The 2026 Premier League Darts kicks off this week with an blockbuster night in Newcastle on Thursday.
The 2026 Premier League marathon is up and running with Newcastle Arena the first stop on Thursday.
World champion Luke Littler is the overwhelming 8/11 favourite to reclaim the title and he would dearly love to send out a statement on Tyneside by seeing off newcomer Gian van Veen in his opener and going on to pick up the £10,000 nightly prize and five qualifying points.
Defending champion Luke Humphries has a tough assignment against Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen plays Stephen Bunting and the other debutant Josh Rock kicks off proceedings against 2021 winner Jonny Clayton.
It’s the first of 16 nights of top darting drama with the top four at the end of the league phase heading for the finals at London’s O2 on May 28.
Selections
Jonny Clayton to beat Josh Rock @ 6/5
Luke Littler to beat Gian van Veen & Most 180s @ 10/11
Gerwyn Price to beat Luke Humphries @ 13/10
Michael van Gerwen vs Stephen Bunting – Either Player to win 6-5 @ 9/4
Josh Rock vs Jonny Clayton
Josh Rock is flying the flag for Northern Ireland in this year’s Premier League but don’t be surprised if he comes up second best against wily Welshman Jonny Clayton.
This is the Rock’s first taste of this unique event and coming fresh from a 4-0 mauling at the hands of Littler at the weekend Masters – Rock won just a solitary leg – he has every reason to feel uneasy.
Clayton was a World Championship quarter-finalist a month ago, is a winner of this title before and beat Rock in their only meeting in 2025, 6-2 at the Baltic Sea Open in July.
Tip: Jonny Clayton to beat Josh Rock @ 6/5
Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen
Match two is a repeat of the World Championship final with Littler expected to do another job on Gian van Veen.
At Alexandra Palace last month, Littler reeled off seven straight sets after losing the opener in a 7-1 demolition of the Dutch ace in the final.
Since then Littler has gone on to claim Masters glory and looks invincible. At the Palace he popped in nine more maximums than Van Veen so take The Nuke for the match and most 180s.
Tip: Luke Littler to beat Gian van Veen & Most 180s @ 10/11
Luke Humphries vs Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price ran Littler close in the Masters semi-finals on Sunday and knows he has the measure of Luke Humphries, if he is in the mood.
Price won three of their four meetings in last season’s Premier League and went on to beat Cool Hand at the Nordic Masters, the Baltic Sea Open and at last week’s Saudi Masters.
This could turn into a real battle but Price is always up for the fight and looks a decent price.
Tip: Gerwyn Price to beat Luke Humphries @ 13/10
Michael van Gerwen vs Stephen Bunting
The fourth and final quarter-final pits seven-time winner Michael van Gerwen against Stephen Bunting, the man who propped up the field last year after a dismal campaign.
The Bullet has played 38 matches in two runs at the Premier League and won just 10 of them, though he is still playing well in bursts.
Neither he nor MVG shone at The Masters – both men suffered heavy losses, Van Gerwen 3-1 against Damon Heta in round one, Bunting 4-0 at the hands of Danny Noppert in round two – and this is a slug-fest which could easily go to the wire.
Tip: Michael van Gerwen vs Stephen Bunting – Either Player to win 6-5 @ 9/4
