The PDC has announced the eight players for the Premier League a day after the Masters. In addition to the automatically placed top four in the world, Jonny Clayton, Nathan Aspinall, Dimitri van den Bergh and Chris Dobey managed to get a wild card.
The brand new world champions Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price currently occupy the top four on the PDC Order of Merit and were therefore naturally assured of a place in the tournament, leaving four places in the line-up.
Dimitri van den Bergh has received one of the wildcards. The Belgian reached the semi-finals at the World Matchplay and the World Darts Championship, and won two World Series tournaments in 2023.
Nathan Aspinall returns to the Premier League Darts after a one-year absence. ‘The Asp’ managed to reach the final at the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts last season. Jonny Clayton, winner of the Premier League in 2021, is also back.
At the last minute, Chris Dobey also received an invitation. The Englishman surprisingly won the Masters last weekend and was therefore the best at a major tournament for the first time.
The Premier League takes place every Thursday between February 2nd and May 25th. Each week progresses from a quarter-final to a winner, with a final play-off in May to be fought out by four players. On April 20, it will be the turn of the evening in Ahoy Rotterdam.
