What is the darts 'Triple Crown': Why is it controversial?

In the fast-growing world of professional darts, very few accomplishments figure more in debate than the ‘Triple Crown’. Described as winning the PDC World Darts Championship, the World Matchplay, and the Premier League Darts. The idea behind the title is unofficial, yet widely regarded by many fans and players as the ultimate achievement in the sport.

While the Triple Crown has gained traction among commentators and fans, especially with Luke Littler’s mention of the title after he won the World Matchplay, there is some ongoing controversy surrounding the inclusion of the Premier League. The Premier League being an invitational, non-ranking event. This leaves the argument- is the Triple Crown a legitimate benchmark of greatness?

Here is all the info you need to know about the Triple Crown
1. What is the darts triple crown?
2. Why the Triple Crown is controversial
3. ‘It’s an Exhibition’ - Why fans argue against it
4. The PDC’s Role in the Debate
5. Who has won the elusive ‘Triple Crown’?
6. What Do Players Think?
7. Should the Premier League Be Part of the Triple Crown?
8. Alternative Views on the ‘Triple Crown’
9. Summing up the debate

The Triple Crown refers to winning three of the Professional Darts Corporations most high-profile events:
1. PDC World Darts Championship which is held annually at the Ally Pally in London. It is the biggest tournament in Darts, with the most amount of televised coverage and large prize pool.
2. World Matchplay which is held each summer in Blackpool in the Iconic Winter Gardens. This is known for its long leg format that provides endless amounts of drama.
3. Premier League Darts, a league type format that runs across several months featuring the top players every week, in different venues. It is a tournament like no other.
Winning all three of these across a single year or across a career is seen as the highest honour and achievement in the sport.

While the PDC World Darts Championship and World Matchplay are seen as ranked majors with open qualification paths, allowing access to a large pool of players, the Premier League is different. This is what causes controversy. The Premier League is an invite only format that selects only eight players to compete, which is often bases partly on rankings but also the player’s commercial appeal. The event does not affect the PDC Order of Merit, that includes wins and losses and also prize money. It has also experienced many formats over the years, including round robins, mini knockouts and most recently a league format system.

Many traditional darts fans argue that the Premier League is more of an exhibition, put on to advertise and grow the sport more than a contest. Originally designed as a promotional tool to bring large crowds and new audiences in different cities. The competitive edge of the tournament has long been questioned.  In contrast, other ranked events such as the UK Open, Grand Slam and Grand Prix feature broader qualification systems and are often more competitive from a player perspective.

The PDC has never officially defined a ‘Triple Crown’. However, its broadcast partners often mention the title but also refer to players performances in the Premier League alongside the two major ranking titles. The marketing value of the League adds to the perception that is on equal footing with the two major titles, a claim that some fans and even players push against.

- Phil Taylor
- Michael van Gerwen
- Gary Anderson
- Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries

Each of these five players have achieved dominance across different formats and eras making the natural candidates for any debates regarding the greatest in the sport. Littler is the latest winner with Humphries being prior to him having won the Premier League Darts title earlier this season.

Player opinions vary. Some players like Jonny Clayton, who won the 2021 Premier League, view it as a massive milestone. Others place more emphasis on ranking majors. Still, most players recognise the Premier League’s role in raising the sport’s profile and providing consistent income, even if it doesn’t offer the same legacy-defining prestige as winning at Alexandra Palace.

Arguments For Inclusion:
- The Premier League is watched by millions and offers the second-highest prize fund after the PDC World Darts Championship.
- Only the top players are invited, making the competition intense and high-quality.
- It has existed for nearly two decades and remains one of the most-viewed darts events annually.

Arguments Against Inclusion:
- No Qualification Path: You can’t “earn” your way in and can only get invited.
- No Ranking Points: It has no effect on players’ standings or future qualification.
- Changing Formats: Lack of consistency makes it hard to evaluate achievements historically.

Some fans suggest that there should be a Triple Crown that only includes ranking events, allowing a large pool of players the chance to win the title. Both the UK Open and Grand Slam of Darts are the titles that fans believe could replace the Premier League in order to complete the ‘Triple Crown’.

The darts Triple Crown remains an open-ended debate for all those involved in the sports. While winning all three is an impressive achievement, its legitimacy will continue to be undermined and questioned by fans and players. As darts evolves, the debate will grow and continue in defining the real Triple Crown and whether it will be officially recognised remains unknown.