Darts legend John Lowe slams Premier League Darts selection: "Why did Beau Greaves not receive an invite"

The announcement of the participants for the Premier League Darts 2026 has sparked widespread debate around the world. That is evident from an extensive statement by darts legend John Lowe, who says he has been flooded with messages from fans and figures across the darts community. According to Lowe, the omission of Beau Greaves in particular raises a great many questions.

The three-time world champion expected controversy, but the current reactions show that many darts fans do not agree with the PDC’s choices. “ did expect some controversy, it is only right for supporters of players who they think should be in, are not,” Lowe states on Facebook.

The name Lowe sees most frequently in the reactions is Ryan Searle. The Englishman made a huge jump in the world rankings at the recent World Championship: from No. 20 to No. 8. “Ryan Searle being the most talked about, after climbing the ranking table from 20th to 8th after his performance in the biggest event in darts, the World Championship, that must be hard to accept for Ryan, not just his supporters,” said Lowe.

Many followers also question the invitation for Gerwyn Price. The Welshman currently sits twelfth in the world rankings, lower than, among others, James Wade and Danny Noppert. Lowe points out that Gary Anderson’s drop-off opened up a spot, but that this place would only have been logically filled if the rankings had truly been the leading criterion.

Lowe suggests the PDC may be applying criteria beyond pure sporting merit. "Many question the invite for Gerwyn Price, down at number 12, below Wade and Noppert, the space left by the decline of Gary Anderson did leave an invitation open, but only if the order of the ranking players was the criteria for selection, so I can only assume, players are chosen from the ranking table, and the players outside of the top 8 are invited because they have an impact on ticket sales and TV audiences." With that, he appears to hint at a commercial consideration in assembling the Premier League Darts lineup.

Lowe’s biggest question mark, however, concerns the absence of Beau Greaves. “The number of questions, why did Beau Greaves not receive an invite was enormous, I question that also after her performance on the big stage,” he writes. According to Lowe, her inclusion would have offered not only sporting value, but also a huge boost for women’s darts.

After her strong performances on the big stage, Greaves could have posed a serious threat, the darts legend believes. "After Buntings performance in the league last year, no one can say she would not have made a serious threat,” said Lowe, who stressed that her participation would also have significantly increased the visibility of women in the sport.

Finally, Lowe addresses the PDC directly with a clear appeal. He calls for transparency around the selection process. "I cannot answer all the remarks made, I can only ask the PDC, how are the invitations decided, does the ranking table have any influence, a clear answer would be welcome by players overlooked, and their supporters."