Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

The drip effect of points [is important] and that's what Rob Cross has been doing. Winning quarter-finals is what he's been doing, he's not won a night and yet he's on the same number of points as Gerwyn Price.

A big game for him tonight because Price will get those two points and we know that if Luke Humphries plays well, he normally wins.

But Rob is someone that if you're off it against, you'll lose. He's so solid.

Image source, PA Media

Luke Humphries ended a run of three successive Premier League losses by reaching the final in Newcastle, but it finished in chastening fashion as the world number one was beaten 6-1 by Luke Littler.

Humphries does have two night wins so far and a third in Germany would put him in a fine position to qualify for the play-offs.

Rob Cross, meanwhile, could do with racking up a couple more wins tonight, following his semi-final defeat by Littler last time out, as he aims to move from the crowded mid-table into the top four.

Stephen Bunting looked a little emotional there as he shared an embrace with Nathan Aspinall. After eight successive defeats, the Bullet finally finds his target.

He will face the winner of Luke Humphries v Rob Cross, who will take to the stage for their quarter-final imminently.

Image source, PA Media

He makes it!

Stephen Bunting wins in the Premier League for the first time since 2015.

...Bunting can't find the checkout. Aspinall needs 156 to stay alive.

He hits 140, so pressure on Bunting to hit D8 here...

Both men have averaged more than 100 so far. They have scored well, but only one of them has finished well.

A 180 from Bunting puts him in control of the leg. He needs a 121 checkout to win this match...

Nathan Aspinall gives a proper fist pump after his fifth 180 to start leg seven. He's clearly not happy with his performance tonight.

Stephen Bunting needs this leg to keep Aspinall at arm's length, here with an 81 checkout... he does it.

Bunting is one leg from a much-needed victory.

Both men are finding the big scores now, each recording a maximum to start leg six. Neither can build further though.

Aspinall badly needs to hold this throw, and he gets to a 124 finish first. But he's wayward on the finish yet again, leaving Bunting 91 to check out.

Bunting can't, so now Aspinall has three shots at D16. He lands in the single 16, but then finds D8 and gives a half-hearted fist pump of celebration.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

The smile on his face, the engagement with the crowd - his head and his shoulders have been down a little bit [in previous weeks], almost like he was feeling a little embarrassed.

He wants to do it for the crowd, for his family and friends and he's doing exactly that at the moment.

The real Stephen Bunting is standing up tonight, he throws 180 to kick off leg five.

His second visit - T20, T20... narrowly misses the treble! A nine-darter briefly looked on there.

Bunting gets to a 41 finish with Aspinall nowhere, and sees it out. He's two legs from finally winning a Premier League match in 2025.

A third 180 of the match already for Nathan Aspinall to take command of leg four. That briefly lifts his average over 100, before a 60 drops him back.

Bunting however finds his first maximum, and gets to a finish first with 161 - nowhere near.

So Aspinall can hold with 112 - he's just inside the double! That leaves Bunting needing 72 to steal, and he does so with D8.

Advantage Bunting.

Stephen Bunting is racking up 60s and 100s but nothing huge so far. A steady start from the man from St Helens.

He finds a 140 at the right time through to set up a 42 checkout - but misses twice at D16.

That leaves Aspinall needing 138, and he can't make it. So Bunting needs D8 - and he finds it.

Image source, PA Media

Nathan Aspinall is scoring big here, three 140s in a row in leg two, and his finishing is better with a checkout of 81.

Aspinall looks in fine fettle here.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

A wry smile from Nathan Aspinall, and Stephen Bunting will be feeling like a million dollars after that.

Bunting opens with 100 - then Aspinall throws the first 180 of the night immediately!

He narrowly misses T20 with his fourth dart to boos from what sounds like a very rowdy crowd in Berlin. Aspinall grins and gestures to the fans.

Aspinall throws a second max of the leg to set up a 41 checkout for an immediate break, but can't take it with two misses at double.

It leaves Bunting needing 108 to checkout, but he's well off target - then Aspinall busts!

Bunting checks out with double top to hold throw. Enough drama for a night in the very first leg.

Here we go, first to six legs wins. Let's hope it's a good one.

Stephen Bunting throws first.

In terms of walk-on music, this was quite a duel - Mr Brightside for Aspinall versus Titanium for Bunting.

It's like the best wedding DJ playlist.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Bunting has just got to relax. He's won far more than 99% of the players, he's a former world champion and he's won the Masters.

This is his second tilt at the Premier League and it's not going well, that's all, but he's playing alright.

Image source, PA Media

It has been a very difficult Premier League Darts campaign so far for Stephen Bunting.

The world number five has lost in the first round of all eight Premier League nights so far in 2025. Last time out in Newcastle, he was hammered 6-0 by Luke Littler.

His first-round opponent tonight, Nathan Aspinall, is in good form too after registering the highest checkout in Newcastle - 142 - and narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

Can the Bullet finally hit his target this evening?

We'll be under way shortly with the first match of the night, between Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting.

The TV coverage has just shown Bunting throwing a nine-darter in the practice room. He could really do with bringing that form out on stage tonight.