ANALYSIS: In depth look at the eight participants in the 2025 Premier League Darts

The Premier League Darts 2025 is about to begin, and like every year, it promises to be a spectacle. Eight of the world's best darters will compete for the title in this prestigious tournament every week starting Thursday, Feb. 6.

Each night of play consists of a mini-tournament, in which players compete for the nightly win and an additional bonus of £10,000. The top four players after 16 weeks then qualify for the playoffs. But who are the eight gladiators competing this year? Dartsnews.com introduces the participants below.

Nationality: England

Age: 29 years old

Nickname: Cool Hand Luke

Walk-on: I Predict a Riot | Kaiser Chiefs

Number of Premier League appearances: 2 (2024-2025)

Best Premier League result: Losing finalist (2024)

World number one Luke Humphries leads the field of Premier League Darts participants. 'Cool Hand Luke' previously competed as a contender in 2019 and 2020, but only played his first full season in 2024. Humphries needed some time to get going in the first few weeks, but after five weeks he had found his mojo completely. He ended up with four weekly titles and eventually lost in the final of the playoffs.

The Premier League, meanwhile, is one of the few majors Humphries has yet to win. Making it to the playoffs should not be a problem for the Englishman. Then on final night, Humphries can try to fill another empty spot on his record.

Nationality: England

Age: 18 years old

Nickname: The Nuke

Walk-on: Greenlight | Pitbull ft. Flo Rida & LunchMoney Lewis

Number of Premier League appearances: 2 (2024-2025)

Best Premier League result: Winner (2024)

Was it far too early to throw Luke Littler to the lions den? That was the big question prior to the Premier League last year. 'The Nuke' repaid the confidence of the PDC by winning the Premier League Darts at the age of 17. Littler had to wait until week nine for his first weekly title, but eventually reached four weekly titles in the last eight weeks. He qualified for the playoffs as number one in the league, where he faced off against Michael Smith (10-5) and Luke Humphries (11-7). Moreover, in the final against Humhpries, the teenage sensation also threw a nine-darter.

The Premier League was the first major Littler managed to win, but the tally now stands at four. After final victories at the World Series Finals and the Grand Slam of Darts, early this month Littler became the youngest player ever to take the world title at Alexandra Palace.

Nationality: Netherlands

Age: 35 years old

Nickname: Mighty Mike

Walk-on: Seven Nation Army | The White Stripes

Number of Premier League appearances: 13 (2013-2025)

Best Premier League result: Winner (2013, 2016-2019, 2022-2023)

Michael van Gerwen can prepare for his thirteenth Premier League appearance. This puts him on a par with darts legend Phil Taylor and he is only behind Raymond van Barneveld (14) in terms of number of participations. For now, 'Mighty Mike' will go down in history as the most successful Premier League player ever. Eleven times Van Gerwen reached the play-offs, nine times he reached the final and no fewer than seven times the 35-year-old Dutchman ran away with the title.

Last year, the Vlijmen native played an up-and-down Premier League. Like Littler and Humphries, he came to four weekly titles, but Van Gerwen also had by far the most defeats in his first match (eight times) out of the entire top four. That inconsistentcy will have to come out if he is to compete for the top spots this year.

Nationality: England

Age: 34 years old

Nickname: Voltage

Walk-on: I Don't Wanna Wait | David Guetta & OneRepublic

Number of Premier League appearances: 6 (2018-2021, 2024-2025)

Best Premier League result: Losing finalist (2019)

Not the most colourful darter of the bunch, but an enormously stable figure. Last year, Cross reached the quarterfinals of at least six major tournaments. Cross already started his new season successfully by winning the Dutch Darts Masters in Den Bosch.

Cross is quietly ready for another good performance in the Premier League. On his debut in 2018, the Englishman reached the semifinals and a year later was even the losing finalist. In 2020 and 2021, however, he finished ninth twice before Cross finished sixth last season. The former world champion is also still looking for his first weekly title in the new format of the Premier League.

