In a thrilling night of Premier League Darts, Nathan Aspinall secured the final play-off spot by defeating Michael van Gerwen 6-2 in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Luke Littler, the table-topping world champion, set new records with an impressive average of over 114 and a 6-1 victory over Stephen Bunting.

Littler continued his dominance by defeating Aspinall 6-4 in the semi-finals and Luke Humphries 6-3 in the final, amassing 45 points and securing a record-extending sixth nightly win. The 18-year-old showcased his skill with checkouts of 155 and 170, achieving eight ton-plus finishes on the night.

Aspinall, who had narrowly missed qualification in the previous two seasons, expressed his relief and determination after the match. 'There was a lot of emotion as soon as I walked off stage,' he said. 'Michael didn't look himself but I thought I put in a fantastic performance under that pressure.'

Van Gerwen, a seven-time champion, faced a disappointing end to his campaign, missing out on the play-offs for only the second time in 13 years. 'This is probably one of the hardest Premier Leagues I have ever played in,' he admitted.

The play-offs, set for 29 May at the O2 Arena in London, will see Aspinall face Humphries, while Littler takes on Gerwyn Price. The semi-finals will be played over 19 legs, with the final decided in a best-of-21-legs match.

Premier League Darts Night 16 Results

• Final: Luke Littler 6-3 Luke Humphries
• Semi-finals: Luke Littler 6-4 Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries 6-2 Chris Dobey
• Quarter-finals: Gerwyn Price 5-6 Chris Dobey, Luke Humphries 6-4 Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler 6-1 Stephen Bunting

Premier League Darts - Night 17 Play-Offs Schedule

• O2 Arena, London - Thursday 29 May
  • Semi-finals: Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall (Best of 19 legs)
  • Final: Littler or Price v Humphries or Aspinall (Best of 21 legs)

How Does the Premier League Darts Work?

Every Thursday, the eight players compete in a straight knockout tournament. Each player starts at the quarter-final stage, progressing to the semi-finals and then the final. Matches are played over the best of 11 legs, with points awarded based on performance. The top four players at the end of night 16 qualify for the final play-offs.