"We've looked at it in terms of big stage presence and popularity": Matt Porter makes case for Premier League Darts picks
PDC
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter alongside Mark Webster and Emma Paton on Sky Sports introduced the Premier League Darts line-up for 2025 on Monday night.
Some picks went down better than others as usual with Nathan Aspinall in particularly coming in for flack on social media for solely being picked for his Mr Brightside walk-on.
Players such as Damon Heta, Mike de Decker and even Dave Chisnall weren't picked despite perhaps having a strong case in the mind of others. But for Porter, it is about those players with wow factor who can get arenas on their feet.
"Price, Dobey and Aspinall. There are players above them in the rankings that haven't been selected. But we've looked at it in terms of big stage presence. We've looked at it in terms of popularity in the way that they can get a 10,000 crowd every week going," said Porter.
"We want people on the edge of their seats and up enjoying the darts. That's not to say other players can't do that. You have to make a decision as to what you feel is right at the time. The board has selected players that we feel will deliver that level of entertainment and that level of darting excellence every week. People will disagree with us and that's the nature of it. It's part and parcel of sport. Every decision will be analysed, we may get decisions wrong, we may get decisions right. But ultimately the proof will be in the pudding in the numbers every week."
He was also asked about Mike de Decker and as he has previously with a glut of major winners, he aimed to slow down any preconceived notion that winning a major gets you in.
"Mike (De Decker) is an outstanding talent and is someone that undoubtedly we will see in Premier League Darts in the future. We didn't feel he was quite ready. There's a lot of tournaments throughout the year and winning one. We've seen players in the past I don't want to embarass by naming them but players like Danny Noppert, Ross Smith and Andrew Gilding that have won TV tournaments. But you have to show that you can compete in the latter stages of TV tournaments on a regular basis. Doing it once is fantastic and is something that you will always have but to really be part of the elite, you have to be doing it on a regular basis over multiple years."
PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter explains the Premier League Darts line-up choices 🎯 pic.twitter.com/WmYc1KFiCN
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 6, 2025
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- No, I wasn't expecting Heta to be in it either having won nothing of any significance. Although he is charismatic and has personality unlike the boring and dull as dishwater Dobey. It is quite pathetic and desperate the way Bunting and Arsepinall pander to the crowd to dance to their walk on music, that has worked though. I would like to see more players involved on a weekly basis similar to the Modus Super Series. A knockout tournament with 16 winners from each week. The Premier league is too boring with the same players. Plus it would eliminate all the whining and booing from unselected players.richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- Why is World Champion Richie Burnett not highlighted in bold font nor 2 time World Champion Scotty 2 Hotty. COME ON RICHIE BURNETT AND SCOTTY 2 HOTTY Although where the hell has 2 HOTTY been the past year!richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- It's not tennis, snooker or golf, nobody mentioned Fallon,great as she is. Beau beats her week in,week out. But she isn't interested. If you want to include crowd pleasers,get Les Wallace back!!! He was a world champion,and wore a kilt!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I'm glad wright and van Ben bergh were overlooked. Too much dancing,not enough darting. Bunting is always quality,as for price,he's a crowd pleaser(!!?) too. Aspinall has had his problems,but it's nice to see him back,he's a decent chap. Dobey is a top player,big hitter,so I won't complain. Cross will finish bottom,much as I like him,he seems to be off lately. I'm glad they didn't pick a Belgian just for the audience. But I don't agree with the tournament or format,so I guess it's immaterial to me. They might as well turn up at a random pub and play for the beers!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I think the PDC's choice is too conservative. EIther or both of Damon Heta and Mike de Dekker should have been in, at the expense of Aspinall and possibly Price. I guess the PDC's reasoning is that they do not want too much turnover from year to year, and so having already rejected Smith and Wright, they have kept Price and Aspinall, but I guess those two are "on probation".
UndartedWaters06-01-2025 - Two from the three of Price, Aspinall and Dobey should have been excluded, De Decker and Edhouse should have been in. I would have offered a place to Beau Greaves though i doubt she would have accepted it and probably not really ready for it confidence wise.Mysstree06-01-2025
- Tennis has a protected ranking system for injuries and Golf has a system that as a Major winner you get invited back of a number of years regardless of your ranking. Barry Hearn gave Stephen Hendry a wildcard for some tournaments though he still had to enter at the qualification stage. Doubt the PDC would give Burnett an exemption as he has never won a PDC Major, same would apply to Steve Beaton. It’s a slippery slope to abandoning a meritocratic system, if the PDC did do so they could then (for example) award a place to Fallon Sherrock even though she has yet to qualify at any level for a tour card.Mysstree06-01-2025
- I'd have said the same about Ady Lewis,but the PDC is indeed a law unto itself,so sorry bud,get your leg kicking and do it for the good lads!!rick6705-01-2025
- COME ON RICHIE BURNETT Surely a World Champion and player with the calibra of Richie should be exempt from ever losing a tour card and having to qualify.richieburnettrocks04-01-2025
- That's true, Richie. Taylor used to call it, "Manley's millions."MrYnyslas197103-01-2025