The 2025 Premier League Darts league phase reaches its thrilling conclusion on Thursday, May 22, at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. Night 16 marks the last opportunity players have to secure the final remaining playoff place, with the playoffs taking place at London’s O2 Arena on May 29. While Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price have already clinched their places in the playoffs, the battle for fourth will end in Sheffield.
Nathan Aspinall currently occupies the final playoff spot, and he’s four points ahead of Michael van Gerwen in fifth. They will meet in a high-stakes quarter-final clash in Sheffield, with Premier League Darts betting odds suggesting Van Gerwen is the favourite to come out on top. An Aspinall win would see him secure the last playoff place, while Van Gerwen needs to win and keep progressing through the night.
The evening’s quarter-final lineup features league leader and the favourite to win in Sheffield, according to Premier League Darts week winner betting, Luke Littler, who takes on Stephen Bunting. World number one Luke Humphries has been matched against Rob Cross, while Gerwyn Price will play Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals.
With fourth place still to play for, this is the most important night in Premier League Darts so far. But who will bag fourth and head to London’s O2 Arena on May 29?
Quarter-Final Previews
Luke Littler vs Stephen Bunting
Luke Littler vs Stephen Bunting is the match that kicks the action off in Sheffield, and it’s a clash between two friends, with one being top of the standings and the other rock bottom of the table.
Littler, as many expected after he became world champion, has come back to Premier League Darts and shown he’s ready to defend his title after he won the tournament last year. He’s been the best player in the competition with five Nightly wins to his name, and he will finish 1st regardless of what happens in Sheffield.
It’s been a disappointing campaign for Bunting, who is set to finish last. However, he did secure a Nightly win. Expect Littler to be too strong in this one.
Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen is the big one. Aspinall is fourth and just needs to win this match to secure the final playoff place. Van Gerwen is fifth and must defeat Aspinall to keep his hopes of qualifying alive.
When the pair met at this stage of the competition last week, it was Aspinall who came out on top, winning 6-3 against MvG. So, the Asp will have the confidence to play his game against the Dutchman.
With Van Gerwen having so much to do just to keep his playoff dream alive, Aspinall could capitalise. He only needs to advance from the quarter-finals; it’s all in his hands at this stage.
Luke Humphries vs Rob Cross
Luke Humphries vs Rob Cross is essentially a nothing game on the final league night in Sheffield. Humphries, the world number one, is through to the playoffs and will finish in second place regardless of what happens against Cross or on the night.
For Cross, it’s arguably a case of what could have been. He’s second-bottom on 14 points, and even if he secured the Nightly win in Sheffield, he can’t make the playoffs. Cross, alongside Van Gerwen, is the only player to have 0 Nightly wins on his record this season.
Expect Humphries to win and to be a threat later in the competition. Cross will be disappointed with his showing in Premier League Darts this term.
Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey
Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey, like Humphries vs Cross, is another dead rubber. Price is through to the playoffs after securing 24 points, and Dobey can’t qualify due to being on 15 points. However, it should be an entertaining fixture all the same.
After Price’s night finished at the quarter-final stage last week, Dobey defeated Cross and Littler en route to the final, where he lost to Aspinall. And even though there’s nothing to play for in terms of league standing, Dobey could cause Price problems.
You’d expect Price to come through this one, but it won’t be easy, and Dobey could upset the odds once again.
The Draw
The top half of the draw, which sees the winner of Luke Littler vs Stephen Bunting take on the winner of Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen, is the most pivotal on Night 16. If Aspinall wins against Van Gerwen, what happens after doesn’t really mean much. However, if Van Gerwen wins, there’s a chance for the Dutchman, but he’d need to go all the way, which means he’d likely have to beat Littler too.
The second half of the draw will see the winners of Luke Humphries vs Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey meet in the semi-finals. Again, what happens isn’t going to have a dramatic effect. However, whoever makes it to the final could make things very interesting. You’d expect it to be Humphries vs Price in the semis.
If Van Gerwen defeats Aspinall and likely Littler in the semi-finals, he’d still need to beat likely Humphries or Price in the final to secure fourth place and the final playoff spot. It’s going to be a tough ask for the Dutchman, but he remains the most successful Premier League player of all time, and people will still take a chance on him with darts betting odds suggesting he has an outside chance of success in Sheffield.
The Playoffs
Then it’s on to London’s O2 Arena for the all-important playoffs. We know Littler, Humphries, and Price are in the mix, now we’re waiting to see who joins them. Littler is the defending champion, and he’s been the best player this season by a long stretch. So, he’s looking good where lifting the trophy for a second time in two years is concerned.
However, the likes of Humphries and Price are proven winners on the biggest of stages. They’ve been there and done it where winning competitions and trophies are concerned, and they’ll fancy their chances of winning the Premier League Darts crown and taking it away from Littler in London.
Conclusion
It’s been another excellent league phase of Premier League Darts, with BetVictor sports betting having everything covered from start to finish. As the league phase ends, it means it’s now time for the focus to switch to the playoffs, with the trophy and the prize money up for grabs. And, while you can get a feel for what to expect from the league standings, Night 16 in Sheffield could be very telling.
When Night 16 is over, fourth place and the final playoff spot will have been determined. However, we will also know which players will head into the playoffs in form. Momentum is huge in any sport, including darts, and Littler, Humphries, Price and co will want to head into May 29 at the O2 Arena in good shape.
