"Suggested a truckload of money, he said it would have to be two": Gary Anderson adamant about no Premier League spot says Chris Mason

With the Premier League Darts line-up looming and the World Championship still unfolding, Chris Mason sees the selection as controversial as it's ever been.

Speaking to Online Darts before the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship, Mason explained that what once looked like a clear-cut list has become increasingly complicated, with players moving in and out of the top four and others forcing their way into contention late in the season. “It’s quite complex,” Mason said. “Especially with players entering the top four, then going out of the top four, and then other players going ahead of them. I think Gian van Veen and Josh Rock are in.”

Who they replace, however, is far from straightforward. “Every year we try and predict it and they always throw us a curveball,” he added. “Obviously the Lukes are in, MVG’s in, I think van Veen’s in, Rock’s in, and then it’s just a minefield.”

That uncertainty is only heightened by what happens at the business end of the World Championship. Mason pointed out that a single result could dramatically alter the picture. “What if Gary Anderson wins tonight? One of them’s going to play, the other one isn’t, and that causes even further headaches.”

The most awkward scenario, Mason believes, would be Anderson lifting the world title and then opting out of the Premier League altogether with the line-up confirmed days after the World final.

“If Gary wins it and then doesn’t play in it, I don’t think it’s a good look, and I don’t think Sky would be particularly happy that their world champion isn’t competing weekly on their channel.”

While it remains hypothetical, Mason confirmed Anderson has been clear about his stance. “He’s adamant. We’ve had many conversations with him. He went, ‘Mate, I ain’t playing.’ I suggested a truckload of money, he said it would have to be two truckloads.”

Beyond individual decisions, Mason feels this season has been unusual in that many players have performed consistently well without necessarily winning titles — largely due to domination by Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. “So many players have had good seasons, not necessarily winning seasons, because the big ones have been dominated by the two Lukes. Apart from Gian van Veen winning, hardly anybody else has won anything.”

That context, Mason says, should matter when judging candidates. One player he expects to be strongly considered is Stephen Bunting, despite a late-season dip. “For Bunting, it was too good too early. He ran out of steam towards the back end, finished bottom last year, but he’s incredibly popular. They may well shoehorn him in.”

More difficult decisions come with proven names like James Wade and Gerwyn Price. “They’re both top 10 players who’ve had good seasons. Especially Wade, he’s made two major finals, Matchplay being one of them, but then he comes here and hasn’t delivered. That’s the problem.”

Mason believes recency bias plays a major role in public debate, but insists Price remains a serious contender. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they put Price in because he’s box office. They know he can do it.”

He also highlighted how perceptions can quickly shift. Last year’s controversial inclusions, Nathan Aspinall and Price, both ended up reaching the play-offs. “Aspinall’s had a great year — eight finals, three European Tour wins. They know he’s capable of turning up every week and entertaining the fans. He’s popular.”

That leaves the Premier League selectors with what Mason describes as “about ten” viable names — including Jonny Clayton, a situation Mason finds particularly uncomfortable. “How can they leave Jonny out when he’s world number five, the highest-ranked Welshman, and a proven winner in the competition? It’s hard. I don’t envy them.”

With the list bursting at the seams, Mason believes the time may have come to rethink the format entirely. “If ever there was a case to go to ten, it’s now. Or my idea, go to twelve.”

Mason outlined a radical structure involving home-and-away fixtures, relegation after four weeks, and a return to the current format to decide finals night. “That solves a lot of problems. Fans get six matches a night, you could reintroduce the draw, the bookies would love it, and it adds jeopardy. We wouldn’t see the same matches week in, week out.”

He added that feedback from fans suggests repetition has become an issue. “We speak to a lot of darts fans and some got bored with it very quickly. There’s no right or wrong, but there’s a grey area where I think it could be improved — for the players as well, because it’s a lot on them.”

Pressed for his own picks, Mason reluctantly named his preferred options. “I’d put Price back in because he made the play-offs. I’d probably put Jonny Clayton… or Danny Noppert.”

Noppert, Mason believes, has been overlooked despite an excellent year. “He’s gone under the radar. Five TV semi-finals, a previous major winner, and he lost in arguably the game of the tournament.”

Ultimately, Mason says personal preference plays a part. “I like watching Price. I like watching Aspinall. They give you everything week in, week out.”

Whoever makes the cut, Mason expects Monday’s announcement to dominate headlines. “It’s going to be big news this year because some real big names are going to be left out. It wouldn’t surprise me if they went totally rogue.”

He stressed that Premier League selection has never been purely ranking-based. “If it was, it would just be the top eight. They’ve given themselves the wildcard option to give fans what they want.”

And fans, Mason says, are turning out in record numbers. “Ticket sales were through the roof last year. All the analytics were up. Huge arenas are sold out without even knowing the line-up.”

That popularity explains why players are so desperate to be involved though Mason dismissed the idea that Michael van Gerwen would benefit from a year out. “He’s one of those players who plays better the more he plays. If he wasn’t in it, I think he’d spend too much time not playing, and that wouldn’t be good for him.”

As for the romantic notion of one final Premier League run for Gary Anderson, Mason admits it’s something everyone would love, but understands why it’s unlikely. “It’s not the darts that does you, it’s the travel. At his age, that’s brutal.”

Still, Mason concluded, the fact Anderson remains competitive says everything. “He’s had a wonderful tournament, and why not? That’s what it’s all about.”