The Premier League returns for the 21st season on Friday, 7 February with world champion Luke Littler looking to make it two straight while a lineup of familiar faces makes for a fascinating 2025 edition even without popular stars Peter Wright and Michael Smith.
Luke Littler ($2.20)
Premier League Appearances: 1
Premier League Wins: 1
Premier League Playoffs: 1
Best Result: Winner (2024)
2024-25 Titles: World Championship, Premier League, Grand Slam, Players Championship 1, Belgian Darts Open, Austrian Darts Open, Players Championship 15, World Series Finals, Players Championship 20
It would take a fool to be against Luke Littler to win the Premier League. He won it in his debut season before he could legally go to a pub and then went on to win the World Championship for good measure. The numbers are insane. He threw four nine-darters in his first full season as a PDC cardholder. He averaged 99.34, behind only Gary Anderson. His TV average was 101.24, nearly three full points ahead of Luke Humphries. He threw 91 more TV 180s than second-placed Humphies and 207 more than third-placed Van Gerwen. He sat fifth in checkout percentage on the stage. He is the best in the world and getting only better. Chips in Littler.
Predicted Finish: 1st
Recommended Bet: To Win Premier League @ $2.20
Luke Humphries ($3.75)
Premier League Appearances: 1
Premier League Wins: 0
Premier League Playoffs: 1
Best Result: Runner-Up (2024)
2024-25 Titles: World Championship, German Darts Grand Prix, World Match Play. Players Championship 26, Players Championship Finals
While Luke Littler’s star is expected to rise in 2025, the immediate future of Luke Humphries is a little less clear. Humphries clearly remains an elite talent but he seemed to drop a level over the backend of the season, the Players Championship Finals excepted. His TV average from September onwards ranks 12th. Humphries is near unstoppable when firing on all cylinders but that has become less frequent over the backend of last season. He is too short in betting and a huge lay to miss the finals.
Predicted Finish: 4th
Recommended Bet: No Bet
Michael Van Gerwen ($6.50)
Premier League Appearances: 12
Premier League Wins: 7
Premier League Playoffs: 11
Best Result: Winner (2013,16,17,18,19,22,23)
2024 Titles: Dutch Darts Masters, Players Championship 21, Hungarian Darts Trophy, Players Championship 27
The seven-time Premier League winner endured a forgettable 2024 – but he still managed to win four tournaments, reached the final of the World Championship and posted the fourth best average. That under-the-radar run to the World Championship final said plenty about where MVG is at and that he might be coming out the other side of what he would call a rut. While MVG probably lacks the intimidation factor he once did, he is still very much clearly situated amongst the top three in darts and will put together another strong Premier League campaign.
Predicted Finish: 3rd
Recommended Bet: To Reach Final @ $2.63
Gerwyn Price ($13)
Premier League Appearances: 6
Premier League Wins: 0
Premier League Playoffs: 1
Best Result: Runner-up (2023)
2024 Titles: Nil
Controversial Welsh star who was incredibly quiet in 2024 and frankly, is lucky to have his spot in the elite eight-man lineup. Price teased the darts world by suggesting he would make himself unavailable but decided to play in the end. Price certainly seemed to lose some of his fire over the last 12 months despite posting the sixth highest average, killed by a 39.8% checkout percentage that was down to 36.98% on TV and a TV average that was four points fewer than his overall. With such a poor Premier League record, very happy to be against Price at all opportunities.
Predicted Finish: 7th
Recommended Bet: No Bet
Stephen Bunting ($13)
Premier League Appearances: 1
Premier League Wins: 0
Premier League Playoffs: 0
Best Result: 8th (2015)
2024 Titles: Masters, Bahrain Darts Masters
There is no doubt that the last 12 months have belonged to Luke Littler but if there is a second-place it is Stephen Bunting’s. Last year was a breakout season for the popular Bunting, winning the Masters before reaching the semis of the World Championships. His 96.94 average last season ranked fifth, he threw the fourth most 180s and ranks inside the Top 15 for doubling. The veteran has elevated his game and can make a run to the final.
Predicted Finish: 2nd
Recommended Bet: To Reach The Final @ $5
Chris Dobey ($17)
Premier League Appearances: 1
Premier League Wins: 0
Premier League Playoffs: 0
Best Result: 7th (2023)
2024 Titles: Players Championship 7, Players Championship 19, Players Championship 25
It is hard to forget how bad Chris Dobey was during his only Premier League appearance and the short format on the stage does not seem to suit him. Perhaps the biggest concern around Dobey is his TV doubling, that was at 35.84% last year – a lowly 30th of 33 qualifiers. Dobby is probably the best second-tier player in the world but he seems panels off the best despite a nice run at the World Championships. Hopefully improves on his debut Premier League campaign.
Predicted Finish: 6th
Recommended Bet: No Bet
Rob Cross ($19)
Premier League Appearances: 5
Premier League Wins: 0
Premier League Playoffs: 2
Best Result: Runner-up (2019)
2024 Titles: Baltic Sea Darts Open
One suspects that if Rob Cross was not inside the automatic qualifiers care of sitting fourth in the PDC Order of Merit, he would have joined Snakebite and Bully Boy on the sidelines. He had a very poor 2024 by any measure. His sole win was low on the totem pole of prestige. He did not win a single night in the Premier League. He averaged just 95.79 across all tournaments, good for just 13th, while he sat 30th in his doubling. Not going well enough.
Predicted Finish: 8th
Recommended Bet: No Bet
Nathan Aspinall ($34)
Premier League Appearances: 4
Premier League Wins: 0
Premier League Playoffs: 2
Best Result: Runner-up (2020)
2024-25 Titles: Nil
The Asp’s position in the Premier League was questioned by those who missed out – Mike de Decker and Dave Chisnall to name but two – but even when he is out of form there is no questioning his heart. Despite arguably having less talent than any of the other eight in the Premier League last year, he ground out two nightly wins. He has made the playoffs in two of his four Premier League showings including a runner-up finish in 2024. His 94.35 average in 2024 – and rumours of dartitis hitting – are the concerns but expect him to go better than his rank outsider price suggests.
Predicted Finish: 5th
Recommended Bet: No Bet