Daily Star Sport predicts Premier League of Darts line up as Luke Littler defends crown
Right off the bat of the PDC World Darts Championship, Daily Star Sport has taken it upon ourselves for the unenviable task of attempting to predict the Premier League of Darts line-up ahead of Monday
It’s hard to believe 12 months ago the big debate regarding the Premier League of Darts was Luke Littler.
Littler, 17, was coming off the back of the a debut Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship campaign that had seen him finish runner-up to Luke Humphries. It took the darting prodigy just 12 months to right that wrong.
And with Littler now the reigning World Champion, Daily Star Sport has taken it upon ourselves to predict who will be joining him in the Premier League ahead of Monday’s (January 6) announcement.
Luke Littler
What hasn’t Luke Littler done over the past 12 months?
The World Champion has also wrapped up the World Series of Darts, Grand Slam of Darts and the Premier League in a darting season from his wildest dreams. Littler has transformed the sport – and is the first name on everyone’s lips when it comes to the Premier League.
Littler will be looking to retain his crown next summer as he kicks into major season, looking to collect some of the gold he missed out on in 2024.
Luke Humphries
The only darting force on the planet that can seemingly hang with Littler is Luke Humphries.
Humphries’ World Championship defence came to an abrupt halt as Peter Wright – who hasn’t quite done enough to earn a spot on this list – dumped him out of the tournament.
Humphries is still the defending World Matchplay champion in a year where he also wrapped up the World Cup of Darts – alongside Michael Smith – and beat Littler in the Players Championship final.
Michael van Gerwen
Is it the end of the Michael van Gerwen era? Not if the Dutchman has anything to do about it.
Mighty Mike showed he still has the ‘it factor’ as he bulldozed his way into the final of World Darts Championship final – and there’s no shame in losing to Littler when he’s in that kind of mood. However, the Dutchman is capable of the spectacular, and that’s why he’s made the list.
On his day, Van Gerwen can beat anyone – even Littler and Humphries.
Rob Cross
It wasn’t a great World Championship campaign from Rob Cross, but Voltage has been one of the most consistent players on the tour all year.
Cross is currently 4th in the PDC Order of Merit, where he is defending £551,750.
In 2024, Cross reached the quarter-finals of the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and the World Series of Darts Finals. He would also win the Baltic Sea Open in the European Tour.
Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price’s inclusion on this list might turn some heads.
It hasn’t been a vintage season from the Iceman, but he might just have done enough at the World Darts Championship to retain his spot. You simply can’t look past his star power – and the Iceman has bags of that.
Price looked to be reaching his best at the Ally Pally, and in a season of changes in the Premier League, Price might just have done enough to retain his spot – for one more season at least.
Stephen Bunting
The Bullet Stephen Bunting is one of the most popular players on tour – and he has finally started to knock up some wins in the success column.
After a long, long, wait Bunting took his first televised title in over a decade back in February when he won The Masters. Bunting built on that with a commanding run to the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship, where he was knocked out by Littler.
The Premier League better watch out, the Bunting Army is ready to bring the house down chanting Titanium across the country.
Mike De Decker
Who had Mike De Decker on their list even when last season’s Premier League concluded.
The Belgian star has exploded in the back of 2024, culminating with his first ever major win at the World Grand Prix. The Real Deal didn’t have a great World Darts Championship, losing in the second round, but you can’t look past a major – especially one where he beat Humphries in the final.
De Decker has the edge of other major winners, such as Ritchie Edhouse, in our opinion thanks to his performances at the Players Championship across the season.
Damon Heta
The Aussie icon Damon Heta is the last man on our list.
Call it recency-bias, but his nine-darter at the Ally Pally has all but sealed the deal. Heta has been on the up this season – and who doesn’t want to see a bit of Naruto each week?
