Premier League Darts 2026: Final results, Table, Schedule, Prize Money and How to watch final on TV
PDC
The Premier League Darts will take place between February 5 and May 28, with 17 nights of action across Newcastle, London, and all in between. The top eight players, both the top four and those otherwise invited, will be given the chance to strut their stuff on the stage every Thursday night.
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Leading the way is Luke Humphries, the defending champion, as well as two-time World Champion Luke Littler. Seven-time Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen is also involved, as is World finalist Gian van Veen.
Premier League Darts Results and Schedule
Finals Night – The O2, London
Thursday, May 28 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
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| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Luke Littler | (98.47) 10-9 (100.42) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 19:45 | Jonny Clayton | (95.86) 9-10 (96.16) | Luke Humphries | SF |
| 20:45 | Luke Littler | (111.67) 11-10 (105.60) | Luke Humphries | F |
Final Ranking Premier League Darts
| Pos | Player | Nights Won | Matches Won | Pts |
| 1 | Luke Littler (Q) | 6 | 24 | 43 |
| 2 | Jonny Clayton (Q) | 4 | 20 | 34 |
| 3 | Luke Humphries (Q) | 1 | 16 | 27 |
| 4 | Gerwyn Price (Q) | 2 | 15 | 26 |
| 5 | Stephen Bunting | 2 | 10 | 18 |
| 6 | Michael van Gerwen | 1 | 11 | 18 |
| 7 | Gian van Veen | 0 | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Josh Rock | 0 | 4 | 8 |
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Night Sixteen – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Thursday, May 21 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Jonny Clayton | (104.90) 3-6 (102.22) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 19:45 | Gerwyn Price | (105.97) 6-2 (95.38) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 20:15 | Luke Littler | (87.89) 6-5 (89.43) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 20:45 | Luke Humphries | (105.24) 6-5 (100.66) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 21:15 | Stephen Bunting | (98.98) 6-3 (93.43) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 21:45 | Luke Littler | (95.97) 1-6 (100.82) | Luke Humphries | SF |
| 22:15 | Stephen Bunting | (106.37) 6-3 (102.23) | Luke Humphries | F |
Night Fifteen – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Thursday, May 14 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Josh Rock | (92.3) 3-6 (102.14) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 19:45 | Gerwyn Price | (101.32) 6-4 (87.96) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 20:15 | Luke Humphries | (107.36) 6-0 (92.46) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 20:45 | Jonny Clayton | (93.07) 0-6 (100.2) | Luke Littler | QF |
| 21:00 | Gian van Veen | (98.07) 4-6 (96.38) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 21:30 | Luke Humphries | (110.98) 6-3 (99.86) | Luke Littler | SF |
| 22:05 | Gerwyn Price | (95.44) 4-6 (100.16) | Luke Humphries | F |
Night Fourteen – First Direct Arena, Leeds
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Thursday, May 7 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Gerwyn Price | (97.34) 2-6 (98.53) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 19:45 | Luke Littler | (100.28) 6-5 (101.15) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 20:15 | Josh Rock | (91.65) 5-6 (95.32) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 20:45 | Gian van Veen | (90.61) 5-6 (90.14) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 21:15 | Jonny Clayton | (98.82) 5-6 (94.69) | Luke Littler | SF |
| 21:45 | Luke Humphries | (106.68) 6-5 (105.67) | Stephen Bunting | SF |
| 22:30 | Luke Littler | (100.67) 6-5 (100.9) | Luke Humphries | F |
Night Thirteen – P&J Live, Aberdeen
Thursday, April 30 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Josh Rock | (101.25) 3-6 (105.86) | Luke Littler | QF |
| 19:45 | Stephen Bunting | (97.02) 5-6 (95.98) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 20:15 | Jonny Clayton | (95.14) 2-6 (104.32) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 20:45 | Luke Humphries | (99.18) 6-3 (91.02) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 21:15 | Luke Littler | (98.34) 6-1 (94.18) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 21:45 | Gian van Veen | (102.67) 3-6 (101.80) | Luke Humphries | SF |
