Premier League darts betting tips: Michael van Gerwen can cement playoff ambitions in Leeds

Luke Littler made history last week, becoming the first player to win five nightly crowns in the Premier League’s current format.

He defeated Michael van Gerwen 6-4 to win his first event since week eight and it was just what the doctor ordered. For the Dutchman, the close defeat was a welcome boost to his confidence.

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Van Gerwen will be looking to cement his place in the top four this week. A tie against Luke Humphries is a difficult opener, but if the three-time world champion can hit his peak, a first nightly victory is attainable.

Nathan Aspinall currently sits fifth, just one point off the top four, while it looks as though Rob Cross, Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting will all miss out on the O2.

Quarter-final fixtures for Night 14 in Leeds - Friday 8 May

Rob Cross vs Gerwyn Price

Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Littler

Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Humphries

Stephen Bunting vs Chris Dobey

Key talking points: Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price need a big week in Leeds

Price has been hit or miss during the 2025 season. Yes, three nightly wins suggest when he is at his best, nobody comes close, but this doesn’t happen too often.

The Welshman has lost at the quarter-final stage seven times now. A victory against Rob Cross would certainly bolster his playoff ambitions. 

The pair have met three times in the competition this year, with Cross winning twice. Price did win the last game 6-2 and his recent form suggests he holds the upper hand ahead of the game.

Read: Why the Premier League Darts is perfect to bet on

A good week for Aspinall could see him potentially move into the playoff spaces. The catch? He faces Littler in the quarter-final in Leeds.

The ‘Asp’ has lost all four of his games against the teenager this season, winning just 13 legs in the process. The world champion not only boasts the most 180s in the tournament (141) and the highest average (102.8), but he has also recorded 27 checkouts of 100 or more. Aspinall will have to be at his very best to defeat the 18-year-old.

The third match of the evening could well be the most thrilling. Humphries is destined for the O2 at the end of the month. Van Gerwen, however, isn’t there quite yet.

Indeed, he could slip to fifth if he loses and Aspinall defeats Littler in Leeds. The Englishman does lead the head-to-head 2-1 in the Premier League this term, but he did suffer a loss to Michael Smith in the last-16 of the latest European Tour event.

Add to this the fact he bowed out at the last eight in Birmingham last week suggests Humphries isn’t quite firing on all cylinders. Something that the Dutchman will hope to exploit.

Bunting and Dobey have nothing but pride to play for at this stage. The pair occupy the final two spots in the table, winning just 12 matches between them all season.

Despite this, both have won a nightly crown. Dobey tasted victory in week 11, while Bunting won in Berlin two weeks prior to that. 

Both players lost early at the European Darts Grand Prix last week and you have to go back to week 11 for either of them to have tasted victory in the Premier League.

FIRST’s top tip for Premier League Darts Night 14

Across their previous three games in the Premier League this season, each match between Van Gerwen and Humphries has seen ten or more legs.

As such, siding with over 9.5 legs in the third quarter-final of the evening at 22/25 with BetMGM is FIRST’s best bet of the night.

Extra tips

Luke Littler -1.5 leg handicap to beat Nathan Aspinall – 11/20 (BetMGM)

Littler has won three of his four matches against Aspinall this season by three legs or more. Given his superb form last week, expect him to win comfortably against his compatriot in Leeds.

Rob Cross to average over 96.5 vs Gerwyn Price – 5/6 (BetMGM)

Cross has the third highest average in the tournament (98.8) and during his 6-2 win against the Welshman in week eight, Cross averaged 100.87.

If he starts well, a match average of 96.5 or over is certainly achievable.

Chris Dobey to defeat Stephen Bunting – evens (BetMGM)

Dobey has won both meetings in the competition this season 6-2 while also claiming a 10-6 victory at the UK Open in March.

Evens is far too good a price to turn down.

Premier League darts 2025 league table