Premier League Darts: Littler Begins Title Defence Against Van Gerwen

Luke Littler starts his Premier League title defence against Michael van Gerwen, as the world's top darts players compete for the £1 million prize fund.

Reigning World Champion Luke Littler will commence his Premier League title defence against seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen on the opening night at the SSE Arena in Belfast next month. This highly anticipated match serves as a rematch of their thrilling World Championship final earlier this year. Littler, just 18 years old, will face a formidable challenge as he bids to become only the second player in history to successfully defend the Premier League title.

The Premier League will feature a star-studded line-up, including world number one Luke Humphries, former world champions Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price, and fan favourites Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey, and Stephen Bunting. These eight elite players will compete in 16 mini-tournaments across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany, with the format remaining unchanged from previous years.

Littler's title defence will be closely watched, given the exceptional field of competitors. Van Gerwen, also known as the Green Machine, will undoubtedly pose a significant threat, having claimed the Premier League title seven times previously. The stage is set for an exciting competition, with the world's top darts players vying for the prestigious Premier League crown.

Each night of the Premier League will feature a gripping knockout format, with players competing in quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final that will be played as a best-of-11-legs contest. This format promises to deliver thrilling matches and unpredictable outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

The Premier League will award points to players based on their nightly performances. The winner of each night will receive five points, the runner-up will get three points, and the semi-finalists will earn two points each. These points will be crucial in determining the top four players in the league table, who will then advance to the highly anticipated Play-Offs at London's O2 Arena.

The Premier League's grand finale will take place on Thursday, May 29th, at the O2 Arena in London. On this night, the final four players will battle it out for the prestigious Premier League crown and a share of the £1 million prize money. Additionally, each night's winner will receive a £10,000 bonus, while the outright tournament winner will take home £275,000, and the runner-up will receive £125,000.

Fans can stay up-to-date with all the action from the Premier League by following... The tournament kicks off on February 6th with the first night in Belfast, marking the beginning of an exciting journey to the Play-Offs and the ultimate showdown in London.

The BetMGM Premier League schedule has been announced, featuring 16 nights of action-packed darts across the UK, Ireland, and Europe. The tournament kicks off on Thursday, February 6th, at The SSE Arena in Belfast, with a thrilling quarter-final lineup.

The first night in Belfast will see Chris Dobey take on Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting face Rob Cross, Luke Littler battle Michael van Gerwen, and Nathan Aspinall face Luke Humphries. Over the subsequent nights, the eight competitors will clash in a series of quarter-finals, with the tournament culminating in the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday, May 29th.

Each night will feature a knockout format, with the winners earning crucial points towards the league table. The top four players will advance to the Play-Offs, where they will compete in the semi-finals and final to determine the Premier League champion.

The full schedule includes nights in Glasgow, Dublin, Exeter, Brighton, Nottingham, Cardiff, Berlin, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Aberdeen, and Sheffield. The league table will be used to determine the bracket for the Play-Offs, ensuring an exciting conclusion to the tournament.

The Premier League will feature a star-studded lineup, including reigning World Champion Luke Littler, seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen, and world number one Luke Humphries. With £1 million in prize money up for grabs, the competition is expected to be fierce.

The BetMGM Premier League schedule:

Night One: Thursday, February 6th, The SSE Arena, Belfast

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Night 16: Thursday, May 22nd, Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Play-Offs: Thursday, May 29th, The O2, London