Jonny Clayton, the reigning champion from 2021, along with Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price, have secured wildcards for the upcoming BetMGM Premier League season. These four players will join the top four automatic selections based on the order of merit: Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen. Notably, this will mark the debut of both van Veen and Rock in the competition.
Following his impressive performance at Alexandra Palace, European Champion Van Veen has climbed to World No. 3, surpassing van Gerwen as the top-ranked Dutch player. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, continues to be a formidable contender in the darts arena.
The upcoming Premier League season will span 17 weeks, with league matches kicking off in Newcastle on February 5 and culminating in the final showdown at The O2 in London on May 28. Luke Littler, fresh off his recent world championship victory, aims to defend his title after engaging in closely contested finals with Luke Humphries in recent years.
Jonny Clayton, currently ranked World No. 5, clinched the Premier League title in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa in the final. This season’s top prize stands at a record-breaking £350,000, attracting the sport’s top talents to compete at the highest level.
In a remarkable year, Josh Rock led Northern Ireland to its first-ever World Cup triumph and achieved notable success in televised semi-finals at various prestigious events. Stephen Bunting, ranked seventh in the world, enjoyed a successful campaign with six PDC titles under his belt, including victories in World Series events and European Tour competitions.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement over the diverse lineup for the upcoming season, anticipating thrilling matches that will captivate audiences in the UK and Europe. With the league structure featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final on each of the 16 nights, players will accumulate points to determine the top four contenders advancing to Finals Night.