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Premier League Darts

Premier League Darts, known for sponsorship purposes in 2024 as BetMGM Premier League Darts, is a darts tournament which launched on 20 January 2005 on Sky Sports. Now played weekly from February to May, the event originally started as a fortnightly fixture in small venues around the United Kingdom. The tournament originally featured seven players, gradually expanded to ten by 2013, before reduced again from 2022 to eight players from the Professional Darts Corporation circuit competing in a knockout style format, with nights also hosted in Europe at different venues. The top four players in the PDC Order of Merit are joined by four wildcard selections to make up the eight-person field. Alongside the World Championship and the World Matchplay, it is considered part of the sport's Triple Crown.

Premier League Darts
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 Premier League Darts
Founded2005
First season2005
Organising bodyPDC
CountriesUnited Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany
Most recent
champion(s)		 Luke Littler
(2024)
Tournament formatLegs
Current sports event 2024 Premier League Darts

While active, Phil Taylor dominated the event, winning six of the thirteen tournaments he appeared in. He went unbeaten throughout the first three seasons before James Wade ended his 44 match run in the first match of the 2008 season. A new champion was to be crowned after Mervyn King defeated him in the 2009 semi-finals, where Wade defeated King 13–8 in the final, to pick up the £125,000 first prize. Taylor defeated Wade the following season to claim his fifth title in the competition in 2010, achieving two nine-dart finishes in the final, the only player to achieve this accomplishment.

Although there have been eight overall winners of the Premier League, the league stage has been dominated by Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, with Taylor topping the table for each of the first eight editions and van Gerwen winning the next seven. In 2020, Glen Durrant became the third player to finish top after all league fixtures had been completed. He went on to win the title, meaning all three players both topped the table and won the play-offs at their first attempt. In 2024, this feat was then repeated by Luke Littler who became the fourth player to both top the table following the completion of the league stage and then win the play-offs on their debut Premier League appearance.

The prize fund has risen from £265,000 in the early years of the tournament, steadily increasing each year for a prize fund of £1,000,000 in 2022. The winner currently receives £275,000.

Television coverage

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The matches have been broadcast on Thursday nights on Sky Sports since the tournament inception. Originally the league alternated with Premier League Snooker one week and Premier League Darts the next. From 2006, the snooker moved to late autumn – giving the Premier League darts a straight weekly run in the spring.

American sports channel OLN aired the 2006 Premier League Darts season on a slight delay, in August 2006. In 2018, BBC America started airing Premier League Darts on Thursday nights. In 2020, BBC America started airing Premier League Darts on Sunday mornings.

German sports channel Sport1 broadcasts most matches live on TV and gives coverages of a selection of matches.

The PDC announced in December 2017 that the contract with Sky Television for coverage of the Premier League had been extended to 2025.[1]

Finals

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Year Final Tournament
Champion Score Runner-up Best of Venue Prize Fund Sponsors Players Venues League winner
2005   Phil Taylor (101.01) 16–4   Colin Lloyd (97.20) 31 legs G-Mex, Manchester £150,000 888.com 7 11   Phil Taylor
2006   Phil Taylor (101.41) 16–6   Roland Scholten (92.01) Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth £167,500 Holsten
2007   Phil Taylor (99.20) 16–6   Terry Jenkins (90.81) The Brighton Centre, Brighton £265,000 8 15
2008   Phil Taylor (108.36) 16–8   James Wade (100.14) Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff £340,000 Whyte & Mackay
2009   James Wade (90.38) 13–8   Mervyn King (85.83) 25 legs Wembley Arena, London £405,000
2010   Phil Taylor (111.67) 10–8   James Wade (100.08) 19 legs £410,000
2011   Gary Anderson (94.67) 10–4   Adrian Lewis (85.75) 888.com
2012   Phil Taylor (97.08) 10–7   Simon Whitlock (95.32) The O2 Arena, London £450,000 McCoy's
2013   Michael van Gerwen (103.29) 10–8   Phil Taylor (104.10) £520,000 10   Michael van Gerwen
2014   Raymond van Barneveld (101.93) 10–6   Michael van Gerwen (102.98) £550,000 Betway 16
2015   Gary Anderson (104.85) 11–7   Michael van Gerwen (105.81) 21 legs £700,000
2016   Michael van Gerwen (104.68) 11–3   Phil Taylor (98.84) £725,000
2017   Michael van Gerwen (104.76) 11–10   Peter Wright (101.06) £825,000
2018   Michael van Gerwen (112.37) 11–4   Michael Smith (97.01) Unibet 15[a]
2019   Michael van Gerwen (103.36) 11–5   Rob Cross (100.98) 9[b] 16
2020   Glen Durrant (91.84) 11–8   Nathan Aspinall (92.15) Ricoh Arena, Coventry [c] 8[d]   Glen Durrant
2021   Jonny Clayton (100.18) 11–5   José de Sousa (100.53) Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes £855,000 10 1[e]   Michael van Gerwen
2022   Michael van Gerwen (99.10) 11–10   Joe Cullen (99.36) Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin £1,000,000 Cazoo[2] 8 17   Jonny Clayton
2023   Michael van Gerwen (105.43) 11–5   Gerwyn Price (99.50) The O2 Arena, London   Gerwyn Price
2024   Luke Littler (105.60) 11–7   Luke Humphries (102.47) BetMGM   Luke Littler
  1. ^ A scheduled night at Westpoint Arena was cancelled due to Storm Emma. An extra round was held at Rotterdam Ahoy to compensate.
  2. ^ 9 players played regularly, with 9 others serving as 'contenders' for each of the first 9 nights.
  3. ^ Final planned in the O2 Arena in London, but moved to Coventry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. ^ Eleven scheduled nights at ten venues were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rounds were held at Marshall Arena behind closed doors to compensate.
  5. ^ Sixteen scheduled nights at sixteen venues were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rounds were held at Marshall Arena behind closed doors to compensate.

