“They might never play, but they’d be ready if needed—like being on emergency call” – Matthew Edgar calls for a permanent ‘ninth man’ in Premier League Darts
PDCThursday, 02 April 2026 at 15:30
The debate over the Premier League Darts lineup flares up every year. This season is no different. Former professional darter and analyst Matthew Edgar looks back at the PDC’s choices halfway through the campaign with a fresh yet critical eye. His conclusion is nuanced: doubts about the selection remain, but the on-stage spectacle makes up for a lot.
According to Edgar, it’s difficult to fairly assess the original picks now that the tournament is at the halfway point. The context changes quickly. “It’s a tricky one,” he says in an extended interview with Online Darts. “We’re halfway in now, so you’ve got data to analyse. As time goes on, you forget how you originally felt—that’s why journals and diaries are so useful."
He cites a personal example from his own career: “When I first started playing professional darts, I kept notes. I actually found them recently while moving house, and I thought, 'Wow, I saw things so differently.'"
Those shifting perspectives also play a role in evaluating the Premier League lineup. Players who seemed obvious choices beforehand can be questioned in hindsight — and vice versa.
The debate around Josh Rock
One of the names Edgar mentions explicitly is Josh Rock. The young Northern Irishman was on virtually everyone’s list as one of the eight, but his inclusion now raises questions. “You look at him now and think, 'Should he have been in?'" Edgar explains. “But at the time, he wasn’t even number eight for me—he was around five or six. He was in quite convincingly."
That, he says, underlines how hard it is to judge decisions in retrospect. Results and form influence the verdict, while the selection is based on a snapshot. The biggest pre-tournament debate, according to Edgar, was over the final, eighth spot in the field. It mainly revolved around Stephen Bunting and Danny Noppert.
He offers a unique glimpse into the chaos behind the scenes during the announcement: “I was at the launch, and even close to the announcement, they still hadn’t decided. In fact, the production team had to prepare for both scenarios: “We actually had to pre-record content both ways because the debate was ongoing right up until the last minute.”
A structural problem
What stands out to Edgar this season is the number of occasions when the line-up isn’t complete. Withdrawals mean players reach the semi-finals without throwing a dart, which he believes could be handled better structurally.
His solution: an official 'ninth man.' “I’ve suggested having a ninth player,” he proposes. “You’d pay them a fee to keep Wednesdays and Thursdays free during the Premier League.” That player, Edgar says, must always be ready: “They might never play, but they’d be ready if needed—like being on emergency call.”
He sees only upsides: “Noppert could have had two weeks already, and maybe more. He’d play the same matches as everyone else, just with fewer opportunities overall.”
The key question remains: was this the right selection? Edgar doesn’t think there will be consensus anytime soon. “I don’t think you’ll find anyone now who says: yes, these were exactly the right eight players. That’s because of how the tournament has developed.”
“The most entertaining Premier League ever”
Despite all the debate, Edgar is strikingly upbeat about how the competition is unfolding. “It’s the most entertaining Premier League I’ve ever seen.”
That’s unusual, he says, especially at this stage of the tournament: “Normally, by this stage, I’m a bit bored. I’d tune back in around week 13 for the conclusion.”
This year is different. The variety in winners and storylines keeps it compelling. “But this year, we’ve had multiple winners, big players who haven’t won a night yet, and loads of variation.”
He lists a few of those storylines:
- When will Josh Rock get his first win? (achieved last week)
- Can Stephen Bunting silence his critics?
- Can Jonny Clayton sustain his strong form?
- Will Luke Humphries still force his way into the top four?
- When will Gian van Veen finally strike?
And then there’s Luke Littler, of course: “We had the question of when Luke Littler would win a week—and now we’re seeing he can be beaten.”
Looking ahead to the play-offs in London, Edgar also ventures a prediction. Who does he think will reach finals night at The O2 Arena? “I think both Lukes get in,” he says. “I don’t see Humphries missing out—he’s too strong.”
