Jonny Clayton, the reigning 2021 champion, along with Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price, have been selected as the four wildcard entrants for the upcoming BetMGM Premier League season. These four players will join the top four automatic qualifiers based on merit, which include the current world No. 1 Luke Littler, defending champion Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen.
Notably, van Veen, who recently rose to World No. 3 after an impressive performance at Alexandra Palace, and Rock, the World Cup winner from Northern Ireland, will be making their debut appearances in the competition this season. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, will also be part of the lineup.
The season is scheduled to span 17 weeks, featuring 16 weeks of league matches commencing in Newcastle on February 5, with the final showdown set to take place at The O2 in London on May 28.
Following his recent world championship victory, Littler is aiming to secure another successful year, targeting major titles like the Masters and the European Championships, which have eluded him so far. Meanwhile, Clayton, ranked world No. 5, clinched the Premier League title in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement about the new lineup for this season, anticipating great entertainment for fans across the UK and Europe. With the high level of talent in darts showcased over the past year, the selection process for this year’s tournament was particularly challenging.
The Premier League matches will consist of quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final on each league night, played over the best of 11 legs. Points will be awarded during each night to determine the league table standings, with the top four players advancing to the Finals Night.