Premier League Darts 2025: Schedule, venues, players, format as Luke Littler returns as defending champion | Darts News

Who’s enjoying within the BetMGM Premier League in 2025? Which gamers missed out? What’s the format and the way a lot can gamers earn? All you’ll want to know and key questions forward of the brand new season, reside on Sky Sports activities…

The Premier League sees the world’s finest dart gamers go head-to-head over 17 nights of motion from February to Could each Thursday, with the annual event a part of the PDC Darts schedule since its launch in 2005.

Luke Littler returns as defending champion after final yr’s victory over world No 1 Luke Humphries, with the teenage star seeking to construct on his historic World Darts Championship success over Michael van Gerwen and proceed a formidable begin to 2025.

Van Gerwen and Rob Cross rounded off the 4 computerized qualifiers by way of the Order of Benefit, whereas Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Value had been introduced as picks – reside on Sky Sports activities Information – to finish the eight-man line-up

Matches happen each Thursday evening from February 6 to Could 29 and are performed in several venues round the UK, Eire and Europe, together with Germany and the Netherlands.

February may also function league nights in Glasgow, Dublin and Exeter throughout an action-packed opening month, earlier than the 17-week extravaganza continues with visits to Brighton, Nottingham, Cardiff and Newcastle in March.

Berlin, Manchester, Rotterdam and Liverpool host occasions in April, earlier than the season attracts to an in depth in Could. The ultimate 4 common league nights happen in Birmingham, Leeds, Aberdeen and Sheffield, earlier than the season-ending Play-Offs happen at The O2 in London on Thursday Could 29.

What’s the Premier League Darts format?

Every Premier League evening – since 2022 – has change into a mini event the place the eight gamers compete in 4 quarter-finals, with every of the gamers assembly as soon as throughout the primary seven weeks after which once more from weeks 9 to fifteen.

The winners progress to the semi-finals with the final 4 winners reaching the ultimate, the place the winner of the evening will likely be declared.

Each match is best-of-11 legs and the winner will get 5 factors, the runner-up three factors and the 2 shedding semi-finalists two factors. The highest 4 gamers on the Premier League desk on the finish of Night time 16 in Sheffield will advance to the Play-Offs and Finals Night time in London on Could 29.

How do the Play-Offs work?

The participant high of the desk going into the ultimate evening of the season will play the fourth-placed participant and the second-placed participant takes on the person in third place, with the 2 semi-finals performed over a best-of-19 legs.

The winner of these semi-finals will go head-to-head within the ultimate later that night, which is best-of-21 legs, with the primary participant to achieve 11 legs then topped Premier League champion.

Can anybody cease Luke Littler successful once more?

Littler is the pre-tournament favorite to efficiently defend his title forward of Humphries, with Van Gerwen the following within the betting markets after reaching the World Darts Championship ultimate on the Alexandra Palace.

Darts’ latest star received 4 nights in a seven-week stretch on his solution to topping the season-long standings final season, including two runner-up finishes and reaching the semi-finals on seven different events throughout his debut marketing campaign.

Victory over Humphries 11-7 in an exciting ultimate final yr included a surprising nine-darter, with the success certainly one of 10 PDC titles Littler secured – together with the World Collection of Darts and Grand Slam of Darts – in a outstanding 2024.

What’s the prize cash obtainable?

The 2025 champion will win £275,000 in prize cash, with £125,000 going to the runner-up and £85,000 to the opposite two gamers to achieve the semi-finals, whereas these ending between fifth and eighth incomes between £75,000 and £60,000.

Every winner of every week will obtain a Nightly Winner Bonus of £10,000, with the overall prize cash for this yr’s Premier League as soon as once more sitting at £1 million.

Who missed out on a spot in 2025?

Jonny Clayton and Dave Chisnall are the 2 highest-ranked gamers within the PDC Order of Benefit to not maintain a Premier League place, ranked sixth and seventh respectively when the line-up was confirmed, with world No 8 Damon Heta – who posted a superb nine-darter throughout the World Championship – additionally not concerned.

Two-time world champion Peter Wright misses out on a Premier League spot for the primary time since 2013, whereas Michael Smith – a Premier League semi-finalist in every of the previous two years – did not safe a spot after a disappointing yr.

Mike De Decker turns into the primary reigning World Grand Prix champion to not be supplied a Premier League place, with compatriot Dimitri Van den Bergh additionally not included in 2025 regardless of successful the UK Open final season.

Who has received the Premier League earlier than?

Phil Taylor received six of the primary eight editions of the Premier League between 2005 and 2012, with James Wade (2009) and Anderson (2011) the one gamers to cease “The Energy” throughout that interval.

Van Gerwen claimed the primary of his file seven Premier League titles in 2013 and compatriot Raymond van Barneveld got here out on high a yr later, with Anderson claiming victory in 2015 forward of Van Gerwen successful every of the following 4 editions.

Glen Durrant and Clayton had been the Premier League champions in 2020 and 2021 respectively, with Van Gerwen successful back-to-back editions from 2022 earlier than Littler’s spectacular breakthrough title – on his Premier League debut – in 2024.

How can I watch the Premier League in 2025?

Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be dwelling of the Premier League in 2025, with each evening unique reside together with the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.