Jonny Clayton, the winner of the 2021 championship, along with Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price have been selected as the four wildcards for the upcoming BetMGM Premier League season. These players will join the top four automatic picks based on their order of merit, including double world champion Luke Littler, current world No. 1, defending champion Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen.
Van Veen’s impressive performance at Alexandra Palace propelled him to the third spot in the world rankings, surpassing van Gerwen as the top-ranked Dutch player. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, will face tough competition this season. The league will span 17 weeks, featuring 16 weeks of league matches starting in Newcastle on February 5 and culminating in the final at The O2 in London on May 28.
Luke Littler, fresh off his world championship victory, is eager to defend his title after memorable battles with Humphries in the last two finals. Clayton, the current world No. 5, clinched the Premier League championship in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa in the final.
Josh Rock, instrumental in Northern Ireland’s first World Cup win, has had a successful run in various televised semi-finals, showcasing his talent on the big stage. Stephen Bunting, ranked seventh in the world, enjoyed a successful campaign with six PDC titles under his belt.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement about the new lineup for this year’s Premier League, anticipating entertaining matches for fans in the UK and Europe. He highlighted the tough selection process due to the high standard of darts witnessed in the past year. The league nights will consist of quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final, with each match played over the best of 11 legs.
The competition will award points each night to determine the league standings, with the top four players advancing to Finals Night. After the success of the 2026 World Championship, the organizers aim to further elevate the excitement in the upcoming season, with Belgium hosting the Premier League for the first time.