Premier League

In 2005, introduced by Matchroom Sports as the strongest competition in world darts, the premier league is a travelling darts circus all around Great Britain and Europe. 
 
Just like last season, the PDC opts for a format with eight players and a knockout tournament during each round. This year the following eight names are participating: Luke Humphries, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, and Luke Littler.

In the first quarter of the competition, it is Michael van Gerwen who dominates as usual. He wins three nights in this period and takes the lead in the race to the play-offs. Michael Smith wins the first night but doesn't do much after that. Peter Wright has a false start to the Premier League, losing his first six games in a row.

In the second quarter of the competition, Michael van Gerwen falls completely silent. He does not win a match between weeks five and eight and therefore drops in the rankings. Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright also have a bad second quarter, making it a difficult task for them halfway through the Premier League to even reach the last four. The one who is doing an excellent job is Luke Humphries. The world champion is playing in his first Premier League and had to get used to it for a few weeks, but he wins three nights in a row from week six to week eight. Nathan Aspinall also had a good second quarter. Although The Asp has lost the first three weeks in a row, he recoveres well with three finals in the six weeks that follow, of which he also manages to win 1.

The new 17-year-old sensation on the darts firmament is called Luke Littler. He had reached the final of the World Championship out of nowhere and that was enough reason for the PDC to give him a wild card in the Premier League. He adapts quickly, because he plays excellently from the start, although it takes until week nine before he can add his first weekly win. But once he gets the hang of it he is hard to stop and wins four of the next six weeks. The only highlight this Premier League for Gerwyn Price comes in week 10 when he hits a nine-darter against Michael Smith in Manchester.

In the last quarter of the regular competition, three players fight for spots three and four. Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall. Things can go either way until week 15, when Van Gerwen secures his place by reaching the final that week. Smith wins against Nathan Aspinall in week 15, which ensures that they meet again in week 16 and that the winner of that game will play in the play-offs. For the second week in a row, it is Michael Smith who takes the win, leaving Nathan Aspinall empty-handed.

The play-offs are played in a sold-out O2 Arena in London. In the first semi-final, Luke Littler is too strong for Michael Smith 10-5. From the start of the game, it is Littler who has the best of the game and takes an early break lead. Smith never gets that break back and has to settle for third place this year. In the other semi-final the story is actually about the same. Humphries dictates and Van Gerwen has little to offer in return. Result in the second semi-final also 10-5. The final is therefore a repeat of the World Championship final featuring the numbers one and two of the regular Premier League competition and it will be a match to die for. Both players know how to hit the triples and doubles in the first half of the final. Halfway through, the score of 5-5 is fully deserved. Luke Littler then strikes again mercilessly. In the first leg after the interruption, he throws a nine-darter, making him only the second player in history after Phil Taylor to achieve this. He immediately strikes again and wins three legs in a row to take an 8-5 lead. Humphries is not able to close that gap. Luke Littler wins the Premier League on his debut by beating Luke Humphries in the final 11-7. He is therefore the eighth player to win this prestigious title.