Hello! We're back on throw.

Brilliant for Nathan Aspinall, and it isn't half bad from Luke Humphries as well.

Aspinall goes inside on double 18 for a 10-dart leg, but hits double nine with his first dart.

Humphries was waiting on 16 too.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports

Oof! Nathan is royally hanging on here.

Nathan Aspinall stays ahead throughout the leg but a wayward dart into the four when going for treble 18 opens the door.

Humphries needs 170 though, and can't land the second double 20.

Aspinall can't take out 80 though, missing two darts at double 10.

But he's allowed back as Humphries goes inside on double tops. Aspinall takes out double 10 first dart to get on the scoreboard.

Luke Humphries is complete control.

He's again well clear of Nathan Aspinall and can get away with two missed darts at double 12.

He comes back and tidies up with his first dart and holds again.

Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports

Luke Humphries is doing what he has done in his two previous meetings in the Premier League this season against Nathan Aspinall and playing top-quality stuff.

Luke Humphries is in control of this game, even at this early stage.

He's down at 69 with Nathan Aspinall up at 203.

Humphries wins the leg on double 16 for an early break.

Luke Humphries is down to a finish first as an 83 leaves him 101. Nathan Aspinall leaves 156 on the same visit.

Humphries goes inside on double 16 and that gives Aspinall a chance but that is gone after his first dart.

Humphries takes out double eight on his second dart.

Will Nathan Aspinall win his first night of the season? Or will Luke Humphries claim his third and close the gap on Luke Littler to three points?

Let's find out. Humphries gets us under way.

Another rousing rendition of Mr Brightside as Nathan Aspinall walks onto the Manchester stage.

There are a few more jeers for Luke Humphries too.

Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries have faced each other four times in 2025 and the latter is currently leading 3-1.

Three of those meetings have been in the Premier League, with Humphries leading 2-1.

Time for the final then.

Home boy Nathan Aspinall against world number one Luke Humphries.

We're hearing that Humphries has won the bullseye and will have the throw. Will that be key?

Who do you fancy do win? Thumbs up for Aspinall, thumbs down for Humphries.

Image source, PA Media

Sam Drury
BBC Sport at AO Arena

It is fair to say the hospitality area at the darts is no normal hospitality area.

Yes, there is a two-course meal and drinks flowing but you can also try your luck against professional and former professional players between courses, with their walk-on music blaring out as they walk up from their table.

Joe Cullen was on the oche while I was wandering through, Glen Durant was next up and I passed two-time world champion Adrian Lewis heading in that direction as I left.

That win means that Luke Humphries has reduced Luke Littler's lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points.

A win in the final over Nathan Aspinall would reduce it to three points.

Littler has 28 points currently though and he'll have a minimum of a 13-point lead (possibly 15 points) over the person who will finish the night in fifth. He's edging closer to confirming a play-off spot.

As Mark says, Luke Littler won't be getting that Premier League record fifth nightly win in Manchester.

He's got six weeks to do it though and you'd be brave to bet against him doing it at some stage.

He averaged 96.63 in that defeat, compared to 93.8 by Luke Humphries.

Littler's checkout percentage was way down at 19% though. He hit just 4 of 21 attempts, particularly struggling on his favourite double 10 and double 15.

Humphries was 46.2% on his checkouts.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

Littler will have to wait for that fifth nightly win.

A decent game that. Not spectacular by any means but a very high standard.

How important was leg six? Luke Littler needed double five but strayed into double 20 and ended up busting 90.

It allows Luke Humphries to come back and hit double 16 with his final dart to win the leg.

The crucial break then came in leg nine as Littler missed bullseye.

When Luke Littler needs a 180 he finds one. It gets him down to 141 but Luke Humphries is already on 127.

Humphries finds 87 to leave double tops on his next visit.

He goes inside, and the same again on double 10, but finds double five for the win.

Luke Humphries has dug incredibly deep for that win.

A slow-scoring leg but Humphries is 40 ahead after the first nine darts. Will he get the break he needs?

Littler finds a 140 to leave 146, but can only take off 58.

It leaves Humphries with a chance of 106. He gets 83 of them and Littler returns to have a crack at 88.

He misses on bullseye and Humphries comes back to tidy up on double four with his final dart.

That's the break he needed. He's now throwing for the match.

Stuart Pyke
Commentator on Sky Sports

The one thing Littler will be disapppointed at is his cover shooting.

Clinical from Luke Humphries.

He needs 85 and hits treble 15 and double tops in successive darts to draw us level again.

We're into a best-of-three.

Image source, Getty Images