Nationality: England

Age: 39 years old

Nickname: The Bullet

Walk-on: Titanium | David Guetta ft. Sia

Number of Premier League appearances: 2 (2015, 2025)

Best Premier League result: Eighth (2015)

After a decade away, Stephen Bunting is back as a regular player in Premier League Darts. Although he was allowed to appear once as a contender in 2020, he only played a full Premier League in 2015. Never was there such a long period between two different participations.

At the time, Bunting was best known as the 2014 Lakeside champion, but by now "The Bullet" has also gained considerable status with the PDC. He won the Masters in 2024 and finished fourth on the Pro Tour rankings that year. Bunting then made it to the semifinals at the World Darts Championship, which has since lifted Bunting to number five in the world rankings. With the public, thanks to his legendary walk-on and hilarious TikTok videos, the darter from St Helens is considered one of the absolute crowd favorites of the current generation.

Nationality: Wales

Age: 39 years old

Nickname: The Iceman

Walk-on: Ice Ice Baby | Vanilla Ice

Number of Premier League appearances: 7 (2018-2020, 2022-2025)

Best Premier League result: Losing finalist (2023)

"If they ask me, I'll probably decline the invitation," this text came from the pen of Gerwyn Price at the end of November. 'The Iceman' regularly commented on the format of the Premier League last year, but just before the World Darts Championship, Price had suddenly changed his mind and said he would still like to compete in 2025.

At the time of those statements, Price had no reason to claim an out. However, the Welshman made it to the quarterfinals at the World Darts Championship and still managed to convince the PDC to give him a wildcard. Based on his performance in the first weeks of 2025, we can expect something from the former rugby player. He made it to the final at the Bahrain Darts Masters and has already played several good matches. The Premier League Darts has not brought out the best in Price in recent years. Only in 2023 did the former world champion make it to the playoffs and eventually finish as a losing finalist. In his five other participations, Price finished outside the top four.

Nationality: England

Age: 34 years old

Nickname: Hollywood

Walk-on: Let's Get Ready to Rhumble | PJ & Duncan

Number of Premier League appearances: 2 (2023, 2025)

Best Premier League result: Seventh (2023)

For the second time in three editions, Chris Dobey is up for the Premier League Darts. In 2023, 'Hollywood' earned his last-minute invitation by winning the Masters. Dobey then had a dream debut by winning the first mini-tournament in Belfast, the place where this Premier League also starts. The darter from Bedlington eventually finished seventh in his debut year.

In 2024, Dobey finished as number one on the Players Championship Order of Merit, but had not really put himself in the spotlight to compete in the Premier League. That didn't happen until Alexandra Palace, where Dobey managed to reach the semifinals. It helped Dobey to a substantial rise in the world rankings, where he is now on the edge of the top-10.

Nationality: England

Age: 33 years old

Nickname: The Asp

Walk-on: Mr. Brightside | The Killers

Number of Premier League appearances: 5 (2020-2021, 2023-2025)

Best Premier League result: Losing finalist (2020)

It was the player most talked about after the lineup was announced. "Aspinall is in it purely for entertainment," sneered Mike de Decker, referring to 'The Asp's' popular walk-on. He was joined by Dave Chisnall. ''It's about your performance on the dartboard, not a song and dance,'' wrote 'Chizzy' in his column at Kwiff.

Partly due to injury, Aspinall had a disappointing 2024, although the Englishman did reach the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship. Perhaps that performance won over the PDC to give Aspinall another chance. What does speak in favor of the two-time major winner is that he always performs well in the Premier League. In 2020, Aspinall was a losing finalist and a year later he was stranded in the semifinals. The past two editions, Aspinall finished number five in the final standings. The 33-year-old darter from Stockport also picked up his weekly title each time. In 2023, Aspinall was the best on a night of play once, while in 2024 he captured a weekly title twice.