| 22:15 | Luke Littler | (104.11) 6-5 (103.10) | Luke Humphries | F |
Night Twelve – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Thursday, April 23 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Gian van Veen | (90.97) 6-4 (93.61) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 19:45 | Stephen Bunting | (90.42) 5-6 (93.85) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 20:15 | Josh Rock | (91.89) 3-6 (98.64) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 20:45 | Luke Humphries | (99.39) 2-6 (97.22) | Luke Littler | QF |
| 21:15 | Gian van Veen | (98.04) 5-6 (102.37) | Jonny Clayton | SF |
| 21:45 | Michael van Gerwen | (107.54) 5-6 (102.06) | Luke Littler | SF |
| 22:15 | Jonny Clayton | (99.16) 1-6 (104.54) | Luke Littler | F |
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Night Eleven – Rotterdam Ahoy
Thursday, April 16 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 18:15 | Luke Littler | (97.30) 6-3 (91.44) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 18:45 | Gian van Veen | (93.36) 2-6 (100.51) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 19:15 | Michael van Gerwen | (97.97) 2-6 (99.33) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 19:45 | Stephen Bunting | (104.81) 1-6 (102.55) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 20:15 | Luke Littler | (100.85) 6-5 (103.00) | Luke Humphries | SF |
| 20:45 | Jonny Clayton | (87.96) 6-5 (96.05) | Josh Rock | SF |
| 21:15 | Luke Littler | (95.41) 4-6 (92.92) | Jonny Clayton | F |
Night Ten – The Brighton Centre
Thursday, April 9 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Luke Humphries | (96.13) 5-6 (98.37) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 19:45 | Gerwyn Price | (96) 3-6 (96.49) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 20:15 | Luke Littler | (83.94) 4-6 (91.30) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 20:45 | Michael van Gerwen | (95.44) 6-4 (94.49) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 21:15 | Jonny Clayton | (96.31) 6-4 (93.14) | Josh Rock | SF |
| 21:45 | Stephen Bunting | (93.11) 5-6 (90.92) | Michael van Gerwen | SF |
| 22:15 | Jonny Clayton | (97.39) 6-5 (101.34) | Michael van Gerwen | F |
Night Nine – AO Arena, Manchester
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Thursday, April 2 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Michael van Gerwen | (104.07) 3-6 (95.7) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 19:45 | Gerwyn Price | (104.46) 6-2 (101.64) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 20:15 | Gian van Veen | (96.26) 6-5 (98.56) | Luke Littler | QF |
| 20:45 | Jonny Clayton | (107.44) 4-6 (101.91) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 22:15 | Stephen Bunting | (106.66) 2-6 (112.91) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 22:30 | Gian van Veen | (95.06) 6-3 (102.84) | Josh Rock | SF |
| 23:15 | Gerwyn Price | (105.84) 6-2 (92.07) | Gian van Veen | F |
Night Eight – Uber Arena, Berlin
Thursday, March 26 – Evening session (from 6 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 18:15 | Jonny Clayton | (89.36) 3-6 (89.22) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 18:45 | Luke Humphries | (96.07) 3-6 (99.04) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 19:15 | Luke Littler | (105.72) 6-3 (107.47) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 19:45 | Gerwyn Price | (101.56) 6-1 (91.5) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 20:15 | Josh Rock | (90.14) 3-6 (96.42) | Michael van Gerwen | SF |
| 20:45 | Luke Littler | (108.58) 6-4 (98.17) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 21:15 | Michael van Gerwen | (103.87) 4-6 (106.36) | Luke Littler | F |
Night Seven – 3Arena, Dublin
Thursday, March 19 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Gian van Veen | Walk-over | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 19:45 | Stephen Bunting | (104.1) 3-6 (105.07) | Luke Littler | QF |
| 20:15 | Josh Rock | (84.21) 0-6 (103.66) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 20:45 | Jonny Clayton | (95.14) 3-6 (103.44) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 21:10 | Michael van Gerwen | (98.9) 5-6 (102.45) | Luke Littler | SF |
| 21:30 | Gerwyn Price | (109.04) 6-1 (101.35) | Luke Humphries | SF |
| 22:00 | Luke Littler | (95.54) 6-5 (93.16) | Gerwyn Price | F |