Records and statistics

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As of 24 May 2024.

Total finalist appearances

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Rank Player Won Runner-up Finals Appearances
1   Michael van Gerwen 7 2 9 11
2   Phil Taylor 6 2 8 13
3   Gary Anderson 2 0 2 11
4   James Wade 1 2 3 12
5   Raymond van Barneveld 1 0 1 14
  Glen Durrant 1 0 1 2
  Jonny Clayton 1 0 1 2
  Luke Littler 1 0 1 1
9   Colin Lloyd 0 1 1 3
  Roland Scholten 0 1 1 3
  Terry Jenkins 0 1 1 5
  Mervyn King 0 1 1 2
  Adrian Lewis 0 1 1 10
  Simon Whitlock 0 1 1 6
  Peter Wright 0 1 1 9
  Michael Smith 0 1 1 5
  Rob Cross 0 1 1 4
  Nathan Aspinall 0 1 1 2
  José de Sousa 0 1 1 1
  Joe Cullen 0 1 1 1
  Gerwyn Price 0 1 1 5
  Luke Humphries 0 1 1 1
  • Active players are shown in bold
  • Only players who reached the final are included
  • In the event of identical records, players are sorted by date first achieved

Champions by country

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Country Players Total First title Last title
  England 4 9 2005 2024
  Netherlands 2 8 2013 2023
  Scotland 1 2 2011 2015
  Wales 1 1 2021 2021

Nine-dart finishes

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Sixteen nine-dart finishes have been thrown in the Premier League. The first one was in 2006, and the most recent one was in 2024.

Player Year (+ Week) Location Method Opponent Result
  Raymond van Barneveld 2006, Week 5 Bournemouth 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Peter Manley 8–3
  Raymond van Barneveld 2010, Week 12 Aberdeen 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Terry Jenkins 8–6
  Phil Taylor 2010, Final London T20, 2 x T19; 3 x T20; T20, T17, D18   James Wade 10–8
3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12
  Phil Taylor 2012, Week 2 Aberdeen 3 x T20; T20, 2 x T19; T20, T17, D18   Kevin Painter 8–5
  Simon Whitlock 2012, Semi-Final London 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T15, D18   Andy Hamilton 8–6
  Adrian Lewis 2016, Week 11 Belfast 3 x T20; 2 x T20, T19; 2 x T20, D12   James Wade 7–5
  Adrian Lewis 2017, Week 11 Liverpool 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Raymond van Barneveld 7–4
  Michael Smith 2020, Week 4 Dublin 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Daryl Gurney 7–5
  Peter Wright 2020, Night 11 Milton Keynes 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Daryl Gurney 6–8
  Jonny Clayton 2021, Night 3 Milton Keynes 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   José de Sousa 7–3
  José de Sousa 2021, Night 4 Milton Keynes 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Nathan Aspinall 6–6
  Gerwyn Price 2022, Night 3 Belfast 2 x T20, T19; 3 x T20; 2 x T20, D12   Michael van Gerwen 6–5
3 x T20; 3 x T20; T19, T20, D12   James Wade 6–4
2024, Night 10 Manchester 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T19, T20, D12   Michael Smith 6–3
  Luke Littler 2024, Final London 3 x T20, 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12   Luke Humphries 11–7

