The Asp wins his first night of the new campaign, and Van Gerwen’s nine-game winning streak ends. Aspinall climbs to fourth in the 2024 BetMGM Premier League Table.

It was a night filled with memorable moments, such as massive checkouts, thrilling last leg deciders, and brutal beatings.

At the end of it all, Mighty Mikes lead stands at six points after five nights.

The Stockport Star shines brightest in Exeter

The World Matchplay Champion, Nathan Aspinall surged ahead by five legs and nailed his second 160 checkout of the evening in Leg 5, with Voltage left on 16.

Following that, the Premier League runner-up from 2019 answered with two of his own legs. Pinning a sublime 121 finish in the process on the bullseye.

In leg eight, Aspinall sealed the deal on double tops, so even with Rob Cross’s late revival, it was too little, too late.

After two finals in as many weeks, Aspinall’s turn to win an evening came. A week after his defeat at the hands of Michael Van Gerwen in Newcastle.

Both had won two earlier matches in the evening to secure their spot in the final. Aspinall began the night by defeating Peter Wright in the Snaky showdown, while Snake Bite failed 12 of his 16 double attempts across the ten legs. Aspinall pinned D18, to secure his place in the semifinals.

The Asp clinched his spot in the finals in a last-leg shootout against World Number One Luke Humphries, a position he would not have anticipated to be in after leading 5-1 after six legs. Despite allowing Humphries to force a last-leg tiebreaker, he silenced doubters by checking out 160 to advance.

Rob Cross’ night began perfectly, winning five consecutive legs to lead against the Iceman. However, a late 160 from Wales’ No. 1 stalled the inevitable, but ultimately Cross advanced to the semifinals with an average of almost 110.

Cross then faced wonder-kid Luke Littler, hoping to exact retribution for their meeting at the World Championship Semi-Finals. Littler missed three consecutive attempts to pin 20 after failing to pin a second double tops for a 95 checkout in the game’s last leg. Cross eventually nailed D2 to guarantee his place in the night’s final.

The Rundown elsewhere

While the Nuke did not make the final, he did cut the distance with the league leader, Michael van Gerwen, as he sought to solidify his position in the playoffs.

For the third week in a row, the Bully Boy failed to go beyond the Quarter Finals after losing to Luke Littler, despite averaging an incredible 101.64.

The wait for Peter Wright’s first points of the new season has now stretched to five weeks after he was defeated by Nathan Aspinall, the eventual winner of the night. He displayed signs of his previous self by nailing a stunning 156 checkout and three 180s throughout the ten legs.

Michael van Gerwen was eliminated in the quarterfinals after being comfortably defeated by the 2023 World Champion. It was a lacklustre performance from the league leader, as he failed to hit a 180 and only had five chances at a double across the nine legs.

The 2024 BetMGM Premier League Darts returns next Thursday in Brighton.

2024 BetMGM Premier League Darts Night Five Results

WestPoint, Exeter

Thursday 29th February

Final

Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Rob Cross

Semi Finals

Rob Cross 6-3 Luke Littler

Luke Humphries 5-6 Nathan Aspinall

Quarter Finals

Luke Littler 6-2 Michael Smith

Gerwyn Price 1-6 Rob Cross

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Peter Wright

Luke Humphries 6-3 Michael van Gerwen