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Schedule Premier League Darts 2025: Play-off fight heads to Leeds as Van Gerwen faces Humphries

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated May 8, 2025 9:23 AM ET

We are nearing the end of the Premier League Darts. Thursday night it is already time for the fourteenth round of play of this prestigious darts competition. Chances are that some decisions regarding the playoffs will already be made tonight.

The cream of darts is visiting Leeds this time, a city in the north of England. A home match for world number one Luke Humphries as such. As he often remarks he was named Luke as a homage to Leeds United Kings (of) Europe. His attendance song I Predict a Riot is also the anthem of Leeds United supporters sang by Kaiser Chiefs also from the city.
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This city has been part of the lineup since 2014, making it one of the most recently added playing venues. Of the current field of participants, Michael van Gerwen is the only player who was part of the lineup back then.

In the past three editions, we got a different weekly winner in Leeds each time. Michael van Gerwen was the best in 2022, and only had to play two matches to do so. Due to a cancellation of Gary Anderson, 'Mighty Mike' was directly admitted to the semifinals, where he was 6-3 too strong for Peter Wright. He then triumphed 6-1 against James Wade in the final.

A year later, Michael Smith was the best in Leeds. 'Bullyboy' then dealt with Chris Dobey (6-1), Peter Wright (6-2) and Gerwyn Price (6-4). Luke Humphries fully lived up to his home advantage in 2024 by beating Rob Cross (6-1), Michael Smith (6-1 and Michael van Gerwen (6-5) in front of his own crowd.

Rob Cross v Gerwyn Price

For Rob Cross, it is the last chance to still have a realistic chance of making it to the playoffs. 'Voltage' needs to reach at least the final in Leeds, actually even win the evening to get back into contention. With 14 points, Cross is six points behind the top four.

Gerwyn Price is in much better shape. Two weeks back in Liverpool, 'The Iceman' won his third night of the season, and last week Price made it to the semifinals in Birmingham. Currently, the Welshman is in third place with 22 points. Price is far from there yet, but does have the advantage of a relatively easier schedule than the two players behind him. A win over Cross would mean that he cannot be caught up by the 2018 world champion.

It will be the fourth showdown between the two former world champions in this Premier League. Cross won the first two, but the last came to Price's credit. The former rugby player leads 15-13 in the overall head-to-head.

Nathan Aspinall v Luke Littler

Just like last week in Birmingham, Nathan Aspinall and Luke Littler face each other. Then it was another semi-final, in which 'The Asp' let a 5-4 lead slip out of his hands. With that, Aspinall lost a precious point in the battle for the playoffs, as the Englishman lost his spot in the top four to Michael van Gerwen. Aspinall still has Littler to thank for the fact that 'The Nuke' managed to beat the Dutchman in the final last week.

With his win over Van Gerwen last week, Littler took his fifth weekly title of the league. A record, as never before has a player won five weekly titles in one Premier League season. Littler now has one more goal left, as he wants to break the points record in the league.

That currently stands at forty, while Littler currently has 35 points behind his name. With that point total, the English teenage sensation has become the first player to secure participation in the playoffs. Moreover, with a title at Leeds, Littler can also assure himself of first place in the final standings.

Meanwhile, Aspinall has a dramatic record against his young compatriot. Of the previous thirteen encounters, the darter from Stockport won only one. This Premier League the balance is 4-0 in Littler's favor, with a leg difference of 24 to 13.

Michael van Gerwen v Luke Humphries

Michael van Gerwen was in the weekly final last week for the second time this competition, but just like earlier in Cardiff, Van Gerwen had to settle for second place. However, he did pick up three important points in the battle for the playoffs, now passing Nathan Aspinall in the standings. Considering the fact that Aspinall plays Luke Littler, Van Gerwen can take a huge step towards the playoffs with a win over Luke Humphries. Especially since Van Gerwen and Aspinall will face each other next week, and possibly the week after as well. The bigger the margin, the more pressure will be taken off.

Luke Humphries lost his opening match against Gerwyn Price last week in Birmingham, and that led to 'Cool Hand Luke' almost completely losing out on first place. With three rounds of play remaining and a nine-point deficit, that's almost an impossible task. However, the world number one's real goal is to make it to the final night, and Humphries has nearly fulfilled that task. If the results fall his way Thursday night, Humphries could even secure a ticket to the playoffs on Thursday night.

In the mutual balance it is now completely equal between the numbers one and three of the world. Van Gerwen once led 13-5 in the head-to-head, but now the score is 15-15. Two of the three showdowns in this Premier League were victorious for Humphries.

Stephen Bunting v Chris Dobey

Mathematically, Stephen Bunting is not yet eliminated, but 'The Bullet' needs three weekly titles and some luck with the other results to still make the playoffs. With eight points, he is currently 12 points behind the top four. It will also be a tough story for Chris Dobey, as he has eight points to make up in the remaining three rounds of play.

In the past two rounds of play, both Englishmen had to return home with zero points, while before that they showed some nice things. In the ninth week Bunting surprisingly took the weekly title in Berlin, and two weeks later Chris Dobey took the title in Rotterdam. That was at the expense of Bunting, who beat 'Hollywood' 6-2.

That final in Rotterdam was the second time Bunting and Dobey met in this Premier League, and the first meeting was also won by Dobey. The darter from Bedlington usually performs well against Bunting anyway, as fourteen of the eighteen duels between them have been won by Dobey.

Winner's bonus of £10,000

A unique aspect of the Premier League is that a separate tournament is played each week of play, with the winner receiving an additional £10,000. This means that a player who manages to win multiple weeks of play can boost his prize money considerably. Since the league lasts for 16 weeks, an additional total of £160,000 can be distributed to the winners of these nights of play.

With performances, players also earn points toward the Premier League standings. The winner of a weekly tournament receives five points, while the losing finalist takes home three points. Semi-finalists keep two points and players who lose their opening match go home scoreless.

Format

Tournament Phase

Quarterfinals/Semi-Finals/Finals: Best of 11 legs

Playoffs

Semifinals: Best of 19 legs

Final: Best of 21 legs

TV Guide

Thanks to Viaplay, you don't have to miss a single darts moment. Every Thursday night starting at 7 p.m., the channel will bring you the matches live, including extensive analysis and interviews with the main players.

The broadcasts usually last until midnight, allowing you to enjoy a full evening of pure entertainment and top-level darts at the highest level.

Distribution of prize money

With a total prize pool of £1,000,000, the eight contestants are competing not only for the title, but also for a substantial amount of money. All participants are guaranteed £60,000 in prize money. This eventually rises to the top prize of £275,000 for the winner.

However, players can also win a bonus each week. For every winner of a mini-tournament during the league phase, a sum of £10,000 is up for grabs.