Luke Littler overcomes Nathan Aspinall for Brighton Premier League glory

World champion Luke Littler beat Nathan Aspinall 6-3 to win night five of the Premier League in Brighton, where there were two nine-dart finishes.

Littler – who added the UK Open title to his growing collection last weekend – had too much for Aspinall, closing out his second nightly win to keep the pressure on Luke Humphries at the top of the table.

Earlier, world number one Humphries had hit a nine-darter in his quarter-final defeat to Rob Cross – who then also produced a perfect leg as he was later edged out 6-5 by Aspinall.

Littler, who saw off Michael van Gerwen 6-2 in the semi-finals, had taken a 3-1 lead in the final, but Aspinall fought back with a break of his own to level at 3-3.

The seventh leg proved the turning point when Littler grabbed another crucial break and then did again to secure another overall nightly win.

Humphries, who also has two nightly wins, now only holds a two-point lead over defending Premier League champion Littler at the top of the table on 15. Aspinall and van Gerwen are both back on eight points each.

“Luke (Humphries) was clear, but with him losing I was just concentrating on my own game,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“Coming off the back of the UK Open I was playing really well and I think I played very well tonight which is why I picked up another trophy.

“My main goal is obviously the top four and make it to the O2 which is where the proper title defence takes place.

“My eyes are now on the Euro Tour. I’ve always been confident in my own ability, but the way my darts are going in at the minute, they’re probably the best I’ve ever played on a consistent basis.”

In the semi-finals, Aspinall had battled past Cross in a last-leg decider – with ‘Voltage’ having taken out 141 after hitting