The O2 awaits as the Premier League Playoffs as the top four go head to head for the title

Four of the biggest names in sports will compete for the £275,000 top prize at The O2 on Thursday as the 2025 BetMGM Premier League season comes to a close with the Play-Offs in London.

The darting roadshow will culminate in an exciting conclusion on May 29 in front of a sold-out audience of 14,000 fans in the capital after 16 nights of gripping action.

After claiming an unprecedented six consecutive victories during the season, reigning champion Luke Littler is hoping to defend the crown he famously lifted on debut a year ago.

Former finalists Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price round out the semi-final lineup, with world number one Luke Humphries serving as Thursday’s star.

But with 45 points in the league phase, a new tournament record, Littler is still the man to beat heading into Thursday’s spectacle.

The World Champion secured the top spot for a second consecutive year with nightly victories in Glasgow, Brighton, Cardiff, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Sheffield. He now has more glory in his sights.

Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen are the only two players to have won back-to-back Premier League titles, and Littler is attempting to become the third.

“That is another moment of history that I will be looking at tomorrow night”, insisted Littler, priced at 5/6 with title sponsor BetMGM to retain the title.

“It was a totally new experience for me last year. I didn’t know what to expect. This year has been absolutely fantastic, and I’m really thankful to be in this position.

“I’m really excited to be back at The O2, and hopefully I can become the third player to go back-to-back.

“I love playing on the biggest stages of them all. The last 16 weeks have been unbelievable, but tomorrow is the big one; I cannot wait to get going.”

Littler, who is making his second appearance in the Play-Offs, will face 2023 runner-up Price in Thursday’s first semi-final.

With a hat-trick of nighttime wins and nine-dart finishes in Manchester and Aberdeen, respectively, Price has had a welcome comeback to form in the Premier League this year.

Despite Littler’s record-breaking achievements, Price is enjoying their most recent matchup. He had his first nine-darter of the campaign against Littler on Night Ten.

Price had won their previous six encounters, the longest winning streak any player has had against the Warrington wonderkid, but Littler has won their last two.

“It really doesn’t bother me who I play. I know if I’m going to win, I have to perform at my best,” declared the 2020/21 World Champion.

“I’m just focused on myself, and if my A-game is there, then I believe I will win this title.

“I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever make the Play-Offs again. This hasn’t been the greatest tournament for me in the past, so I’m over moon to be back.

“I haven’t been ultra-consistent this year, but I’ve done enough. My frame of mind has been more positive, and my game is in a much better place as a result.”

World No. 1 Humphries and 2020 runner-up Aspinall will face off in Thursday’s second semi-final as both men aim to win the Premier League for the first time.

Humphries finished in second position for the second consecutive year thanks to his string of nightly victories in Leeds, Exeter, and Belfast. Now, he wants to build on his run to the final a year ago.

The 30-year-old is certain of gaining the coveted Premier League title to his long list of accolades, despite losing to an inspired Littler in last year’s championship match.

“This is the big title missing from my CV, so I really want to go and lift that trophy now,” claimed 2024 runner-up Humphries.

“Overall I think it’s been another strong campaign, but it’s all about what happens tomorrow night.

“I think if you look at our previous games, Nathan seems to play well against me, and I usually perform well against him, so that’s a recipe for a great game tomorrow!

“I think this is one of the toughest tournaments to win, and if I can go all the way, it would mean so much to me.”

Aspinall, meanwhile, defeated seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen to guarantee a top four finish and is making his Play-Offs debut since 2021.

A long-awaited debut at The O2 is the Stockport star’s prize for finishing the league phase in third place after he also passed Price on Night 16.

“This will be an amazing feeling for me and my family,” admitted Aspinall, who is relishing the prospect of fulfilling a darting dream in the capital.

“It’s a really proud moment for me in my darting career, but I can’t get too emotionally attached to the occasion.

“It is a great achievement to make the final four, but I don’t want this to be the pinnacle, I want to be the winner.

“I’ve worked so hard behind the scenes to get back to this level, and I feel like I’m not far away from being back to my best.”

The O2 awaits as the Premier League Playoffs as the top four go head to head for the title

2025 BetMGM Premier League

Play-Offs, London, The O2

Thursday May 29

Semi-Finals

Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price

Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall

Best of 19 legs