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Night Six – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Thursday, March 12 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Josh Rock | (82.88) 1-6 (91.24) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 19:45 | Jonny Clayton | (95.47) 6-3 (91.01) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 20:15 | Luke Humphries | (95.94) 6-4 (89.96) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 20:45 | Gerwyn Price | (101.31) 5-6 (108.66) | Luke Littler | QF |
| 21:15 | Stephen Bunting | (94.37) 3-6 (95.27) | Jonny Clayton | SF |
| 21:45 | Luke Humphries | (105.71) 6-5 (101.31) | Luke Littler | SF |
| 22:15 | Jonny Clayton | (99.59) 6-1 (97.56) | Luke Humphries | F |
Night Five – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Thursday, March 5 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Michael van Gerwen | (92.36) 1-6 (96.21) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 19:45 | Gian van Veen | (92.65) 4-6 (95.54) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 20:15 | Gerwyn Price | (92.75) 6-5 (97.02) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 20:45 | Luke Littler | (96.2) 6-4 (103.72) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 21:10 | Luke Humphries | (91.06) 4-6 (94.98) | Jonny Clayton | SF |
| 21:30 | Gerwyn Price | (97.34) 3-6 (111.05) | Luke Littler | SF |
| 22:00 | Jonny Clayton | (100.9) 4-6 (106.44) | Luke Littler | F |
Night Four – SSE Arena, Belfast
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Thursday, Feb. 26 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Luke Littler | (95.53) 3-6 (96.16) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 19:45 | Stephen Bunting | (106.63) 6-4 (106.29) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 20:15 | Michael van Gerwen | (94.06) 5-6 (100.88) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 20:45 | Gian van Veen | (96.08) 6-2 (91.05) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 21:20 | Jonny Clayton | (90.04) 0-6 (106.09) | Stephen Bunting | SF |
| 22:40 | Gerwyn Price | (102.13) 5-6 (105.22) | Gian van Veen | SF |
| 22:25 | Stephen Bunting | (97.15) 6-2 (95.76) | Gian van Veen | F |
Night 3 - OVO Hydrio, Glasgow
Thursday, Feb. 19 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Stephen Bunting | (99.84) 3-6 (104.36) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 19:45 | Luke Humphries | (105.95) 6-2 (97.11) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 20:15 | Michael van Gerwen | F-W | Luke Littler | QF |
| 20:45 | Jonny Clayton | (99.88) 6-3 (91.96) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 21:10 | Gian van Veen | (95.75) 6-5 (103.25) | Luke Humphries | SF |
| 21:30 | Luke Littler | (97.84) 1-6 (101.33) | Jonny Clayton | SF |
| 22:00 | Gian van Veen | (94.57) 2-6 (104.35) | Jonny Clayton | F |
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Night Two – AFAS Dome, Antwerp
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Thursday, Feb. 12 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Luke Littler | (105.16) 6-5 (102.37) | Luke Humphries | QF |
| 19:45 | Michael van Gerwen | (89.05) 6-2 (79.34) | Josh Rock | QF |
| 20:15 | Jonny Clayton | (103.93) 6-4 (99.55) | Stephen Bunting | QF |
| 20:45 | Gerwyn Price | (94.46) 6-5 (95.61) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 21:10 | Luke Littler | (95.18) 4-6 (100.70) | Michael van Gerwen | SF |
| 21:30 | Jonny Clayton | (95.19) 5-6 (100.87) | Gerwyn Price | SF |
| 22:00 | Michael van Gerwen | (96.29) 3-6 (104.44) | Gerwyn Price | F |
Night One – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Thursday, Feb. 5 – Evening session (from 7 pm)
| Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Round |
| 19:15 | Josh Rock | (101.83) 2-6 (109.81) | Jonny Clayton | QF |
| 19:45 | Luke Littler | (96.98) 4-6 (95.55) | Gian van Veen | QF |
| 20:15 | Luke Humphries | (104.55) 6-5 (94.92) | Gerwyn Price | QF |
| 20:45 | Stephen Bunting | (97.59) 2-6 (100.58) | Michael van Gerwen | QF |
| 21:10 | Jonny Clayton | (94.86) 4-6 (98.37) | Gian van Veen | SF |
| 21:30 | Luke Humphries | (97.02) 2-6 (97.88) | Michael van Gerwen | SF |
| 22:00 | Gian van Veen | (90.57) 4-6 (97.81) | Michael van Gerwen | F |
Premier League Darts 2026 Calendar
As ever, the Premier League Darts will take in a multitude of different cities in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, as well as further afield. New for 2026, Antwerp will be on the calendar alongside Exeter, the usual stop before the UK Open, which has been replaced by Cardiff.
