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 BetMGM Premier League season. These four players will join the top four automatic picks based on the order of merit, including double world champion Luke Littler, current world No. 1 Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen. Notably, van Veen and Rock will be making their debut appearances in the competition.
Following his impressive performance at Alexandra Palace, European Champion van Veen has climbed to the rank of World No. 3, surpassing van Gerwen as the top Dutch player. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, will also be competing in the event.
The Premier League season will span 17 weeks, commencing with 16 weeks of league matches starting in Newcastle on February 5 and concluding with the final at The O2 in London on May 28.
Fresh off his recent world championship victory, Littler aims to secure another title after engaging in competitive finals with Humphries in the past. Clayton, the current world No. 5, clinched the Premier League title in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa in the final.
Rock played a pivotal role in Northern Ireland’s inaugural World Cup triumph and made appearances in several televised semi-finals at prestigious darts events. Bunting, ranked seventh in the world, had a successful season with six PDC titles to his name, including wins in Bahrain, Copenhagen, Riesa, and Basel.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement over the fresh lineup for this year’s Premier League, highlighting the competitive standard of darts witnessed in the past year. With record-breaking ticket sales for the upcoming season, the event is anticipated to be a memorable one for fans.
The tournament format will include 16 nights of action, featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final, all played over the best of 11 legs. Points earned each night will contribute to the league table, with the top four players advancing to Finals Night.