PDC Premier League Darts Night Five Preview as Brighton Awaits

On Night Five of the BetMGM Premier League in Brighton, Luke Humphries and Rob Cross will rekindle their rivalry as Humphries looks to win three straight nights this season.

With two consecutive victories in Belfast and Exeter, as well as a second-place finish on Night Two in Glasgow, world number one Humphries has had an incredible start to the season.

After defeating the teenager for the first time in the Premier League last week in the Night Four final, the 30-year-old now leads his nearest rival, Luke Littler, by seven points at the top of the standings.

On his way to triumph in Exeter, Humphries also defeated Gerwyn Price and Cross, denying Cross in a thrilling semi-final battle with a hat-trick of ton-plus checkouts.

Humphries is keen to improve on his stellar start to the league phase against the Hastings-born sensation as they square off for the second consecutive week at The Brighton Centre.

“To be on 15 points after four nights is fantastic, but there’s still a long way to go,” claimed Humphries, who celebrated a nightly victory in Brighton 12 months ago.

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season, but I’m going to make sure I don’t relax and think I’m almost there [in the top four], because that is when it starts to affect you.

“I can take great confidence from last week into Brighton, but I have to keep working hard to try and pick up those nightly wins!”

Following his incredible victory in the UK Open on Sunday, reigning champion Littler will likewise be the main attraction on Thursday on the South Coast.

In addition to smashing a record-high 47 maximums in his six matches, Littler’s tournament average of 104.35 helped him win the Minehead title.

The 18-year-old, who is hoping to end a skid of three straight losses after making it to the Night One spectacular, will take on Chris Dobey in the evening’s second quarterfinal.

“I just want to win as much as I possibly can,” declared Littler, who claimed the Night Two spoils in Glasgow last month.

“I know where my best game is at and it was certainly there last weekend; it meant the world to win the UK Open.

“I’m very happy with the way I played throughout the weekend, but now it’s full focus on the Premier League.”

Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price are currently ranked third and fourth, respectively, going into Night Five. They will square off in an exciting match to begin Thursday’s action.

Price’s triumph on the PDC ProTour last month earned him his first ranking crown since November 2023, and his nighttime victory in Dublin two weeks ago marked a welcome return to form.

Van Gerwen, meantime, began his career with three appearances in the semi-finals, but that run came to an end when he lost to Cross in the deciding leg of the Night Four quarterfinals.

Nathan Aspinall will face Stephen Bunting in the other quarterfinal match of the evening. Bunting is eager to get going after losing four straight quarterfinals.

Aspinall is just one point adrift of the Play-Off places after picking up five points in the last two weeks, and the Stockport star maintained his return to form with a quarter-final showing at the UK Open.

Bunting has registered ton-plus averages in his previous two outings against Humphries and Littler, although the Liverpudlian remains three points adrift of Dobey, who occupies seventh position in the table.

PDC Premier League Darts Night Five Preview as Brighton Awaits 

Night Five – Thursday March 6

The Brighton Centre

Quarter-Finals

Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen

Luke Littler v Chris Dobey

Rob Cross v Luke Humphries

Stephen Bunting v Nathan Aspinall

Semi-Finals

Price/Van Gerwen v Littler/Dobey

Cross/Humphries v Bunting/Aspinall

Final

v

All matches best of 11 legs