Summary

  • Brilliant Humphries wins for third night in a row

  • World champion hammers Smith 6-2 in final

  • Humphries seven points clear at top of table

  • Smith beats below-par Littler 6-4 in first round

  1. Postpublished at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Van Gerwen v Price

    Vanilla Ice is played out over the PA system in Dublin, which means only one thing - Gerwyn Price is on his way to the stage.

    He gets a decent ovation from the crowd, including from a couple of fans dressed as daffodils.

    Michael van Gerwen, meanwhile, looks in determined mood during his walk-on. He really could do with a win.

  2. Postpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price

    Michael van Gerwen, speaking to Sky Sports: "You can see how strong the Premier League is. Every game is a final, you need to treat every game is a big one. Tonight my first game against Gezzy is not going to be any different."

    Gerwyn Price, speaking to Sky Sports: "I know I'm playing well, I'm just gifting people opportunities and matches. That will change, whether it's in the Premier League or when it finishes. Hopefully I can get to the play-offs, but if not I'll look forward to the back end of the season."

  3. Quarter-final #3published at 20:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Van Gerwen v Price

    Graphic showing Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price

    Our third quarter-final in Dublin is a repeat of last year’s final, which was won by Michael van Gerwen.

    The seven-time Premier League champion won nights two, three and four to establish an eight-point lead at the top of the table - but the Dutchman has since lost three quarter-finals in a row.

    Four successive quarter-final exits have left Gerwyn Price six points adrift of the top four and he is another player in desperate need of some points to reinvigorate his Premier League challenge.

  4. Cross' unwanted recordpublished at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 6-5 Cross

    Rob Cross must be fed up of Nathan Aspinall in this year's Premier League Darts.

    In four meetings, Aspinall has come out on top in all four and although the game ebbed and flowed, it felt like Aspinall was always the more likely to come out on top, despite his double-one scare in the final leg.

    Aspinall is now guaranteed to be on at least 13 points after tonight, moving him two clear of Cross.

  5. Aspinall beats Cross in final-leg thriller!published at 20:06 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March
    Breaking

    Result: Aspinall 6-5 Cross

    AspinallImage source, Getty Images

    It's another tight game, but Aspinall makes his advantage on the throw count.

    With 98 to checkout, Aspinall misses the double 19 with his second dart, hits 17 with the last and realises he had left himself double one to win.

    Cross' only chance is to take out 136 in response, but he does not find the treble with any of his three darts.

    Despite the panic, Aspinall finds double one and clinches the victory. A second 6-5 win for Aspinall over Cross in as many weeks means he will face Luke Humphries in tonight's first semi-final.

  6. Postpublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 5-5 Cross

    We're going to a last leg!

    Brilliantly tense stuff. Cross on 142 leaves himself three darts at double six.

    Aspinall attempts to checkout 156 in response. The first dart is perfect, the second strays into five and gives Cross his three darts at double six.

    He needs all three, but takes the third.

    5-5 going into the last!

  7. Postpublished at 20:02 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 5-4 Cross

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    CrossImage source, Getty Images

    There's speedsters and flashy players but these two are neither. They just play brilliant darts. They work hard and get their rewards.

  8. Postpublished at 20:02 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 5-4 Cross

    Cross is on Aspinall's heels, but Asp remains calm, a very clever 129 leaves him with three darts at double 16 to go 5-4 up.

    With Cross on 120, Aspinall knew he had to take it out and does so with just one dart. 5-4.

  9. Postpublished at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 4-4 Cross

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    It's getting to the point where a trebleless visit could be punished to the hilt and there is no coming back.

  10. Postpublished at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 4-4 Cross

    Despite how it's appeared, it is Cross whose average is higher. His 102 to Aspinall's 97.

    Aspinall has had the better checkouts and the most maximums, but Cross is not going away.

    Leaves himself three darts at tops and only one is required to make it 4-4.

    Another tight match between these two.

  11. Postpublished at 19:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 4-3 Cross

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    I thought he'd be cheeky and not go for it to antagonise Rob, but he wanted to get the job done.

  12. Postpublished at 19:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 4-3 Cross

    Aspinall showing his best with back-to-back 180s in leg seven, having only hit one in the first six legs.

    He then checks out 81 in unusual fashion, 19, 12 and a squirmed dart in the corner of the bullseye to go 4-3 up.

  13. Postpublished at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 3-3 Cross

    Cross, on his throw, makes poor work of checking out 89, but missed darts from Aspinall gives Cross three darts at double 16 to level up.

    Cross only needs one of them. Back on track, 3-3.

  14. Postpublished at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 3-2 Cross

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    AspinallImage source, Getty Images

    This game feels like it has taken off.

  15. Postpublished at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 3-2 Cross

    Aspinall looked a bit shaky at the end of the fourth leg, but he doesn't let that faze him in leg five.

    Standard now better from both players and Aspinall takes out 122 brilliantly, ending on double seven to make it 3-2.

    This now feels like the competitive game we were expecting.

  16. Postpublished at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 2-2 Cross

    Mark Webster
    Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

    This is where Nathan has to keep himself together. He should be 4-0 up!

  17. Postpublished at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 2-2 Cross

    Rob CrossImage source, Getty Images

    Almost a superb checkout from Cross, a dart away from taking out 152 to make it 2-2.

    Two perfect treble 20s but falls short on double 16.

    Aspinall then has the chance to take out 58, but he fails do so.

    Cross finds double eight to level it up.

  18. Postpublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 2-1 Cross

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    Rob's not found his scoring boots - he's not finding the trebles he'd like. That's why Nathan has dominated a few of these legs.

  19. Postpublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 2-1 Cross

    Aspinall looks to take control of the game and has the chance to go 3-0 up in this match.

    With three darts to check-out 40, Aspinall misses tops and double 10, allowing Cross the chance to pull a leg back.

    He does just that. A 70 check-out makes it 2-1.

  20. Postpublished at 19:48 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March

    Aspinall 2-0 Cross

    Wayne Mardle
    Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

    What a nick - if you lose a leg like that, you think 'what happened?!'