Jonny Clayton, the reigning champion from 2021, along with Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price, have been selected as the four wildcards for the upcoming season of the BetMGM Premier League. These four players will join the top four automatic picks based on the order of merit, including world No. 1 Luke Littler, defending champion Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen.
Van Veen’s impressive performance at the recent world final has elevated him to World No. 3, surpassing van Gerwen as the new top-ranked Dutch player. Despite van Veen’s loss to Littler in the world final, both he and Rock will be making their debuts in the Premier League this year.
The season will span 17 weeks, featuring 16 weeks of league matches commencing in Newcastle on February 5 and culminating in the final at The O2 in London on May 28. Littler, fresh off his world championship victory, aims to defend his title in the face of tough competition.
Clayton, ranked fifth in the world, claimed the Premier League title in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa in the final, securing a record £350,000 top prize. Bunting, ranked seventh globally, had a successful campaign with six PDC titles under his belt.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement over the revamped lineup for this year’s Premier League, highlighting the high level of darts talent in the circuit. The upcoming season promises to be memorable, building on the success of the recent World Championship.
The tournament format will include 16 nights of action, with each league night featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final played over the best of 11 legs. Points will be awarded each night to determine the league table standings, with the top four players advancing to Finals Night.