With the selection for the Premier League Darts approaching and the Darts World Cup still in full swing, the discussion surrounding the line-up is more controversial than ever according to Chris Mason.
“It’s quite difficult,” Mason said. “Especially with players who enter the top four, drop out and then are overtaken by others. I think Gian van Veen and Josh Rock are among them.”
It is anything but certain who they would displace. “Every year we try to predict it and every year we get thrown a curveball,” Mason continued. “The Lukes are in it, of course, MVG is in it, I think Van Veen is in it, Rock is in it — and then it becomes gambling.”
World Cup final could turn everything upside down
That uncertainty will only increase due to what happens in the final phase of the World Cup. One result can put the entire selection debate in a different light. “What if Gary Anderson wins tonight?” Mason points out. “One of them then plays along, the other doesn’t — and that creates even more doubt.”
The most difficult scenario, according to Mason, is that Anderson becomes world champion and then opts out of the Premier League, with the line-up being confirmed just days after the World Cup final. “If Gary wins it and then doesn’t participate, I don’t think that’s a good signal. And I don’t think Sky will be happy about that if their world champion isn’t on their channel every week.”
Although it remains hypothetical, Mason says Anderson is crystal clear about his position. “He’s crystal clear. We’ve talked to him about it a lot. He said, ‘Mate, I’m not going to play.’ I suggested a truckload of money — he said there should be two.”
Regardless of individual choices, Mason finds this season remarkable for its broad, consistent performance, without many titles in return. According to him, this is partly due to the dominance of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. “So many players had a strong season without really winning, because the major tournaments were dominated by those two. Except for Gian van Veen, almost no one took anything.”
According to Mason, that context must be taken into account when making the selection. One name he sees participating seriously is Stephen Bunting, despite a setback towards the end of the year. “The success may have come too early for Bunting. He fell silent a bit, came last last year, but he is extremely popular. They could just put him back in.”
It becomes more difficult with established names such as James Wade and Gerwyn Price. “Both top 10 players having a good season. Especially Wade: two major finals, including the Matchplay, but then he comes here and doesn’t deliver. That’s the problem.”
Mason acknowledges that ‘recency bias’ plays a major role in the public debate, but still sees Price as a serious candidate. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Price in. He’s box office. They know what he can bring.”
According to Mason, this leaves ‘about ten people’ as real contenders, including Jonny Clayton. “How do you leave Jonny out of the squad when he is number five in the world, the highest ranked Welshman and a proven winner in this competition? It’s difficult. I don’t envy them.”
Does the format need to be changed?
With a list of potential participants bursting at the seams, Mason questions whether the format is still sustainable. “If there was ever a reason to go to ten, it’s now. Or maybe even to twelve.”
He outlines a radical format with home and away games, relegation after four weeks and then a return to the current format towards finals night. “That solves a lot. Six matches per evening, draw back, bookmakers would love it and you prevent us from getting the same posters week in, week out.”
According to Mason, they also hear that signal from the fans. “Some people quickly got tired of it. There is no right or wrong, but there is a gray area in which things can be improved – also for the players, because it takes a lot.”
When asked about his personal preferences, Mason reluctantly mentions his choices. “I’d pick Price again because he made the play-offs. And I’d probably pick Jonny Clayton… or Danny Noppert.” According to him, Noppert is structurally undervalued. “He has been under the radar: five semi-finals on TV, former major winner, and he lost in perhaps the match of the tournament.”
Ultimately, taste also plays a role. “I like watching Price. I like watching Aspinall. Those guys give you everything every week.” Whoever makes the selection, Mason expects the announcement to dominate the darts news on Monday. “This will be big news, because some really big names will be left out. It wouldn’t surprise me if they go completely ‘rogue’.”
“MVG doesn’t need a break”
Finally, Mason dismisses the idea that Michael van Gerwen would benefit from a year without the Premier League. “If it was purely about ranking, it was just the top eight. They gave themselves that wild card to deliver what fans want.” And those fans are coming, he emphasizes. “Ticket sales were through the roof. Everything was on the rise. Huge arenas sold out without anyone knowing the lineup.”
That also explains why players like to participate so much. But according to Mason, a break would not help Van Gerwen. “He gets better the more he plays. If he were not there, he would not have enough match rhythm.”
Mason understands the romantic idea of one last Premier League campaign for Gary Anderson, but he considers it unrealistic. “It’s not the darts that destroy you, it’s the travelling. At his age, that’s hard.”
