We’re heading towards the back end of 2024, and that means that the darts calendar is about to become jam-packed.
Over the next three months, we will have the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam, European Championships, Players Championship Finals and, of course, the World Championships.
Once we get through that flurry of tournaments, attention will then turn to the Premier League.
There’s already plenty of chat around who will be selected for the Premier League next year, and, of course, that largely depends on how the competition is going to be formatted.
The Premier League has changed format a few times in recent years with the introduction of the contenders back in 2020, before the nightly tournament format we see today.
Speaking to Online Darts, PDC chief Matt Porter has been discussing next year’s Premier League, and he says that there are currently no plans to change the format.
2025 Premier League format won’t change
Porter spoke about how the Premier League will shape up this year.
“On the Premier League, is there any thought of a format change for the Premier League yet?” Porter was asked.
“No, no, at the moment we’re happy with the format as it is which I’m sure everyone watching your show will be delighted with. It will change again when the current format has outlived its usefulness,” Porter said.
Premier League needs expanding
Porter has no plans to change the format of the Premier League in 2025, but there is a real argument to be made that expansion is needed.
Simply put, there are way more than eight players who deserve a Premier League spot next year.
Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler are shoo-ins, and depending on the Order of Merit, two of Michael Smith, Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall are likely to get in.
Factor in the historic achievements and following that the likes of Peter Wright and Gary Anderson have alongside the brilliance Ross Smith, Damon Heta, Dimitri van den Bergh and Stephen Bunting have shown this year.
With that, you’re already looking at 12 strong Premier League contenders – and that’s before Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Jonny Clayton even get a mention.
There’s enough depth on tour now to expand the Premier League into an even bigger competition, perhaps with two groups or multiple divisions, and with ticket sales still strong, there’s a case to make for the PDC making the Premier League bigger than it ever has been.
There’ll be no change in 2025, but this conversation isn’t going away anytime soon.