Darts results: Luke Humphries and Rob Cross both hit nine-darters in Premier League defeats as Luke Littler wins the night in Brighton

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Fri March 07, 2025 · 3M ago

Luke Humphries and Rob Cross hit their first ever televised nine-dart finishes on night five of the Premier League in Brighton but they both came in defeats.

On a night that ended with Luke Littler picking up all five points, the world number one achieved perfection against Cross in their quarter-final clash only for Voltage to run out a 6-4 winner with an astonishing average of 111.19 compared to his opponent's 98.6.

Luke Humphries hits his first ever televised nine-dart finish!! pic.twitter.com/LoiGxrp8nC
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) March 6, 2025

Around 90 minutes later, it was Cross' turn to send the Brighton crowd into delirium when hitting his maiden televised nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall but despite managing another stunning average of 106.9, he ended up the wrong side of a 6-5 scoreline.

8.30pm: Luke Humphries hits his first ever televised nine-darter against Rob Cross

10.10pm: Rob Cross hits his first ever televised nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall

What a night!pic.twitter.com/PJhG2A9WJz
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) March 6, 2025

It's the fifth time in history when two perfect legs have occurred on the same day of a televised PDC event and remarkably this is the second occasion when both players have lost.

May 24th, 2010: PHIL TAYLOR x2 v James Wade (Premier League)
December 14th, 2013: TERRY JENKINS v Per Lauren & KYLE ANDERSON v Ian White - both players lost (World Championship)
October 8th, 2014: JAMES WADE & ROBERT THORNTON in the same match (World Grand Prix)
February 17th, 2022: GERWYN PRICE v MVG & GERWYN PRICE v Wade (Premier League)
March 5th, 2022: JAMES WADE v Boris Krcmar & MICHAEL SMITH v Mensur Suljovic (UK Open)

There have now been 18 perfect legs in Premier League Darts history and 77 in televised PDC tournaments hit by 33 different players.

Humphries and Cross’ exploits earned the pair 18 carat gold darts - courtesy of tournament sponsors BetMGM – and Humphries reflected on a night of mixed emotions post-match.

“I was disappointed to lose the game, but overall I think the better player won. Rob was fantastic there,” conceded the 2023/24 World Champion.

“I’ve hit about five or six nine-darters in my career, but it’s always a special feeling to do it on the big stage, and the crowd went wild which was amazing! Of course I would have rather won the game, but it’s a really nice memento!”

Remarkably, this isn't the first time in darts history where two players have hit nine-darters on the same day and both lost.

On December 14th 2013, Terry Jenkins & Kyle Anderson hit perfect legs in defeats! pic.twitter.com/KMb5LbdaBe
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) March 6, 2025

As for Littler, he fought back to beat Chris Dobey 6-5 in his opening match with a 110 checkout before brushing aside a below-par Michael van Gerwen 6-2 in the last four to set up a final with Aspinall, who had also prolonged Stephen Bunting's winless streak in the the quarter-finals.

It proved to be a rather one-sided affair as the 18-year-old averaged 100 in a 6-3 triumph, with the Asp managing 94.5, and he now trails table-topper Humphries by just two points.

“Coming off the back of the UK Open I was playing really well, and I think I played very well tonight,” reflected Littler, who also claimed the spoils on Night Two in Glasgow.`

“I’ve always been confident in my own ability, but the way my darts are going at the minute, it’s probably the best I’ve ever played on a consistent basis.

“That is why I can find those extra gears and dig myself out of trouble when I need to.

“My main goal is to make the top four. Whether it’s first, second, third or fourth, it’s about making it to The O2, and that’s when the proper title defence takes place.”

Aspinall, meanwhile, leapfrogged Van Gerwen into third position after defeating Stephen Bunting and Cross to progress to his second nightly final in three weeks.

The Stockport star was imperious in his 6-2 thumping of Bunting, averaging 106.46 and crashing in six 180s to prolong Bunting’s wait for a Premier League victory in 2025.

Aspinall then defied an average of almost 107 from Cross to win through a terrific semi-final, overturning a 4-2 deficit to celebrate his seventh straight win over the former World Champion.