Tournament records

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  • Most titles: 7 – Michael van Gerwen
  • Most tournament appearances: 14 – Raymond van Barneveld
  • Most matches played: 211 – Raymond van Barneveld
  • Longest unbeaten run: 44 matches – Phil Taylor (2005–2008)
  • Biggest victories (league stage): 11–1 Phil Taylor v Wayne Mardle (2005), 11–1 Phil Taylor v Peter Manley (2005)
  • Biggest victories (playoff stages): 16–4 Phil Taylor v Colin Lloyd (2005 final)
  • Most 180s by one player in a single match: 11 – Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock (2011).[3][4] 11 – José de Sousa v Nathan Aspinall (2021).
  • Most 100+ averages in a season: 18 – Michael van Gerwen (2017). Van Gerwen became the first player to average over 100 in every match of a season.
  • Highest match average: 123.40 – Michael van Gerwen (2016)
  • Highest group stage overall average: 107.95 – Phil Taylor (2012)
  • Lowest group stage overall average: 86.36 – Glen Durrant (2021)
  • Highest average in the final: 112.37 – Michael van Gerwen (2018)

Whitewashes

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Year Player Legs Player
2007 87.32 Terry Jenkins   0–8   Colin Lloyd 88.43
2008 96.97 Phil Taylor   8–0   Wayne Mardle 88.43
2012 96.97 James Wade   8–0   Simon Whitlock 80.79
2014 99.45 Phil Taylor   0–7   Michael van Gerwen 109.59
2015 93.93 James Wade   0–7   Michael van Gerwen 116.90
2016 75.68 Robert Thornton   0–7   Dave Chisnall 101.16
2016 88.38 Robert Thornton   0–7   Phil Taylor 102.15
2017 94.53 Adrian Lewis   0–7   Michael van Gerwen 110.75
2018 96.58 Raymond van Barneveld   0–7   Michael Smith 103.15
2019 94.45 Daryl Gurney   0–7   James Wade 109.59
2020 81.24 Jermaine Wattimena   0–7   Gerwyn Price 102.15
2021 84.42 Glen Durrant   0–7   Dimitri Van den Bergh 93.94
2022 99.10 Michael van Gerwen   6–0   Peter Wright 87.52
2023 100.36 Michael van Gerwen   0–6   Chris Dobey 101.33
2023 100.20 Michael van Gerwen   6–0   Nathan Aspinall 93.00

High averages

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Ten highest Premier League one-match averages
Average Player Year (+ Round) Opponent Result
123.40   Michael van Gerwen 2016, Week 4   Michael Smith 7–1
119.50   Peter Wright 2017, Week 5   Adrian Lewis 7–2
117.95   Michael van Gerwen 2016, Week 10   Robert Thornton 7–5
117.35   Phil Taylor 2012, Week 4   Simon Whitlock 8–4
116.90   Michael van Gerwen 2015, Week 12   James Wade 7–0
116.67   Michael van Gerwen 2016, Week 5   Peter Wright 7–2
116.10   Phil Taylor 2012, Week 13   James Wade 8–1
116.01   Phil Taylor 2009, Week 12   John Part 8–3
115.97   Gerwyn Price 2023, Week 11   Chris Dobey 6–2
115.80   Phil Taylor 2015, Week 7   Raymond van Barneveld 4–7
Five highest tournament averages
Average Player Year
107.48   Michael van Gerwen 2016
106.73   Phil Taylor 2012
105.26   Michael van Gerwen 2015
104.68   Michael van Gerwen 2017
104.11   Michael van Gerwen 2018

Appearances

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Since the tournament made its debut in 2005, Phil Taylor made an appearance in every Premier League competition until his retirement following the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship. Raymond van Barneveld competed in every Premier League from 2006 to 2019. From 2005 until the 2010 tournament, the top six players in the PDC Order of Merit after the PDC World Darts Championship automatically qualified, with one wildcard (2005 and 2006) and two wildcards (2007–2010) chosen by either the PDC or Sky Sports. From the 2011 tournament, only the top four in the PDC Order of Merit automatically qualified, with four wildcards (2011 and 2012) chosen by both the PDC and Sky Sports. In 2013, the tournament grew from eight players to ten, with the top four players in the PDC Order of Merit automatically qualifying and six other players chosen as Wildcards on the basis of their performance in the past year or in earlier editions of the Premier League. In 2022, the tournament shrank back down to eight.

