Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price have been selected as the four wildcards for the upcoming BetMGM Premier League season, joining the top four automatic picks based on the order of merit. The top four in the order of merit include Luke Littler, the reigning world champion and world number one, defending champion Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen. Notably, van Veen and Rock will be making their debut appearances in the competition.
Van Veen’s impressive performance at Alexandra Palace propelled him to World No. 3, surpassing van Gerwen as the new top-ranked Dutch player. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, continues to be a force in the darts world.
The season will span 17 weeks, with 16 weeks of league matches commencing in Newcastle on February 5 and culminating in the final at The O2 in London on May 28.
Fresh off his recent world championship victory, Littler aims to defend his crown in the Premier League after engaging in intense battles with Humphries in the past finals. The upcoming season presents an opportunity for Littler to further solidify his status in the darts arena.
Clayton, ranked world No. 5, clinched the Premier League championship in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa in the final. The competition offers a substantial £350,000 top prize, attracting top talents in the sport.
Rock played a pivotal role in Northern Ireland’s first World Cup triumph and showcased his skills in multiple televised semi-finals at prestigious events. Bunting, ranked world number seven, had a successful campaign with six PDC titles under his belt, including victories in the World Series and European Tour events.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement about the revamped lineup for this year’s tournament, emphasizing the high level of darts competition witnessed in the past year. The upcoming season promises to be memorable, building on the success of the previous World Championship.
The league nights will feature quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final over the best of 11 legs, with points awarded each night to determine the league table standings. The top four players will advance to Finals Night, adding to the competitive nature of the tournament.