‘Cool Hand’ Reigns in Leeds Again: Humphries Defeats Littler to Claim Night 14 Glory
- Darts Central
- May 9
- 7 min read
Night 14 of the 2025 BetMGM Premier League saw another dramatic night of action, as Luke Humphries claimed his second consecutive Leeds title, nailing down his spot at finals night. Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price also secured his spot at the O2, while Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall now battle for the final spot with two nights left.
Quarter-Final 1: Gerwyn Price 6-5 Rob Cross
‘Voltage’ edged ahead early with back-to-back 18-darters, capitalising on a scrappy start from Price, who struggled on the outer ring and quickly found himself 2-0 down.
But the Welshman rallied superbly, reeling off three consecutive legs to move into a 3-2 lead. However, his ongoing double trouble cost him again, as Cross responded instantly with a 14-darter to level at 3-3.
The next four legs all went with throw, with few chances to break, though Price did fire in a superb 112 checkout to make it 4-4, and later produced a runaway 12-darter to level again at 5-5.
In a tense deciding leg, both players scored well, but despite having the throw, Cross missed two match darts. Price seized his chance and coolly cleaned up 48 in two darts for a brilliant 14-dart break, snatching a vital two points in a dramatic encounter.
Match Stats:
Price: 94.16 average, 2x 180s, Checkout %: 30% (6/20)
Cross: 88.76 average, 3x 180s, Checkout %: 26.32% (5/19)
Quarter-Final 2: Luke Littler 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Both players came out scoring superbly and held throw with ease through the opening four legs, locked at 2-2. Littler then edged ahead with a 15-dart break to make it 3-2, ending the early deadlock.
Aspinall hit back in style with a sensational 164 checkout to break straight back, then followed it with a 15-darter featuring a 112 finish to move 4-3 in front, stunning Littler.
However, five missed darts at double from Aspinall let Littler off the hook, and the 18-year-old scraped through a scrappy 20-darter to level at 4-4. Four more missed doubles from Aspinall in the next leg proved costly, and Littler capitalised with a 16-darter to regain the lead at 5-4. He then closed out the match on throw with an 18-darter, as Aspinall's earlier misses came back to haunt him.
Littler, already assured of his place at the O2, continued his strong form and clearly enjoyed himself on stage, bantering with the Leeds crowd and once again getting the better of Aspinall.
Match Stats:
Littler: 91.41 average, 1x 180, Checkout %: 42.86% (6/14)
Aspinall: 95.81 average, 2x 180s, Checkout %: 28.57% (4/14)
Quarter-Final 3: Luke Humphries 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
‘Cool Hand’ edged ahead 2-1 after the opening three legs all went with throw, both players settling in quickly. Humphries then struck the first blow with a 15-dart break to lead 3-1, but Van Gerwen responded instantly, firing in a 15-darter of his own to break back and reduce the gap to 3-2.
MvG then held in 18 darts to level at 3-3, kicking off a run of four consecutive holds as both men maintained a strong standard on throw. That left Humphries 5-4 in front, without either player really threatening a break during that stretch.
Humphries nearly clinched it in spectacular fashion with a double-double 129 checkout, just missing double 18. Van Gerwen, though, couldn’t take advantage, missing two darts to force a decider, and Humphries punished him with a clinical 13-darter, pinning double 18 with his first dart to seal the win and roar in celebration.
Match Stats:
Humphries: 98.89 average, 4x 180s, Checkout %: 37.5% (6/16)
MvG: 92.08 average, 2x 180s, Checkout %: 57.14% (4/7)
Quarter-Final 4: Stephen Bunting 6-5 Chris Dobey
The match was level at 2-2 early on, though Bunting missed multiple darts at double in leg three that could have given him the early break and a chance to seize control.
Instead, ‘Hollywood’ hit top gear, producing back-to-back 16-dart holds either side of a superb 11-dart break to reel off three straight legs and storm into a 5-2 lead, denying Bunting a single dart at double in that blistering spell.
But Bunting dug deep and mounted a sensational comeback, rattling off legs of 16, 15, and 14 darts to level at 5-5. Dobey had just one match dart, narrowly missing double 12 for a 144 finish in leg nine. He then left 40 after 12 darts in the decider, but ‘The Bullet’ produced a stunning 121 checkout on the bull to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and leave Dobey shell-shocked.
Match Stats:
Bunting: 97.46 average, 4x 180s, Checkout %: 40% (6/15)
Dobey: 99.43 average, 4x 180s, Checkout %: 50% (5/10)
Semi-Final 1: Luke Littler 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Price made a flying start, firing in a 12-dart break with a 135 finish, followed by a steady 17-dart hold to move 2-0 ahead and put Littler on the back foot early.
But ‘The Nuke’ soon exploded into life, stringing together legs of 13, 15, and a sensational 12-darter featuring a 153 checkout to turn the tie on its head and take a 3-2 lead. Price briefly stopped the rot with a classy 120 checkout to level at 3-3.
Littler then responded with a 14-dart hold before Price faltered on the doubles in leg eight, missing five darts to level, and Littler took full advantage with an 18-dart break to move 5-3 ahead. He wrapped things up in spectacular fashion, delivering an 11-dart leg to seal a 6-3 win and complete a commanding turnaround.