The Antwerp stop in Night Two takes its place. As ever, the action will also head to Berlin and Rotterdam. Albeit only the latter has any local representation, with no Belgians or Germans in the line-up.
| Date | Event |
| February 5 | Night One – Newcastle |
| February 12 | Night Two – Antwerp |
| February 19 | Night Three – Glasgow |
| February 26 | Night Four – Belfast |
| March 5 | Night Five – Cardiff |
| March 12 | Night Six – Nottingham |
| March 19 | Night Seven – Dublin |
| March 26 | Night Eight – Berlin |
| April 2 | Night Nine – Manchester |
| April 9 | Night Ten – Brighton |
| April 16 | Night Eleven – Rotterdam |
| April 23 | Night Twelve – Liverpool |
| April 30 | Night Thirteen – Aberdeen |
| May 7 | Night Fourteen – Leeds |
| May 14 | Night Fifteen – Birmingham |
| May 21 | Night Sixteen – Sheffield |
| May 28 | Finals Night – London |
Field and Lineup
The field sees Luke Humphries return as defending champion, while Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price return from last year. Jonny Clayton, a former champion in this event, returns, while Josh Rock and Gian van Veen make their debut in the confirmed line-up.
| Player Name | Country |
| Luke Littler | England |
| Luke Humphries | England |
| Gian van Veen | Netherlands |
| Michael van Gerwen | Netherlands |
| Jonny Clayton | Wales |
| Stephen Bunting | England |
| Josh Rock | Northern Ireland |
| Gerwyn Price | Wales |
Premier League Darts 2026 Format
The format sees the eight selected players compete in a nightly tournament with a winner crowned in every venue over the night. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter has said before that this is something the fans prefer over the old format of a league table based on fixtures, like it is in football.
The current format sees five points awarded to the winner of each night, three points to the runner-up, and two points to the losing semi-finalist. Losing Quarter-Finalists score no points. This goes onto a league table with the top four players qualifying after 16 weeks for The O2.
Luke Humphries was crowned champion in 2025 and won the title on finals night.
How to watch live on TV
In the UK, the Premier League Darts will be shown on Sky Sports, albeit the full allocation is not yet clear as to how the channels will show it due to other sports, such as football perhaps taking the spot on Sky Sports Main Event.
In the US and Australia, it is likely to be shown on Peacock in the States, and Stan Sport and Fox in Australia, with PDCTV otherwise for those territories. In Germany, DAZN/Sport1 will broadcast the event, while in the Netherlands, it will be Viaplay.
The full broadcast information will be confirmed here for the UK and other territories nearer the tournament.

Emma Paton, the face of Sky Sports Darts and lead presenter.
Prize Money Premier League Darts
The champion will scoop £350,000, while the runner-up will earn £170,000. For semi-finalists in the play-offs, the prize is £110,000. For a nightly win overall, the prize is £10,000. While even finishing seventh gleams £80,000, so it is very much in the interest of players to qualify. However, the Premier League is unranked, so none of this goes towards the main Order of Merit.
