Premier League Darts Line-up Predictions

The tour’s biggest exhibition will kick off in just a matter of weeks as Belfast hosts week 1 of the 2025 Premier League Darts.

Barry Hearn has made the “reveal” a bit more of an event and you can tune into SkySportNews on Monday 6th January at 4:30pm to find out who is in. We know that the top 4 ranked players at the end of the World Championship are guaranteed an entry. So we know Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross will be on our screens every Thursday night for at least 16 weeks.

Outside of that, it usually either goes to Major winners or players that have been in our faces due to long runs in major tournaments. That being said, a lot of those players failed to make any impression on the world championship stage.

So let’s take a a look at the protagonists and analyse their credentials:

2024 Major Winners

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries took the “biggies” and we know they are guaranteed to be in.

The other big title winners this year were Stephen Bunting (Masters), Dimitri van den Bergh (UK Open) & Mike de Decker (Grand Prix).

I for one think Stephen Bunting is as good as in, otherwise I would’nt have included him in the banner image.

He’s garnered a big following after working hard on his game and his demeanour and for whatever reason, his walk-on seems to be loved by the fans. I am of the firm belief that you could put any walk on song on for Bunting and he’d be able to hype you up enough to sing it. I would be shocked should Bunting not make it in 2025, 10 years after his 1st appearance after coming over from the BDO (was also a “Challenger” back in 2020).

For the other 2, it’s not as clear cut. Barry Hearn and the PDC sales team would have been praying for a Mike de Decker run at the Worlds and make it an easy decision to put him in. However, his defeat to the hands of Luke Woodhouse in his first match in Round 2. He has somewhat cooled a bit since that Grand Prix win so you could argue that the rigours of the Premier League might be coming a bit too early for him. On the plus side making a case for de Decker is that he’s new blood and something new to watch each week and would inject a fresh face into the setup, I think had de Decker made it to the Quarter Finals of the Worlds, he would’ve been included this year.

As for Dimi van den Bergh, he’s a former participant on two occasions and was a “Challenger” back in 2019 and he’s never really fared too well in his former campaigns, finishing 5th and 6th. He too has been in the doldrums of irrelevance prior to his surprising UK Open win last year and I feel that including him in the 2025 iteration will feel a bit underwhelming and re-hashing the old. His dancing moves are a bit tiresome and same old same old and I dont think he’s played good enough darts for long enough in the last year to be worthy of inclusion.

In-Form Players

Chris Dobey will be one that many think will see him participate in his 2nd Premier League after finishing 7th in 2023. “Hollywood” has made it 3 successive World Championship Quarter Finals in a row, not many can say that currently on tour. His defeat in the Semi final to MVG was a bit of a deflating defeat and could prove terminal in his Premier League bid this year. That being said, Dobey is one of the most solid on tour and is a pleasure to watch when he’s on it. Also working against him is the fact his 2024 form in general on TV was pretty poor, with just 1 other ranking tournament outside the worlds where he reached at least the 3rd round (UK Open 5th Round).

Gary Anderson would be a big attraction and is always fancied to win everything he enters and was consistently in amongst the highest average and 180 hitters in 2024. However, Anderson has touted a few times that he’s not really interested in the Premier League anymore, he doesn’t need the money or the tournament so I wouldn’t be surprised if a place was offered to him, however the offer will be refused and whilst it’s a big disappointment for the fans, you can understand The Flying Scotsman’s reasons. He’s only just rekindled his love for the game, thanks mainly in part to Ryan Searle and it’s been quite refreshing to see Anderson back on the Euro Tour stage. On top of this, Anderson is getting on a bit and I think burnout could quickly wash over Anderson were he to take part in the 2025 Premier League.

You can argue that Dave Chisnall shouldn’t really be included here in the “In-Form” section as he’s not had the greatest of years. That being said, his year end world ranking at #6 is actually his 2nd highest ever and was ranked #’5 way back in 2013. The main reason for this is that he wins a lot of matches on the floor and Euro Tour and has helped himself to 2 of each in 2024. I thas been somewhat a bit of a feast or famine season for Chizzy who has had a few niggling things chip away at him and it’s been 7 years since we last saw him in the Premier League. You just get the feeling he needed a big run in one or two of the Majors this year to be a front runner of consideration, with his best run coming at the Masters way back at the start of last year. The final nail in his Premier League 2025 coffin would’ve been his 2nd round exit to Ricky Evans a few weeks ago at the Worlds, compounding his poor performances on TV in 2024.

