Nathan Aspinall was beaten in the first round of the Premier League Darts 2024 Night 14, but only just, by none other than Luke Littler.
Littler, 17, is on absolute fire at the moment. The Warrington-born spears sensation secured yet another victory in the Premier League, which now sees him sit eight points clear as the eight competitors head into night 15.
The Asp put up a great fight in Aberdeen, managing to secure five legs to Littler’s six. But, at the end of the day, the World Darts Championship finalist prevailed.
But when it comes to naming the current world’s best, it isn’t that of Littler that Aspinall thinks comes out on top.
Nathan Aspinall names the best darts player in the world right now
After Littler’s second consecutive win in the comp, Wayne Mardle raved to Sky Sports about him, stating how he thinks he’s definitely in contention to be the best in the world.
“I think Littler is playing the best in the world right now, although that changes all the time. Humphries has gone off the boil and Littler is getting better. Imagine how good he will be in five years?!
“He has a swagger. He seems to have come out of his shell [after Liverpool last week]. He is shushing the audience and there has been a change in him.”
But Aspinall, speaking on The Darts Shows beforehand, disagrees. He believes it’s the man who took home the World Championships – Luke Humphries.
“I think he is absolutely without doubt the best player on the planet,” Aspinall said about Humphries. We wonder if he’d have changed his mind just hours later.
High praise from the fellow Premier League star – but he didn’t exactly show it on Thursday.
Luke Humphries sends message after night 14 in Aberdeen
It wasn’t Humphries night in Scotland. Despite being given a bye into the semi-finals after his scheduled opponent, Gerwyn Price, withdrew due to a back injury – he still couldn’t get past Rob Cross.
He sent a message to his fans after the result on Twitter/X, which read: ‘Obviously not happy with the result, but happy to qualify for the playoffs in my first Premier League season. Still, two nights to go and win, and I’ll be giving it my all. Thanks for the support Aberdeen’.
Humphries and Littler are now the first two players in the Premier League Darts Playoffs. Who will join them? It’s going to be an interesting final two nights.