Match Stats:
Littler: 104.29 average, 2x 180s, Checkout %: 54.55% (6/11)
Price: 97.82 average, 2x 180s, Checkout %: 33.33% (3/9)
Semi-Final 2: Luke Humphries 6-4 Stephen Bunting
The opening six legs all went with throw, but Bunting was left to rue missed opportunities, squandering darts at double in each of the three legs Humphries held, leaving the score tied at 3-3.
More frustration followed for ‘The Bullet’ in leg seven, as another missed dart to break allowed Humphries to survive once again and edge ahead at 4-3.
Despite being under pressure throughout, it was Humphries who landed the first break of the match, taking out 87 on the bull for a composed 15-darter to move 5-3 in front.
Bunting finally got a deserved break of his own in leg nine with a 16-dart leg after Humphries missed a match dart. But he couldn’t force a decider, wiring double 16 for a 109 finish, and ‘Cool Hand’ stepped in to take out 56 in two darts and close out a scrappy but hard-fought 6-4 win.
Match Stats:
Humphries: 91.94 average, 1x 180, Checkout %: 40% (6/15)
Bunting: 95.70 average, 2x 180s, Checkout %: 21.05% (4/19)
🏆 The Final: Luke Humphries 6-5 Luke Littler
Littler stormed into an early 2-0 lead with two contrasting legs, a scrappy 20-dart hold followed by a brilliant 12-dart break, capped with an eye-catching 96 checkout via double 19, double 19.
‘Cool Hand’ responded emphatically, firing in a 12-dart break and a 14-dart hold to level at 2-2. A messy fifth leg saw both miss multiple darts at double before Humphries pinched it on double 1 for an 18-dart break and a 3-2 lead.
Littler struck back with a sublime 11-dart break to make it 3-3, but the momentum shifted again as Humphries produced a 13-dart break followed by a composed 15-dart hold to move within a leg of victory at 5-3.
‘The Nuke’ wasn’t done, though, responding with a 14-dart hold and then punishing a missed match dart at bull from Humphries with a brilliant 11-dart break, finishing 87 with precision to take the final to a decider.
In a dramatic final leg, Littler narrowly missed the bull for a 124 checkout that would have completed the comeback. Humphries, having left 52 after a strong scoring leg, held his nerve and found double 10 with his final dart to clinch a thrilling 6-5 win.
Match Stats:
Humphries: 100.96 average, 5x 180s, Checkout %: 46.15% (6/13)
Littler: 99.89 average, 5x 180s, Checkout %: 45.45% (5/11)
📊Updated Premier League Table After Night 14
Luke Littler maintained his position at the top of the table after reaching his eighth final in 14 weeks. Despite defeat in the decider, he stays in 1st place on 38 points.
Luke Humphries, who claimed the Night 14 title, closed the gap slightly and now sits seven points behind with two nights remaining, both players have now officially booked their spots at Finals Night at the O2.
Gerwyn Price also sealed his qualification for the final four. His quarter-final win over Rob Cross, coupled with other results, confirmed his place in London, where he’ll aim to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time.
The final play-off place will now be contested between Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall, who crucially face each other on Night 15. Both suffered quarter-final exits in Leeds and will be desperate to respond with just two nights to go.
Rob Cross and Chris Dobey both suffered heartbreaking last-leg defeats in their openers, which effectively ended their slim hopes of reaching the top four. Meanwhile, despite Stephen Bunting’s win over Dobey in the quarter-finals, he is now mathematically eliminated from the play-off race.
Position | Name | Nights Won | Leg Difference | Points |
1st | Luke Littler | 5 | +45 | 38 |
2nd | Luke Humphries | 3 | +18 | 31 |
3rd | Gerwyn Price | 3 | +10 | 24 |
4th | Michael van Gerwen | 0 | -10 | 20 |
5th | Nathan Aspinall | 1 | -7 | 19 |
6th | Rob Cross | 0 | -14 | 14 |
7th | Chris Dobey | 1 | -14 | 12 |
8th | Stephen Bunting | 1 | -33 | 10 |
Night 15 Fixtures: Thursday, 15th May
P&J Live, Aberdeen
Quarter-Finals:
Michael van Gerwen v Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey v Rob Cross
Luke Littler v Luke Humphries
Closing Thoughts
🏆 Humphries Triumphs in Leeds Again: Luke Humphries, a dedicated Leeds United fan and the current world number one, claimed the Leeds night of the Premier League for the second consecutive year. After last season’s victory, he bagged another £10,000 winners' bonus and, most importantly, secured his spot at Finals Night.
🏴 Price secures place at O2: Gerwyn Price made sure of his place at the O2 for the second time in his career. His crucial opening game win over Rob Cross earned him two points, locking in his spot for Finals Night. Price previously reached the final in 2023, where he finished as runner-up after an impressive run to the top of the league phase.
🐍 Aspinall Stumbles Against Littler Again: Nathan Aspinall’s frustrating record against Luke Littler continued as he lost yet again, this time from a commanding position. Despite Littler underperforming by his usual high standards, Aspinall was unable to capitalise on the opportunity. This defeat marked his 13th loss in 14 meetings against Littler, keeping him outside the play-off spots in 5th place.
Upcoming Tournaments:
Players Championship 15:
May 12th at Halle 39, Hildesheim (Live on PDC.tv)
Players Championship 16:
May 13th at Halle 39, Hildesheim (Live on PDC.tv)
Premier League Night 15:
May 15th at P&J Live, Aberdeen (Live on Sky Sports)
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