While the Premier League is not a PDC ranking event, it remains one of the biggest tournaments on the calendar. Battling it out for 17 weeks across the UK and Europe, only one can come out on top. Luke Littler will look to retain the title, after taking victory at the World Championships against Michael Van Gerwen. The two will face each other again in the opening game of the Premier League in Belfast on 6 February.
Luke Humphries, former World Champion and Premier League runner-up in 2024, will face Nathan Aspinall at the SSE Arena. Fan favourite Stephen Bunting will take on the winner of the Dutch Darts Masters 2025 Rob Cross, and Chris Dobey will face Gerwyn Price in the opening round of the competition. With prize money and trophies at stake every night, the Premier League is certainly a fan favourite.
What Makes The Premier League So Special?
Most non-ranking events would be a low priority for professional darts players, but the Premier League is thought of in a different light. The best eight players in the world fight it out over 17 weeks to reach the playoffs in London at the O2 but there is something to fight for every week.
Every Thursday, all eight players will play a straight knockout quarter-final match, the winners go on to play a semi-final and final if they progress all the way. All matches are played first to six legs and players are guaranteed to face every opponent twice in the quarter-final throughout the competition. Points are awarded based on every night: players receive two points if they reach the semi-final, three points for finishing second, and five points for winning the night. A league table is formed and the top four at the end of the 16th night will progress to the O2, with first playing fourth and second playing third. As well as £10,000 for winning a night, the overall winner will receive £275,000 for winning the competition.
The Premier League offers players a unique opportunity to travel the UK and Europe, while playing the same tournament. Fan favourites return to their home town and receive an unbelievable reception, that isn’t seen in any other tournament.
Gerwyn Price will have the first ‘home’ reception when the Premier League goes to Cardiff in week seven. The ‘Iceman’ will face Rob Cross in the final quarter-final of the event, hoping to use the home crowd to his advantage. Chris Dobey will return to Newcastle the following week, with his opponent unknown at present, they will have to be ready for a rumble.
Night 10 will see Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall become home favourites as the Premier League visits the AO Arena in Manchester. The ‘Nuke’ will take on Gerwyn Price, while Aspinall will throw against Rob Cross. The following week sees Michael Van Gerwen return home in Rotterdam, where ‘Mighty Mike’ will take on Stephen Bunting. The ‘Bullett’ won’t have to wait long to become the crowd favourite again, night 12 will see Bunting take on Cross at the M&S Arena in Liverpool. Luke Humphries will return to Leeds on night 14 where he will face Michael Van Gerwen on the third game of the night.
The only place that doesn’t have a ‘home’ night is Rob Cross. ‘Voltage’ is from Hastings, with the closest arenas being Brighton (night five) or London if he reaches the playoffs (night 17).
The best eight players in the world will fight for 17 weeks, but who will come out on top? Can Michael Van Gerwen defeat Littler after the World Championship loss? Will Luke Humphries continue his dominant spell into 2025? Could Luke Littler win back-to-back Premier League Titles? Or will an outsider take victory? The Premier League is back.