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| Result | Prize Money |
| Champion | £350,000 |
| Runner-up | £170,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £110,000 |
| 5th | £95,000 |
| 6th | £90,000 |
| 7th | £85,000 |
| 8th | £80,000 |
| Night win | £10,000 |
| Total | £1,250,000 |
Predictions
Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com sees it very different to others with a few resurgent displays.
Luke Littler will go out as the outstanding favourite, but I don't see him being crowned as champion. I see it as being one of two players with a point to prove. Michael van Gerwen has already shown this year that he is in title form, and he has won this tournament countless times. It would be so MVG for him to return to the major winning circle by winning this.
Then Gerwyn Price, who has been on the cusp of a major for a long time and in my view could also figure well here if his head doesn't fall off from travelling every week. Not writing off Littler and Humphries, but I think giving them the title already is reckless.
Favourites
*** Michael van Gerwen
** Gerwyn Price, Luke Littler
* Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen
Oliver Ried for DartsNews.DE sees Luke Littler as the champion.
With the Premier League of Darts, Thursday nights are firmly booked for every darts fan. The world’s best players are not only fighting for the Premier League title, but also for £350,000 in prize money.
First of all, I believe that Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen will reach the play-offs. Most likely, the two Lukes will once again pull clear at the top of the table, while Price, van Veen, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock and Michael van Gerwen battle it out for the remaining play-off spots. I also see little chance for Stephen Bunting to reach the play-offs again in his third Premier League appearance.
In the play-offs, I expect the Lukes to meet in the final for the third year in a row. Littler and Humphries simply look the most consistent over such a long period. The final should once again be of the highest quality, and in the end, the Premier League title will go to Luke Littler, who will get his revenge for last year’s final defeat.
For Gian van Veen, the key question is whether he can maintain this level over such a long stretch. If he can, he will be one of the main play-off contenders. However, the Premier League often proves dangerous for debutants, who can easily struggle. The same applies to Josh Rock. Towards the end of 2025, he repeatedly had problems with the doubles. If he can sort those out, he will be a play-off candidate. Jonny Clayton knows the Premier League inside out by now. Although the Welshman returns after two years away, he did reach the play-offs in 2023. This year, in my view, he will just miss out. A crucial year also lies ahead for Michael van Gerwen. He has a lot of prize money to defend and wants to show in 2026 that he is fully competitive again. In 2025, he lacked consistency. That should gradually return, but once again, it will probably not be enough in the end. Gerwyn Price in the Premier League is always box office. You know what you get: a fired-up, high-quality Price, who will qualify for the play-offs for the second year in a row.
***Luke Littler
**Luke Humphries
*Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price
Lucas Michael, Editor for DartsNews.com, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, in his words picks Luke Littler.
With 17 weeks of action-packed darts with eight of the best players in the world: the Premier League is back! Another blockbuster campaign is set to commence, with the usual suspects targeting the coveted prize.
Only four of the eight players will make it to finals night, and it is tough to split the field in half. A few names stand out for me in not making the distance. One of these is 7-time champion Michael van Gerwen, who is way too inconsistent on the oche. Stephen Bunting was a contentious pick this year, and following last year’s disastrous outing, I expect similar results. I also predict Jonny Clayton to be here or thereabouts, but the 2021 Premier League champion to not quite make it.
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are shoe-ins for me on night 17. It is just a matter of picking two from Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price and Josh Rock. It is a flip of a coin between them, but I am just going to say that the 2023 finalist Price will come perilously close to the top four but ultimately miss out by a slim margin.
That leaves us with our final four raring to go for finals night. The last two final showdowns have seen the two Lukes go head-to-head, both debutants in 2024 before repeating the fate in 2025, sharing the prizes between each other. However, I am going to mix it up and say Rock will cause a surprise and face off against Littler in the final, with Humphries and van Veen falling at the semi-final stage.
