-darter
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Rob Cross - Rob Cross hits a nine-darter
Final
Luke Littler 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Night Six - Thursday March 13
Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries v Luke Littler
Rob Cross v Chris Dobey
Stephen Bunting v Gerwyn Price
Nathan Aspinall v Michael van Gerwen
Semi-Finals
Humphries/Littler v Cross/Dobey
Bunting/Price v Aspinall/Van Gerwen
Final
v
All matches best of 11 legs