His full prediction:
- Luke Humphries
- Luke Littler
- Jonny Clayton
- Gerwyn Price
After eight match nights, Luke Littler currently leads the table, followed by Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, and Michael van Gerwen.
Does the format need an overhaul?
Finally, the debate over the Premier League format comes up. Is the current system, with weekly nights and a heavy workload, still sustainable?
Edgar understands the criticism but immediately adds nuance. “With live sport, things happen,” he says. “I don't think that's kind of in the thought pattern. I mean, in terms of the short-changing.” He compares it to boxing: “You might get a fight that ends in 15 seconds. There are no guarantees in live sport. You can’t expect a fixed outcome."
He believes the real explanation lies elsewhere: in the numbers. “They don’t guess—they’re data-driven. If they’ve kept it, it’s because viewing figures, ticket sales, and fan engagement support it."
He also points to the phenomenon of confirmation bias: “There may be people who don’t like the format, but that group is clearly smaller than those who do—or it wouldn’t continue.”
Premier League Darts will always be a topic of debate, especially regarding selection and format. But as Matthew Edgar emphasises, there’s one decisive factor: entertainment. And on that front, this edition scores exceptionally well in his view. So was the selection ‘right’? Maybe not for everyone. But if spectacle is the benchmark, the PDC seems to be doing something right.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I'm afraid the physique of Mr littler is not that of an elite sportsman. Remember when he was on kebabs and burgers,and proudly announced it? He's still a great player thoughrick6726-03-2026
- Yeah it was exciting when it started back around 05. Now its just a punish every week. Take it up to 12 players, and bottom 2 drop out after everyone has played once. No need for finals etc every week. At that stage make it first to 7 instead of 6 to take up the timeslot.Cameron.W14-03-2026
- Honestly,who cares? This league should be scrapped. It's just a money spinner for PDC and sky. How on earth can 8 players do this every week,and leave the rest behind? It's a bit shameful really. Anyone can win against anyone,but not every week. Scrap itrick6712-03-2026
- depends on the tournament, easier to tune out at minehead where the acoustics aren't very good and half the crowd are pensioners. "keir starmer's a w*****" is their only good chant though, they should censor the rest and keep that one.colt09-03-2026
- I watched all of the UK open and didn't hear it. Does anyone actually listen to, or hear the crowd noise? I just tune it out as it gets quite annoying. If I have to hear "if you love the darts stand up" one more flippin' time.... Clearly everyone there loves the darts, they paid for tickets. Why they should stand up is beyond me (half of them are so bladdered they'd fall straight back down anyway) hahaha
DartsEnvy09-03-2026 - I can't answer why, only the PDC can. I do watch most of them on PDC TV - I have it on in the background when working from home haha. There can be some great moments in them like Beau's recent 9 darter etc. As for their significance, they all contribute to the players rankings with the winners of each day getting 15K, so they are important to their rankings as well as their overall earnings. Win 4 in a year and there's a nice 60K (runner up also gets 10K per day). Also I've seen so many interviews where players say they really enjoy it, because its "pure darts" without the spectacle and they can just get on with it. As per the original reply above, with the stage format playing in front of a bunch of booing drunkards, it's a nice change of pace and can aid concentration. So I can perfectly understand why the players like it so much - it's a good earner, not quite as late nights and very quiet / pure.DartsEnvy09-03-2026
- Would love if podcast was available on youtube. Dont have spotify.kangacheckoutz03-03-2026
- ah ok, that helps put it in context, cheersMrMarkWatsonnonotthatone28-02-2026
- Any IDeaS.....richieburnettrocks28-02-2026
- I deserve it I am the greatest I am the people's champion I believe I will win the Premier League because I believe I am the best because honestly I am the people's champion and I honestly made the fans come tonight because I am honestly the greatest and I, I, I, I, I, I, I, Oh shut up you pathetic pandering hideously ugly fat waste of space! Fatty Bunting should be more sincere and humbly accept he needed that instead of I this and I that.richieburnettrocks28-02-2026
Loading