After securing victory in Brighton, world champion Luke Humphries continued his winning streak in Nottingham, claiming another night win and ascending to the top of the Premier League standings.
Humphries triumphed over Michael Smith and Peter Wright en route to the final, where he defeated Nathan Aspinall 6-3. This triumph propelled the 29-year-old past Michael van Gerwen, who lost a gripping quarter-final to teenager Luke Littler.
However, Littler’s journey ended in the semifinals with a 6-3 defeat to fellow Englishman Aspinall.
In the final, neither Humphries nor Aspinall reached their peak performance, but it was the world number one who emerged victorious, widening the gap at the top of the table by two points. “Every point counts now,” he stated to Sky Sports, emphasizing the competitiveness of the league this season.
Reflecting on his aspirations, he expressed a desire to finish on top but acknowledged the importance of securing a spot in the top four. Meanwhile, Littler, also in his debut Premier League campaign, has shown promise with six quarter-final wins but has struggled to secure a night win, despite his impressive performance against Van Gerwen, where he narrowly missed out on a nine-dart finish.
Van Gerwen, despite displaying glimpses of his best form with an average of nearly 111, has faced three consecutive quarter-final exits after his initial three-night winning streak.
In the 2024 competition, Scot Wright secured his first victory by defeating Gerwyn Price in the decisive leg of their quarter-final match. However, he faced tough opposition from Humphries in the subsequent round and was unable to advance further.
The upcoming night eight of the league phase is scheduled to be held in Dublin on Thursday, March 21st.
Night Seven Results:
Quarter-finals:
- Peter Wright 6-5 Gerwyn Price: In a close-fought battle, Peter Wright narrowly edged out Gerwyn Price with a final score of 6-5, securing his spot in the semi-finals.
- Luke Humphries 6-4 Michael Smith: Luke Humphries showcased his skill by defeating Michael Smith with a score of 6-4, advancing to the semi-finals.
- Michael van Gerwen 2-6 Luke Littler: In a surprising upset, teenager Luke Littler stunned three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen with a dominant performance, winning 6-2 and securing his place in the semi-finals.
- Rob Cross 5-6 Nathan Aspinall: Nathan Aspinall clinched victory over Rob Cross in a tight contest, winning 6-5 and earning a spot in the semi-finals.
Semi-finals:
- Peter Wright 1-6 Luke Humphries: Luke Humphries continued his impressive form by convincingly defeating Peter Wright with a score of 6-1, advancing to the final.
- Luke Littler 3-6 Nathan Aspinall: Nathan Aspinall secured his place in the final by overcoming Luke Littler with a score of 6-3 in the semi-finals.
Final:
Luke Humphries 6-3 Nathan Aspinall: In the ultimate showdown, Luke Humphries emerged victorious over Nathan Aspinall with a score of 6-3, claiming the title for the night.
