Jonny Clayton, the reigning champion of 2021, along with Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price, have been selected as the four wildcards for the upcoming season of the BetMGM Premier League. These four players will join the top four automatic picks based on the order of merit, including double world champion Luke Littler, current world No. 1 Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen.
Van Veen, who recently reached the world final but was defeated 7-1 by Littler, and Northern Ireland’s World Cup champion Rock will be making their debut appearances in the competition. Van Veen’s impressive performance at Alexandra Palace elevated him to World No. 3, surpassing van Gerwen as the new top-ranked Dutch player. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, is known for his dominance in the sport.
The Premier League season spans 17 weeks, featuring 16 weeks of league matches commencing in Newcastle on Thursday, February 5, and culminating in the final at The O2 in London on May 28. Littler, fresh off his world championship victory, aims to reclaim his crown after intense battles with Humphries in the previous finals.
Clayton, ranked world No. 5, secured the Premier League title in 2021 by defeating Jose de Sousa 11-5 in the final. The tournament offers a top prize of £350,000, attracting the sport’s top talents to compete at the highest level. Bunting, holding the seventh spot in the world rankings, had a successful campaign with six PDC titles, showcasing his talent on various prestigious stages.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement about the new lineup for this year’s tournament and the high level of competition among the players. The upcoming season aims to build on the momentum generated by the historic World Championship, with plans to expand the event to Belgium for the first time in 2026. The league nights will feature quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final, with points accumulating to determine the top four players advancing to Finals Night.