Schedule Premier League Darts 2024: Who grabs the final spot for the playoffs on Thursday night?

The Premier League Darts is visiting the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Thursday night, where the final round of this competition is already being played. There is still some excitement on this evening, as it has yet to be decided who will be the fourth player to qualify for the playoffs.

Two weeks ago, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries were the first two players to secure entry into the final night at London's O2 Arena on May 23. Last week, Michael van Gerwen also forced placement for the playoffs, so now three of the four spots have been distributed. Two men are still in the race for the final ticket.

Those two men are Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith. For "The Asp," thoughts are bound to wander back to last year, when he was in a similar position. He then had to make the final on the last day of play, but after a 6-1 victory over main rival Jonny Clayton, Aspinall went down in the semifinals against Gerwyn Price. In 2020, Aspinall secured participation in the playoffs precisely on the last round of play.

The darter from Stockport had a chance to decide the battle early last week. In Leeds, he also faced Michael Smith in his first match. However, 'The Asp' lost 6-3 to his compatriot, allowing Smith to approach him to one point in the rankings. So it is very simple on Thursday night. The winner of the duel between Smith and Aspinall will advance to the final night.

Aspinall and Smith face each other for the fourth time in this Premier League. Although Smith managed to win the previous encounter, the first two clashes in this competition were won by Aspinall.

In the background of battle between Smith and Aspinall, there is also battle for first place in the rankings. First place is currently still held by Luke Littler, but Luke Humphries still has a small chance to change that. 'Cool Hand Luke' will need the help of Peter Wright to do so, and also needs to remain unbeaten himself in Sheffield.

Indeed, Humphries' deficit with Littler is five points. That means Humphries can only take over first place if he takes the weekly title, while Littler must then lose his first match against Wright.

However, the chances of Littler choking on Wright seem extremely slim. Anyway, 'The Nuke' has only lost his first match three times in the first fifteen rounds of play. Wright has only won two matches in the entire competition. This Premier League, by the way, the Englishman and the Scot have only faced each other twice. The first time, Littler narrowly won 6-5, while the second encounter was decided 6-1 in his favor. 

Reigning world champion Luke Humphries faces a match with Gerwyn Price. 'The Iceman' still has a slim chance of being allowed to swap seventh place for sixth. Price must then take the weekly title in Sheffield, and in addition, Rob Cross must then not win a match during the final round of play. It will be the third meeting between Humphries and Price in this Premier League. Humphries managed to win the two previous matches 6-3 and 6-2, respectively.

Michael van Gerwen goes into the final round of Premier League Darts with the knowledge that he can no longer move up, but could drop one more spot. Smith or Aspinall could possibly still pass him, although Aspinall will need at least two wins to do so and Smith even three wins.

In Sheffield, the 35-year-old from Vlijmen will take on number six Rob Cross. Van Gerwen, like Humphries and Littler, stands on four weekly titles, but did a lot less than his English rivals in the other rounds of play. Still, like Littler or Humphries, 'Mighty Mike' can grab another record in Sheffield. Never before has a player won five weekly titles in one Premier League season. Perhaps this statistic can still provide motivation for the seven-time Premier League champion.

By the way, winning over Cross has not yet proved so easy for Van Gerwen in this Premier League. Although the Dutchman won the first meeting in February, the three subsequent showdowns were a prey to Cross.

Thursday, May 16.

Luke Littler v Peter Wright

Nathan Aspinall v Michael Smith

Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price

Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross