Dennis Priestley wouldn't be surprised if Michael van Gerwen quits darts soon: "If he keeps getting beat"
PDC
Dennis Priestley was asked if he thinks Van Gerwen will call it quits within two years and believes that he could do if he would like.
ADVERTISEMENT
Priestley admitted that Van Gerwen would do so with a full stocked bank balance and that injuries and getting beat would dictate what happens next.
"Yes he could. That's what he'll be looking at if he keeps getting beat and can't put all his injuries to the back of the queue. I think he could retire, but he'll retire with a good bank balance," said Priestley.
The 74-year-old also indicated that Luke Littler has the potential to become the best darter of all time, but Priestley sees one stumbling block for the teenage sensation who already managed to win this year's Premier League Darts.
"The money could stop Luke Littler becoming the greatest ever darts player If Luke Littler gets too comfortable with the money he's got then he may unconsciously ease off and not do what he's been doing to make him the Darts player he is. He's still so young and in any other circumstance, he'd still be in school.
"Adrian Lewis was only a teenager when he came on the scene and James Wade was very young back then. They were both great talents like Littler. You've obviously got young Josh Rock, he could be the next Luke Littler because he has the youth on his side.
"I never thought I'd be calling James Wade a veteran, but he is one. Luke Littler could learn a hell of a lot from James. Wade is a very knowledgeable young fella. It's someone like him who Littler could latch onto and learn a lot from.
ADVERTISEMENT
Finally, Priestley gave his opinion on the contract talks between PDC president Barry Hearn and Sky Sports. The British sports channel has been a broadcast partner of the PDC for many years, but Hearn would like to see more money before the contract is renewed.
"I have full confidence in what Barry Hearn does. He's letting Sky know that the last contract was good for both sides but darts has moved onto higher things and they need to be paid accordingly.
"Barry has probably got inside information on how much they pay other sports and darts should be the second-best paid sport on TV because that's what the viewing figures suggest.
"Barry is a shrewd operator and I have full confidence in what he will do. When he took over, i know our first contract with Sky was $1million in '94. I'm sure the contract will be more than that now but what it needs to be is something that Barry will sort out.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Where Barry has the upper hand on virtually every other promoter, he knows what a sport is worth. He's letting Sky know that he's not going to accept the same amount of money that they've been paid over the last three years. He's making the same noises for snooker too and I have confidence in Barry Hearn to get what darts is actually worth. He'll do good.
"I know for a fact that he wants the World Championship's to payout £1million to the winner. He wants that to happen definitely in the next two or three years. To do that, Sky and other broadcasters have got to pay what darts is worth."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026