The 2025 BetMGM Premier League season will conclude with the Play-Offs in London on Thursday, as four of the sport’s biggest stars compete for the £275,000 top prize at The O2.
Following 16 nights of compelling action, the darting roadshow will reach a thrilling finale in front of a sold-out crowd of 14,000 fans in the capital on May 29.
Reigning champion Luke Littler is aiming to defend the title he famously lifted on debut 12 months ago, having claimed an unprecedented six nightly wins throughout the season.
World number one Luke Humphries will also headline Thursday’s star-studded cast, with former finalists Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price completing the semi-final line-up.
However, Littler remains the man to beat going into Thursday’s extravaganza, having amassed 45 points across the league phase – a new tournament record.
The World Champion recorded nightly wins in Glasgow, Brighton, Cardiff, Newcastle, Birmingham and Sheffield to secure top spot for a second straight year, and now he has further glory in his sights.
Littler is bidding to become the third player to win back-to-back Premier League titles, with Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen the only others to achieve the feat.
“That is another moment of history that I will be looking at tomorrow night”, insisted Littler, priced at 5/6 with title sponsor BetMGM to retain the title.
“It was a totally new experience for me last year. I didn’t know what to expect. This year has been absolutely fantastic, and I’m really thankful to be in this position.
“I’m really excited to be back at The O2, and hopefully I can become the third player to go back-to-back.
“I love playing on the biggest stages of them all. The last 16 weeks have been unbelievable, but tomorrow is the big one; I cannot wait to get going.”
Littler will play 2023 runner-up Price in Thursday’s opening semi-final, as the Welshman embarks on his second Play-Off appearance.
Price has enjoyed a welcome return to form in this year’s Premier League, securing a hat-trick of nightly victories, while also landing nine-dart finishes in Manchester and Aberdeen respectively.
His first nine-darter of the campaign came against Littler on Night Ten, and despite the teenager’s record-breaking exploits, Price is relishing the pair’s latest showdown.
Littler has won their two most recent meetings, although Price had won their previous six – the longest-winning run any player has enjoyed against the Warrington wonderkid.
“It really doesn’t bother me who I play. I know if I’m going to win, I have to perform at my best,” declared the 2020/21 World Champion.
“I’m just focused on myself, and if my A-game is there, then I believe I will win this title.
“I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever make the Play-Offs again. This hasn’t been the greatest tournament for me in the past, so I’m over moon to be back.
“I haven’t been ultra-consistent this year, but I’ve done enough. My frame of mind has been more positive, and my game is in a much better place as a result.”
Thursday’s second semi-final will see world number one Humphries and 2020 runner-up Aspinall go head-to-head, with both men chasing maiden Premier League success.
Humphries’ haul of nightly wins in Belfast, Exeter and Leeds guided him to a second-place finish for the second straight year, and now he’s aiming to improve upon his run to the final 12 months ago.
The 30-year-old was beaten by an inspired Littler in last year’s showpiece, but he’s confident of adding the iconic Premier League crown to his extensive haul of silverware.
“This is the big title missing from my CV, so I really want to go and lift that trophy now,” claimed 2024 runner-up Humphries.
“Overall I think it’s been another strong campaign, but it’s all about what happens tomorrow night.
“I think if you look at our previous games, Nathan seems to play well against me, and I usually perform well against him, so that’s a recipe for a great game tomorrow!
“I think this is one of the toughest tournaments to win, and if I can go all the way, it would mean so much to me.”
Aspinall, meanwhile, is featuring in the Play-Offs for the first time since 2021, having seen off seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen to secure a top four finish.
The Stockport star also overhauled Price on Night 16 to finish the league phase in third position, and his reward is a long-awaited debut at The O2.
“This will be an amazing feeling for me and my family,” admitted Aspinall, who is relishing the prospect of fulfilling a darting dream in the capital.
“It’s a really proud moment for me in my darting career, but I can’t get too emotionally attached to the occasion.
“It is a great achievement to make the final four, but I don’t want this to be the pinnacle, I want to be the winner.
“I’ve worked so hard behind the scenes to get back to this level, and I feel like I’m not far away from being back to my best.”
The 2025 BetMGM Premier League will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
2025 BetMGM Premier League
Play-Offs, London, The O2
Thursday May 29
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall
Best of 19 legs
Final
Littler/Price v Humphries/Aspinall
Best of 21 legs
BetMGM Odds
Winner Odds
5/6 Luke Littler
9/4 Luke Humphries
6/1 Gerwyn Price
11/1 Nathan Aspinall
——-ENDS——
Images: PDC
