Story Highlight
– Some players are disappointed about Premier League nominations.
– James Wade criticizes PDC decisions on social media.
– Danny Noppert expresses gratitude for fan support.
– Stephen Bunting defends his nomination despite poor results.
– Premier League Darts starts on February 5, 2026.
Full Story
Controversy surrounds the selection of players for the upcoming Premier League Darts, with notable absentees like James Wade expressing their frustration on social media.
Following the Darts World Championship, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) faced considerable challenges in finalizing the lineup for this year’s Premier League. The tournament saw several expected contenders falter early, leaving many in the darts community surprised.
The confirmed top four players as per the Order of Merit include reigning champion Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian Van Veen, and Michael Van Gerwen. The additional four players announced on January 5 are Jonny Clayton (5th in the world), Stephen Bunting (7th), Josh Rock (9th), and Gerwyn Price (12th).
Several leading players, notably Danny Noppert and James Wade—ranked tenth and eleventh in the world respectively—missed out despite commendable performances over the past year. Wade, in particular, addressed his disappointment in an Instagram post, questioning the reward for hard work: “Hard work pays off… is that really so?” After reaching two major finals and winning a Players Championship title, he lamented his early exit from the World Championship. Wade is now focusing on the future: “Disappointed but proud of the work I’ve done this year. Missing out hurts, but it’s part of the journey. Back to work. 2026, I will be ready.”
Noppert also acknowledged his exclusion on Instagram, expressing gratitude for his supporters: “Unfortunately, I was not nominated for this year’s Premier League. Nonetheless, it means a lot to see more people positively talking about me and mentioning my name as a potential candidate. For now, I will focus on having a good season.”
Stephen Bunting has drawn attention, with his selection sparking debate among fans and experts alike. Despite winning six smaller tournaments, his performance in major events has raised questions. Critique from former darts player Wayne Mardle on Sky Sports UK highlighted Bunting’s inconsistent major results, stating, “I’m a bit surprised by Stephen Bunting. He had a decent year, but in my opinion, not as well as some others. He can count himself lucky.”
Bunting himself admitted to having “weaknesses” in the latter part of 2025 but feels justified in his selection: “I can’t tell you how excited I am to be picked for this year’s Premier League. Admittedly, the end of the year didn’t go well, but with six tournament wins in 2025, I would have been disappointed not to be chosen.”
Notably absent from this year’s lineup are Gary Anderson and Ryan Searle, both semi-finalists in the last World Championship. Anderson has previously stated his preference to avoid the extensive travel requirements, while Searle struggled with only two tournament victories in 2025 and limited success in major events outside the World Championship.
Jonny Clayton, returning to the Premier League, expressed his joy on Instagram, stating, “Everyone who knows me knows how much I wanted to be part of the field again. I’ve won it before, and I want to thank the PDC for the invitation.” His fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price shared the excitement of having another Welsh competitor in the mix and humorously noted, “This year, I’m not the oldest.”
The Premier League Darts will commence on February 5 in Newcastle and conclude on May 28 in London, featuring a record prize pool, with the champion to receive £350,000 (approximately $403,000).