Jonny Clayton, who secured victory in 2021, along with Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price have been announced as the four wildcards for the upcoming season of the BetMGM Premier League. These additions will join the top four automatic selections based on the order of merit, including double world champion Luke Littler, current world No. 1, defending champion Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen. Notably, both van Veen and Rock will be making their debut appearances in the competition.
Van Veen, who recently climbed to World No. 3 after an impressive performance at Alexandra Palace, surpassed van Gerwen to become the top-ranked Dutch player. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, will also be part of the lineup.
The season is scheduled for 17 weeks, starting with 16 weeks of league matches commencing in Newcastle on Thursday, February 5, and concluding with the final at The O2 in London on May 28. Littler, fresh off his world championship win, aims to reclaim his crown after intense battles with Humphries in the last two finals.
Clayton, currently ranked World No. 5, clinched the Premier League title in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa 11-5 in the final. The competition offers a record top prize of £350,000, attracting the sport’s top talents.
Rock played a pivotal role in Northern Ireland’s first World Cup victory in June and achieved notable success in televised semi-finals at various prestigious events. Bunting, ranked seventh in the world, had a remarkable campaign with six PDC titles, including wins in World Series events and European Tour tournaments.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement about the revamped lineup for this year’s Premier League, anticipating great entertainment for audiences across the UK and Europe. The intense competition and the exceptional level of talent in darts over the past year made player selection particularly challenging.
The league nights will feature quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final, each played over the best of 11 legs. Points will be accumulated throughout the season to determine the top four players advancing to Finals Night. With a focus on building on the momentum from the historic World Championship, the 2026 season promises to be memorable, especially with the event expanding to Belgium for the first time.
