The Professional Darts Corporation’s showcase travelling event, The Premier League, has been with us since 2005 and the basic principle has not changed. Between eight and ten of the best players in the world are selected to do battle over a 3 month period with the top four reaching a climactic playoff/finals night.
Back then we were treated to unglamorous UK venues such as Stoke-on-Trent’s Kings Hall rather than 10,000 and more seater venues in the UK Ireland and across continental Europe that are being visited in 2025.
It will come as no surprise to fans of the steel tip game that the inaugural holding was dominated and won by Phil Taylor. Indeed ”The Power‘ won the first four seasons before James Wade snatched the 2009 event.
Since then the Premier League, now sponsored by BetMGM, has a total of 8 different winners with Michael Van Gerwen winning a record seven seasons but still only matching Phil’s run of four titles in-a-row.
The annual field confirmation - due to it being made up at least two and currently four 'selections' - often stimulates fierce early season debate and often drives the darts conversation until the finals of the event itself. Luke Littler's age, Chris Dobey's lack of event wins, and Peter Wrights form have all provided selection controversy in recent years.
The most recent format change has seen every weekly event turned into a mini knockout for £10,000 on the night prize money as well as points toward the overall league table.
A recent phenomena of debutants winning the event seemed to halted when, in 2023, MVG prevented Joe Cullen from becoming the third new player in a row, following Glen Durrant and Jonny Clayton, to win.
Warrington phenomena Luke Littler’s remarkable triumph in 2024, after many had questioned his selection, may have kicked started the debutant habit once again. The Nuke's perfect leg in the final of 2024’s edition was yet another stunning moment in the teenager's incredible rise to the summit of world darts.
Ten men have hit perfect legs including that iconic first one from Raymond van Barneveld shortly after his crossing from the BDO.
Although, surely even those momentous occasions are dwarfed by the legendary 9-Darts Double from that man Phil Taylor. 'The Power' bagging a 2-for-1 versus James Wade drove the audience, and commentators alike, into fits of ecstasy and is surely the Premier League’s most magical moment.
Roll of Honour (8 Winners):
2005 – Phil Taylor def Colin Lloyd 16-4
2006 – Phil Taylor def Roland Scholten 16-6
2007 – Phil Taylor def Terry Jenkins 16-6
2008 – Phil Taylor def James Wade 16-8
2009 – James Wade def Mervyn King 13-8
2010 – Phil Taylor def James Wade 10-8
2011 – Gary Anderson def Adrian Lewis 10-4
2012 – Phil Taylor def Simon Whitlock 10-7
2013 – Michael van Gerwen def Phil Taylor 10-8
2014 – Raymond van Barneveld def Michael van Gerwen 10-6
2015 – Gary Anderson def Michael van Gerwen 11-7
2016 – Michael van Gerwen def Phil Taylor 11-3
2017 – Michael van Gerwen def Peter Wright 11-10
2018 – Michael van Gerwen def Michael Smith 11-4
2019 – Michael van Gerwen def Rob Cross 11-5
2020 – Glen Durrant def Nathan Aspinall 11-8
2021 – Jonny Clayton def Jose de Sousa 11-5
2022 – Michael van Gerwen def Joe Cullen 11-10
2023 – Michael van Gerwen def Gerwyn Price 11-5
2024 – Luke Littler def Luke Humphries 11-7
For the full Prmeier League Hall of Fame, more in depth coverage of everything darts, and the latest issues of their legendary publications, head on over to dartsworld.com
Image: Michael Cooper