Out of Form Players/Previous participants

Gerwyn Price is a real 50/50 and one of those where you wouldn’t be surprised if he was in or if he was omitted from the 2025 lineup. He’s not made any secret about his dislike towards the competition and it’s one he’s never really taken to and he’s said as much. So I wouldn’t at all be suprised, like with Gary Anderson that Price could in fact turn down an invite should he be given one. With the easy money on offer though, it would be a hard one to turn down and might be a decision Price could later regret should he not find his successes of yesteryears. He encapsulates what you need in a Premier League player; Ability, engagement and something a bit different. He’s had a poor year by anyone’s standards but did have a decent World Championship campaign, rubber stamped by that classic against Joe Cullen in the Last 16 before succumbing to Chris Dobey. I think had Price won his Quarter Final against Dobey, he would’ve have been a short odds on price to make this year’s lineup.

Another player who seems to be slowly making his way back to his best is his Welsh World Cup Teammate in Jonny Clayton. We have all seen his struggles since the 2023 World Matchplay Final and the were doubts as to whether he could find his way back to his best after jacking in his job and doing darts full time. However, there are shoots of optimism as the ferrett finger is starting to appear more and more as the months and tournaments pass. Ranked still #7 in the world and isn’t defending a great deal of money in the Majors in 2025 (though did have a good 2023 on the Euro Tour) shows how he’s stuck in there and kept grinding and he is a fan favourite but I think it’s a bridge too far to expect to see Clayton in this year’s field.

Nathan Aspinall has been battling injuries and dartitis which have scuppered his progress after winning his first Major in 2023 at Blackpool. He took a decent chunk of time of in the middle of 2024 to focus on healing an arm injury that threatened his career. Gladly he seems to be working through that and getting back to his best and was good to see Aspinall get to the Quarter Finals of the World Championship, but was blown away (like many were) against Littler. To me, it at least signals that Aspinall is still going to be reckoned with in 2025, but I think he could do with a mini break to have a rest and go again in 2025. His notorious regripping of the darts became quite a common occurrence due the Worlds and I think a bit of time off would do him great in the long term, even if it means we miss his walk-on which is the biggest crowd pleaser there is for the PDC. That being said, with how SkySport continue to ram Mr Brightside down our throats for 2 minutes every time he walks on to the stage, I can see him being a player in this year’s field.

Final one to mention in this category is Michael Smith and I think it would be a slight surprise to see him in this year’s field, now having dropped to number 16 in the world rankings as his 2023 World Championship Money has come off, it just shows how poor he’s been generally since that World Title win. He has openly commented on his struggles of being a World Champion and like many others in this article, he’s still making his way back and finding his groove and best form on a more consistent basis. That being said I think the PDC and SkySports, who really like Smith will give him somewhat of a goodwill gesture and include him in this year’s field on the hopes that he continues to find his better form. I think he, like de Decker would’ve have been no brainers had they made the Quarters or Semi’s of the Worlds. but with his loss to Kevin Doets, who extracted some revenge from their 2024 matchup, it leaves it hanging in the balance somewhat.

Left Field surprises

Here’s where I make a stand and plant my flag. Damon Heta should be in this year’s field. You can find out more as to why I think this here.

The only other real left field choice would be Callan Rydz, who gave MVG a good run for his money at the World Championships and seems to be on an upward trajectory. He’s had more than his fair share of troubles but there is a lot to like about how Rydz plays the game, his ability cannot be questioned and he will no doubt in my mind be in a future iteration of the Premier League. He needs a bit more consistency in 2025 and beyond and he’ll continue to rise up the rankings and be in contention.

Similar comments apply to Dirk van Duijvenbode who finally looks to be over his knee injury which derailed his ascent to the top 10 in the rankings. He’s openly spoken about his struggles and how hard he is working on his game to get back to those demonstrative averages and bursts that we see and with a more consistent 2025, he’s even an outside shot for the 2026 Premier League.

Honourable Mentions

A few young guns to mention; First one being Josh Rock. He is slowly making his way back to his best after being thrust into the limelight at the back end of 2022 and was dubbed the next big thing. It’s fair to say that’s knocked him back a little and he’s struggled to come to terms with the rigours of the tour, but he’s getting there slowly but surely but his recent form too has been sub standard to be considered in 2025. Currently ranked #16 in the world, he recently welcomed his first child in to the world and I think you’ll see a very good Josh Rock this year and we could see him in the 2026 version of the Premier League.

Gian van Veen is surely just a few years away from competing in the Premier League. He shone at the Grand Slam in November and won the World Youth Championship in dramatic fashion against Jurjen van de Velde and has a high ceiling game when he is on it. He was another on the list of consideration had he made a deep run at the World Championships, but currently the world #29 and, that alone will mean he is overlooked for now.

Similar comments can be made of Wessel Nijman, who also put up a decent year in picking up his first PDC pro title in Players Championship 24. His star is still ascending and is doing his best to exorcise his match fixing scandal ghost for years past. He too will grace the Premier League stage at some point in the not too distant future but as things stand at the moment, he’s one to keep an eye on for the next few years.

Final Predictions

So we have both Luke’s, MVG and Rob Cross who are guaranteed to be in Belfast on February 6th, but who will join them?

I am going for Stephen Bunting, Damon Heta, Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments or on Social Media (@MrFlightside)