The 2023 Premier League Darts kicked off in a way that only Darts can.

Premier League debutant Chris Dobey stunned the Darts world by beating Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall to reach the final in Belfast. Then he created a moment that only he could have dreamed of by toppling two-time world champion Michael Van Gerwen, with a 160 checkout, in the opening night final.

The second night in Cardiff, Wales, also made for an enthralling night of darts. With Jonny Clayton’s exit in the quarter-finals, Gerwyn Price carried the flag for the Welshman.

Price used the backing of the Welsh fandom to will himself through two razor-close matches, and topple Nathan Aspinall in the final.

On Thursday, February 23rd, the Premier League will head to Dublin for the fourth night of the tournament.

The new format puts all players in a single elimination knockout tournament every night. Players receive two points for a semi-final finish, three points for being runner-up, and five points if they win that night's final. Each match will be a best of eleven legs.

The new format has been met with approval by fans who get to see an entire mini-tournament every Thursday. It also puts the players to the test, as to earn the full five points, players need to win three different best of eleven games.

The Premier League is considered one of the three pinnacles of professional darts. Alongside the World Championship and the World Matchplay, the Premier League makes up the triple crown of darts.

With the rise of darts and the newly favored playing format, online bookmakers in Ireland have jumped on the Darts bandwagon.

All major UK and Ireland sports betting companies accept wagers on the Premier League. And many offer boosts, promotions, and special odds each Thursday before the players take to the oche.

The new format gives bookies more options for pundits to bet on. Outright winner of each game, accumulators, and winner of the night as a whole.

2023 definitely feels like the year for darts. It started with the emphatic world championship final between Michael Smith and Michael Van Gerwen that included the best leg of darts of all time.

The Premier League is the next major darts competition of the year and has a lot to live up to.

When the Premier League arrives in Dublin, the competition will be heating up. Although it’s a long tournament, no one can afford to fall too far behind and every point matters.

But who are the favorites to win it all when the Premier league descends on Dublin?

Michael van Gerwen

MvG is currently the third-ranked Darts player in the world. However, he is by far the most decorated and dominant player in the tournament.

He first won the tournament in 2013 and lifted the trophy for the sixth time last year. He has the most appearances in the Premier League than anyone else this year.

Van Gerwen only trails the legendary Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor as the most successful darts player in history.

Losing in the final of night one in Belfast is sure to light a fire in MvG. Mix that with losing to Michael Smith in the World Championship final this year, the defending Premier League Champion could be on a one-man demolition course back to claiming the World's number-one spot.

On the second night of Premier League Darts, in Cardiff, MVG defeated Dimitri Van Den Bergh in the quarter-final before losing six legs to five in the semis against Gerwyn Price.

He will have his chance to seek revenge for his night one shock exit against Chris Dobey as the pair are scheduled to meet in the quarter-final in Dublin.

Peter Wright

The Scotsman is undoubtedly the most flamboyant and lavish player in Darts today. ‘Snakebite’ Wright is a unique individual who is widely recognized for his colorful Mohican hairstyle and glitter paint on the side of his head and face to match his vibrant clothing.

However, with the theatrics he brings, he backs it up on the oche.

Wright is the current number-two player in the world. But held the top spot twice last year. He’s a two-time PDC Word Champion, winning the Sid Waddell trophy in 2020 and 2022.

‘Snakebite’ has made ten Premier League appearances, however, has never lifted the trophy. The closest he has come is in 2020 when he reached the final for the only time. But he suffered defeat to Michael Smith.

Wright has stumbled out of the blocks so far in the competition. He lost 6-3 to Chris Dobey on night one, who was playing his first-ever Premier League Darts match. Then he also failed to reach the semi-finals again in Wales, this time falling short to Nathan Aspinall.

The 52-year-old will no doubt be looking to fill one of the final spaces in his trophy cabinet. Of the “Triple Crown of Darts,” Wright has only the Premier League to win.

Michael Smith

With the tremendous events of the World Championship final still so fresh in our minds, Michael Smith is looking to solidify his place atop the darts world.

‘Bully Boy’ Smith captured everyone’s hearts when he won the World Championship this year in what was one of the best games of darts in history. The victory saw the Englishman reach the pinnacle of the PDC by earning the top rank.

Smith has never won the Premier League. His best run in the competition was in 2018 when he fell short in the final to Michael Van Gerwen.

His 2023 campaign didn’t get off to the best start. He lost in his opening quarter-final against Van Gerwen. And in the second night of the tournament, he defeated Jonny Clayton in his home country before falling to Nathan Aspinall in the semi-final.

It’s a long competition. But if Smith wants to hold onto the top rank in world darts, he’ll need to find his footing as soon as possible. But there are no easy games in this competition. He has to play Peter Wright in the quarter-final in Dublin.

Gerwyn Price

Gerwyn Price is one of the most polarizing figures in Darts today. His antics on and off the oche spark lively conversations every time he’s in a major competition.

‘The Iceman’ is making his 5th appearance in the Premier League. A competition that has not been kind to him.

His highest finish in the competition is 5th place. A position he earned in 2019 and 2020.

Price is a three-time Grand Slam Champion and the first Welshman to win the World Championship in 2021.

He suffered defeat in the quarter-final of the opening night in Belfast to Nathan Aspinall. However, one week later, Gerwyn Price evened the score.

In front of a raucous, unusually Gerwyn Price supportive home-country crowd, Price toppled Aspinall six legs to three to win the full five points in Cardiff.