In 2024, both Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have made their debuts, with Littler, aged 17 years and 11 days when the 2024 campaign began, the youngest ever competitor in the Premier League. Littler would also become the youngest player to win the Premier League, aged 17 years and 123 days.

Premier League players and performance

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Player # 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
  Phil Taylor 13 W W W W SF W SF W RU SF 5 RU SF ×
  Colin Lloyd 3 RU SF 5 ×
  Peter Manley 4 SF 6 6 6 ×
  Roland Scholten 3 SF RU 8 ×
  Mark Dudbridge 1 5 ×
  John Part 3 6 × 8 6 ×
  Wayne Mardle 4 7 7 × 5 WD ×
  Raymond van Barneveld 14 × SF SF SF SF 6 SF 5 SF W SF 7 6 6 9 ×
  Ronnie Baxter 2 × 5 × 5 ×
  Terry Jenkins 5 × RU 7 5 8 7 ×
  Dennis Priestley 1 × SF × C ×
  Adrian Lewis 10 × 7 SF C 7 RU 6 8 6 6 SF 8 ×
  James Wade 12 × RU W RU 5 SF SF × 7 6 7 × SF × 6 SF ×
  Mervyn King 2 × RU SF ×
  Jelle Klaasen 2 × 7 × 9 ×
  Simon Whitlock 6 × SF 6 RU 6 10 × 8 ×
  Gary Anderson 11 × C × W 8 10 SF W SF SF SF WD SF 8 8 ×
  Mark Webster 1 × C × 8 ×
  Andy Hamilton 2 × SF 7 ×
  Kevin Painter 1 × 7 ×
  Michael van Gerwen 12 × W RU RU W W W W 6 SF W W SF
  Robert Thornton 3 × C × 5 8 × 8 ×
  Wes Newton 2 × 9 9 ×
  Peter Wright 11 × 5 9 5 RU 7 8 SF 7 5 8 8
  Dave Chisnall 4 × 7 SF 9 5 ×
  Stephen Bunting 1 × 8 × C ×
  Kim Huybrechts 2 × 10 × 10 ×
  Michael Smith 7 × 10 × RU 7 7 × 6 SF SF
  Rob Cross 5 × SF RU 9 9 × 6
  Daryl Gurney 3 × 5 SF 8 ×
  Mensur Suljović 2 × 9 6 ×
  Gerwyn Price 6 × 10 5 5 WD 7 RU 7
  Nathan Aspinall 4 × C RU SF × 5 5
  Glen Durrant 2 × C W 10 ×
  Dimitri Van den Bergh 2 × C × 5 × 6 ×
  Jonny Clayton 3 × C W SF SF ×
  José de Sousa 1 × RU ×
  Joe Cullen 1 × RU ×
  Chris Dobey 1 × C C × 7 ×
  Luke Humphries 1 × C C × RU
  Luke Littler 1 × W
Table Legend
W Won in playoffs RU Runner-up SF Lost in the semi-finals # Place in table, not qualified for playoffs
# Place in table, relegated WD Withdrew before tournament WD Withdrew during tournament C Challenger × Did not play

When Gary Anderson withdrew from the 2019 season just before it began, Chris Dobey, Glen Durrant, Steve Lennon, Luke Humphries, John Henderson, Nathan Aspinall, Max Hopp, Dimitri Van den Bergh and Jeffrey de Zwaan were named as "contenders" to play in Anderson's place each of the first eight weeks.[5][6] This format was reused for the 2020 season, with nine regular players and nine challengers; Henderson, Fallon Sherrock, Jonny Clayton, William O'Connor, Humphries, Bunting, Dobey, de Zwaan and Jermaine Wattimena were the challengers.

References

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  1. ^ Allen, Dave (14 December 2017). "New Seven-Year Deal For PDC & Sky Sports". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  2. ^ Allen, Dave. "Cazoo announced as new Premier League title sponsors". PDC. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  3. ^ "888.com Premier League Darts – Night 11". PDC. 22 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Premier League: Super Scot Gary Anderson breaks 180 record during demolition of Simon Whitlock - Daily Record". 21 April 2011.
  5. ^ "2019 Unibet Premier League Field Announced". Sky Sports. B Sky B. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  6. ^ Phillips, Josh. "Premier League 'Contenders' To Replace Injured Anderson". PDC. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
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