The roar of the crowd is about to reach a fever pitch. Premier League Darts is back, bigger than ever, poised to welcome over 150,000 passionate fans – a testament to a transformation two decades in the making. It’s a world away from the humble beginnings of 2005, when Phil Taylor claimed the inaugural title and a £50,000 prize.
Now, victory brings a staggering £275,000 reward, a figure Luke Humphries earned last year. Even defeat isn’t a small consolation, with runner-up Luke Littler taking home £125,000. The stakes have never been higher, and the arenas reflect that ambition.
The days of smaller venues like Wellsprings Centre and Glades Arena are long gone. Sell-out crowds now pack the 3Arena in Dublin, the Uber Arena in Berlin, and the newly added AFAS Dome in Antwerp, signaling darts’ explosive international appeal. Earning a place amongst the elite eight is a battle in itself, intensified by the life-changing rewards on offer.
This year’s lineup – Humphries, Littler, van Veen, van Gerwen, Price, Clayton, Rock, and Bunting – sparked debate. Who deserved a spot? Who was fortunate to make the cut? Matt Porter, the PDC’s chief executive, reveals the complex process behind those crucial decisions.
“It tends to happen towards the back end of the World Championship,” Porter explains. “People talk about it in September and October, but that’s way before we are even considering it. So much can change.” The selection isn’t based on a single metric, but a holistic assessment of each player.
“We look at rankings, form, personality, popularity, on-stage presence – it’s a whole package. It’s not fair to say someone is only in because of their walk-on. We look at every aspect of what a player can deliver, what they bring to the table. And it’s never going to be universally agreed with, which is good. It means people care.”
Stephen Bunting’s inclusion proved particularly controversial, given his last-place finish in the 2025 tournament and early World Championship exit. Porter defends the decision, highlighting Bunting’s world ranking and consistent performance throughout the year. “He won six tournaments. He’s a popular player, and jettisoning him after one year didn’t feel right.”
However, the omission of Danny Noppert stung. “He probably had the most cause to say he could have been in it, and he had a very valid case. He was very unlucky.” Players like James Wade, despite a strong start to the year, ultimately lost ground due to a dip in form during the crucial second half of the season.
Despite ongoing discussions, the Premier League format remains unchanged – for now. “The live crowd and the TV audience numbers are telling us it’s working,” Porter states. “Every metric is improving. We will change it at some point, but at the moment, it’s still the right format.”
The format isn’t without its critics. Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor believes the frequent matchups diminish the impact of rivalries. “You need rivalry, but not week in and week out. It becomes a bit less exciting.” Porter acknowledges the repetition, but defends the need to deliver the matchups fans crave in each city.
“If you’re in Nottingham, you want to see Littler vs Humphries. It’s difficult to tell people they can’t see the biggest matchup in their city.” He draws a parallel to tennis, suggesting the intensity of Federer vs Nadal didn’t diminish its appeal. “You should get enough variety in the short format games anyway.”
This year marks the biggest Premier League Darts event in history, with over 150,000 tickets sold. The addition of Antwerp to the schedule reflects the sport’s growing global footprint. “We identified Antwerp because of the growth of darts in Belgium. We’re not a UK company; we’re a global company, and the sport needs to be spread.”
The PDC’s recent foray into Saudi Arabia with the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters offered a different atmosphere. Porter describes the crowd as “restrained” but enthusiastic, noting the significant local interest. “It was an interesting place to do an event for the first time. The players adapted, understanding what to expect.”
While the Saudi event was a success, Porter doesn’t foresee a rapid expansion in the region. “One event in any developing country is right. There wouldn’t be any more than that.” The focus remains on strategic growth and delivering a compelling product to existing and new fans.
Looking ahead, the ambition is clear: to continue raising the bar. Discussions about a potential £5 million winner’s prize at the World Championship are underway. “Who’d have thought 10 years ago we’d be paying £1 million to the winner? As the sport keeps growing, we’ll keep delivering.”
Perhaps the most exciting development is the emergence of a “frightening” new generation of talent. Teenagers are consistently achieving impressive averages and nine-dart finishes, fueled by the growing accessibility of the sport and the clear career path it offers.
“The talent base is remarkable. It’s a young person’s sport now,” Porter confirms. “The average age of our players is dropping every year. It’s a sport that young people can get into from any background. There are very few barriers to entry, and natural talent is the only denominator.”
For Matt Porter, it’s been an extraordinary 25-year journey alongside Barry Hearn, witnessing a remarkable transformation. “Every day is a different challenge. We’ve grown so much organically. It’s been an amazing journey. We haven’t reinvented the wheel; we’ve just delivered products that people want to engage with, and at the moment, that’s going really well.”
