Premier League 2026 - Preview 1
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League begins in Newcastle on Thursday, as Luke Humphries prepares to open his title defence at the Utilita Arena.
Night One of the new BetMGM Premier League season will feature a blockbuster line-up in the North East, as eight of the sport's biggest names go head-to-head in the first of 16 league nights.
Reigning champion Humphries is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen by becoming the third player to retain the coveted title, although he faces a tough start against 2023 runner-up Price.
"There's always the added expectation when you're defending champion, but I'm really looking forward to this one," declared Humphries. "I think my performances at the World Masters have given me a big boost of confidence; my scoring ability in Milton Keynes was as good as it's ever been. "I've got a great record in the Premier League which I've got to fall back on, so I'd love to join that club and become only the third player to retain this title."
Humphries toppled 2024 champion Littler in last year's showpiece, and the world number one begins his title challenge against debutant Gian van Veen in a repeat of last month's World Championship final. Littler has claimed top spot in the league phase in each of his previous two Premier League campaigns, and he's brimming with confidence ahead of his latest clash against the Dutch debutant.
"There's no better preparation for the Premier League than winning the World Masters, so I'm full of confidence and ready to go," insisted the 19-year-old. "Gian will be up for it. It's obviously his first game in the Premier League and he'll want to make a good impression, but I'm standing in the way. "It still hurts losing in the final last year, so this is up there with the tournaments I really want to win again this year."
Van Veen will become the fifth Dutchman to compete in a full Premier League season, and the European Champion is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld by clinching the prestigious trophy.
"It all feels real now; I'm really looking forward to it," reflected the world number three. "I feel like my game is in a very good place. I'm very confident, but I know it's going to be tough. "I'm not used to losing as many matches as I'm maybe going to over the next few weeks, so I think that will really define myself as a person in terms of how I come back from that, but I'll be ready."
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, is eyeing a record-extending eighth Premier League crown in 2026, and he will take on world number seven Stephen Bunting in his quarter-final clash at the Utilita Arena.
The seven-time champion has only missed out on Finals Night in two of his previous 13 Premier League appearances, and he's determined to get back on track following his fifth-place finish in 2025.
"I always love to perform on the big stage week after week, and now we're playing against some new faces, it's exciting," claimed the three-time World Champion. "Last year's Premier League was a bit of a rollercoaster for me, but as I always say, it's a sprint not a marathon, so we'll see what happens this year. "Of course I'm really proud with how I've performed in the Premier League, but that's in the past, and now I need to make sure my eyes are on the future."
In the evening's opener, newcomer Josh Rock will take on 2021 champion Jonny Clayton, who returns to the Premier League fold for the first time in three years. Clayton has featured at Finals Night in all three of his previous Premier League appearances, but Rock is confident of hitting the ground running in Newcastle.
"This was a dream of mine as a young kid to be in the Premier League," admitted Northern Ireland's World Cup champion. "It's still hard to believe I'm actually in it. When I got the phone call to say I was in, it was a dream come true. "I believe I'm up to the task, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge over the next 16 weeks."
Ranking points are awarded per night - with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists - to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28.
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
First Night's Quarterfinals:
Josh Rock v Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler v Gian van Veen
Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting v Michael van Gerwen
Night One of the new BetMGM Premier League season will feature a blockbuster line-up in the North East, as eight of the sport's biggest names go head-to-head in the first of 16 league nights.
Reigning champion Humphries is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen by becoming the third player to retain the coveted title, although he faces a tough start against 2023 runner-up Price.
"There's always the added expectation when you're defending champion, but I'm really looking forward to this one," declared Humphries. "I think my performances at the World Masters have given me a big boost of confidence; my scoring ability in Milton Keynes was as good as it's ever been. "I've got a great record in the Premier League which I've got to fall back on, so I'd love to join that club and become only the third player to retain this title."
Humphries toppled 2024 champion Littler in last year's showpiece, and the world number one begins his title challenge against debutant Gian van Veen in a repeat of last month's World Championship final. Littler has claimed top spot in the league phase in each of his previous two Premier League campaigns, and he's brimming with confidence ahead of his latest clash against the Dutch debutant.
"There's no better preparation for the Premier League than winning the World Masters, so I'm full of confidence and ready to go," insisted the 19-year-old. "Gian will be up for it. It's obviously his first game in the Premier League and he'll want to make a good impression, but I'm standing in the way. "It still hurts losing in the final last year, so this is up there with the tournaments I really want to win again this year."
Van Veen will become the fifth Dutchman to compete in a full Premier League season, and the European Champion is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld by clinching the prestigious trophy.
"It all feels real now; I'm really looking forward to it," reflected the world number three. "I feel like my game is in a very good place. I'm very confident, but I know it's going to be tough. "I'm not used to losing as many matches as I'm maybe going to over the next few weeks, so I think that will really define myself as a person in terms of how I come back from that, but I'll be ready."
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, is eyeing a record-extending eighth Premier League crown in 2026, and he will take on world number seven Stephen Bunting in his quarter-final clash at the Utilita Arena.
The seven-time champion has only missed out on Finals Night in two of his previous 13 Premier League appearances, and he's determined to get back on track following his fifth-place finish in 2025.
"I always love to perform on the big stage week after week, and now we're playing against some new faces, it's exciting," claimed the three-time World Champion. "Last year's Premier League was a bit of a rollercoaster for me, but as I always say, it's a sprint not a marathon, so we'll see what happens this year. "Of course I'm really proud with how I've performed in the Premier League, but that's in the past, and now I need to make sure my eyes are on the future."
In the evening's opener, newcomer Josh Rock will take on 2021 champion Jonny Clayton, who returns to the Premier League fold for the first time in three years. Clayton has featured at Finals Night in all three of his previous Premier League appearances, but Rock is confident of hitting the ground running in Newcastle.
"This was a dream of mine as a young kid to be in the Premier League," admitted Northern Ireland's World Cup champion. "It's still hard to believe I'm actually in it. When I got the phone call to say I was in, it was a dream come true. "I believe I'm up to the task, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge over the next 16 weeks."
Ranking points are awarded per night - with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists - to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28.
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
First Night's Quarterfinals:
Josh Rock v Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler v Gian van Veen
Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting v Michael van Gerwen