Premier League Darts: Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price on how to change format with proposed Royal Rumble | Arrow News
“Watch this space…”
That was PDC chief executive Matt Porter’s eye-catching response when asked if tweaks could be made to the Premier League Darts format.
Porter wants to ensure that the competition, which runs weekly from February to the end of May each year and was won in spectacular style by Luke Littler on Thursday night, does not become “repetitive” or “boring”.
The current format, established in 2022, sees a mini-tournament in 16 one-night matches of the season, consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
Each person who wins on the night earns five points, the runner-up gets three, the two losers advance to the two semi-finals and the four losers in the quarter-finals are left without a goal.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Littler was left in tears during the post-match interview following the Premier League Darts final as he opened up about his struggles at the start of the tournament.
The previous arrangement, which was last used in 2021, involved 10 players, all playing one match, the best of 12 legs in one night in round robin style before the bottom two in the table after the ninth week of the competition, called ‘Judgment Night’, were eliminated.
The round-robin then continued for the remaining eight players for another seven weeks, with the top four advancing to the play-offs that still exist today.
So, amid the talk of reforms, what are some of the top players looking for?
Luke Littler – ‘I want one game a night’
Littler has enjoyed a ‘Judgment Night’ element in previous Premier Leagues
World number one and two-time Premier League champion Luke Littlertalking to SportsBoom.co.uk:
“I’d like to see a change. I’d like to play in the Premier League where it’s just one game a night. Get two more players, get ‘Judgment Night’ again.
“That’s what I grew up watching. It was great to see two Premier League players go [out] with your 10 and nine and the other eight fight.
“If it doesn’t work, change it, but if it works for PDC, just keep it in place.”
Luke Humphries – ‘Take the number of players up to 10?’
Humphries would not have more than 10 players in the Premier League
World number 2 and 2025 Premier League champion Luke Humphries:
“I still enjoy the way it is now but there are many players who may not be in it. Do you need to stop these great players from being in it?
“I know [the PDC] i like elite, it’s really strong with eight, but if you have 10 players i feel it might be easier to stop arguments about who should be in the middle. I wouldn’t go past 10 because I feel that if you go to 12 maybe it’s not as elite as it should be.
“It is not only us as players but the fans want change and we need them on our side, I hope they will be rewarded for what they want.
“As players, we want what the fans want: to have great entertainment.”
Gerwyn Price – ‘A mixture of ancient and modern systems’
Gerwyn Price also wants to increase the number of players in the Premier League
World No 7 and 2023 Premier League runner-up Gerwyn Pricewrite on Facebook:
“Back to the old format of 10 players all playing one game a night. After nine weeks the bottom two players go out like in previous years and we go into the form of the last few years. Eight players go to the quarter-finals and play to win.”
Premier League Darts meets Royal Rumble?!
Price also suggested a change to the tournament, inspired by World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) annual event, the Royal Rumble, where 30 wrestlers enter the ring at timed intervals and the one left standing receives the title at WrestleMania.
The Iceman’s version of darts will see a ‘Royal Rumble’ clash between the second and third matches of each Premier League night, starting with two random players – out of the 10 Premier League competitors – on the first night.
The winner will advance to the next week and only learn of their opponent when their entrance music blasts, just like in WWE’s Royal Rumble.
WWE Superstar Roman Reigns plays The Miz during the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble
Expanding on the “twists” that could bring “more excitement”, Price said: “Nobody knows who will unexpectedly challenge each week. The winner of the Royal Rumble after 16 full weeks gets the belt, prize money and a place in next year’s Premier League.”
Price explained that his 16 competitors will be the top eight players from the one-year PDC Order of Merit and the top eight players outside of the Premier League qualifiers. “So, 26 of the best in the world are all involved,” added the Welshman.
Whether Porter and his PDC colleagues go that route remains to be seen, but it seems some changes to the Premier League could be imminent.
‘You can never choose something that pleases everyone’
PDC chief executive Matt Porter can see the merits of the current and past Premier League formats
“People look at it differently,” said Porter.
“Once you get on the field, you see it once. You want to see the winner of the night. You want to see that game until the last shot.”
“When you watch it every week on TV, some people want to see the best players playing against each other every week. Others want to see a little bit of variety.
“You’re never going to pick something that pleases everyone, but we’re always looking at what we can do, so watch this space.”
Really watch this space…
Sky Sports is the home of darts with the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship all coming up this year. Stream darts and other top games NOW with no contract – cancel anytime.
