For the second year running, Nathan Aspinall has proven himself the best of the bunch as the Premier League Darts travelled to Rotterdam.
The Englishman had started the evening with an easy 6-2 win over Peter Wright before defeating Luke Humphries 6-4. Humphries was responsible for the quick elimination of Michael van Gerwen (6-4) earlier in the evening. Michael Smith made it to the final match at the other end of the bracket after victories over Luke Littler (6-3) and Gerwyn Price (6-5).
Without excelling, Aspinall took a 2-0 lead in the final via two 16-darters. Smith then came up with a 16-darter of his own to halve the deficit, before Aspinall made it 3-1 with a 72 finish. Moments later, he brought the score to 4-2 with a 13-darter. Aspinall then had four chances to extend the lead to 5-2, but failed. Smith hit double 9 for 3-4, but then Aspinall did make it 5-3 via double 4. Smith then stole the show with a 170 finish, but that was just a stay of execution. Aspinall initially missed four more match darts, but the fifth was a hit to capture the weekly title in the Dutch coastal city.
Luke Humphries is once again the leader in the overall Premier League Darts standings after Night 12. 'Cool Hand Luke', like Luke Littler, has 26 points, but has won one more weekly title and is therefore on top.
Aspinall has moved up to third place in the standings. With 23 points, he leaves Michael van Gerwen one point behind. Michael Smith, with 20 points, may also hope to make the playoffs. Behind that is a big gap to Gerwyn Price, who is on 12 points. Rob Cross (11 points) and Peter Wright (four points) follow behind that.