While darts fans may be sounding like a broken record predicting the two-time world champion to win the major events, he has proven it time and time again his capabilities on the stage, in whatever format. With it being extended, I can see Littler running away with it for a second Premier League triumph.
*** Luke Littler
** Josh Rock
* Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen
Mats Leering, Editor for DartsNieuws.com also predicts Luke Littler.
The Premier League promises another 17 weeks of darts spectacle. However, to be honest, I expect that only two of the four play-off spots are up for grabs. In my opinion, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are both already certain of those play-offs. But which two players will join them?
As far as I'm concerned, it will be between three or four players, depending on how Van Veen and Rock handle the pressure on their debut. On paper, Van Veen should be able to make the play-offs, but everything is new to him, and we have often seen players buckle under that pressure. Still, I expect him to make it, given that he has already proven on several occasions that he can handle the pressure.
I don't think the other debutant, Josh Rock, will make it. The Northern Irishman has the potential to make the play-offs, but I think he will be too inconsistent and just miss out.
That's why I think the last spot will go to Gerwyn Price or Michael van Gerwen, with 'The Iceman' just edging it out and the Dutchman finishing fifth. Unfortunately, I think it will be another disappointing Premier League for Bunting, and I also see Clayton finishing in the bottom two this year.
Favourites
***Luke Littler
**Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen
*Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Josh Rock
Nicolas Gayer, Editor for DartsNews.DE also picks The Nuke to seal glory in May.
The Premier League, the PDC’s elite competition and travelling darts roadshow, is back once again. And although the much-debated format remains unchanged, this year’s weekly circus comes with a breath of fresh air. Young talents such as Gian van Veen and Josh Rock will be chasing Premier League points for the very first time, while former champion and fan favourite Jonny Clayton makes his long-awaited return.
In the end, one central question arises: who will be leading the race for the coveted play-off tickets after 16 matchdays? In my opinion, two players in particular are set to endure a tough campaign: Stephen Bunting and Michael van Gerwen.
Stephen Bunting, in my view, did not do enough over the past year to fully justify a Premier League nomination on sporting merit. If The Bullet performs over the upcoming 16 weeks in a similar fashion to his recent displays at the World Championship, the Grand Slam, or the World Grand Prix, the brutal Premier League format could once again have a damaging impact on the Englishman’s career—much like it did at an earlier stage of his journey.
Michael van Gerwen, on the other hand, is a far more complex case. As he proved once again in Bahrain, it is never wise to write off the three-time world champion. Nevertheless, I believe that the weekly Premier League format does not suit the Dutchman in his current state. Van Gerwen is presently lacking consistency in his performances. While he is certainly capable of producing isolated moments of brilliance, I do not see him competing with the very top of the sport over the course of 16 consecutive weeks.
That very top, in my opinion, will consist of two familiar faces: Luke Littler and Luke Humphries—the undisputed elite of the sport. I also expect Gian van Veen to continue his outstanding development and secure a play-off spot on his Premier League debut. The final ticket to Finals Night, I believe, will be claimed by The Ferret Jonny Clayton. Clayton knows exactly what it takes to win an entire Premier League campaign. Moreover, the Welshman recently spoke about just how much he loves the Premier League, and I am convinced he will be motivated to the very core, once again converting his impeccable timing into crucial victories and points.
This leaves one major question unanswered: who will lift the trophy? The answer is a predictable one—Luke Littler. The Nuke has impressively demonstrated over the past two years that, on the sport’s biggest stages, no one can match him. And after falling short in last year’s final, I strongly believe he will reclaim the Premier League crown this time around.
Favourites:
***Luke Littler
**Gian van Veen, Luke Humphries
* Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price
Read also

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.
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- 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
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026
- Fair play to Fallon. But...shows the mockery when a professional players wins what was meant to be an amateur v Pro event, Littlers performance was poor, and what about the players who didn't get a game? Would have been better if the pot was split amoungst all the winners and they all got a leg.BandB31-10-2026







