The 2025 BetMGM Premier League starts on Thursday and will see eight of the sport's biggest stars compete in 16 mini-tournaments over the season. Beginning in Belfast at the SSE Arena, there will be a quarter-final, semi-final, and final, all played over the best of 11 legs and £10,000 to the winner. Ranking points will be awarded per night with five to the winner, three to the runner-up, and two to each semi-finalist which will create a league table, culminating with the top 4 in the table progressing to the playoffs at the 02 Arena in May.
Selection for the Premier League is always a big subject of discussion and this year has been no different with Mike de Decker missing out and he certainly hasn't been shy in speaking out about that decision. The Belgian became the first player to win a Sky Sports Major and miss out on selection for a Premier League campaign the following season. He spoke out about his annoyance at the fact Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price were both picked in front of him. I do understand his point but I'm not sure if speaking out in public about it is the best option, although it will certainly make the 2025 Premier League more interesting.
It is easy to forget that the top 2 players in the World Rankings coming into the 2025 Premier League only made their debut in last season's event. Luke Humphries was probably ready for the 2023 Premier League but was made to wait another year and I think it was a great decision. His debut campaign was terrific, finishing second in the league table, 4 points behind Luke Littler, and also losing in the final to Luke Littler 11-7 at the 02 Arena in London. Luke Littler won his first major title and his first Premier League title on debut last year, becoming the youngest player to win a PDC Major tournament. His incredible rise has continued since then, winning 11 PDC Titles, culminating in his amazing performances at Ally Pally where he won his first World Championship Title. He is now World Number 2 and isn't defending a lot of money this year in ranked events so could well be eyeing up that number 1 position.
Rob Cross has kept his position in this year's Premier League based on his automatic selection after finishing 2024 ranked 4th in the world rankings. He had a really solid year and deservedly retained his place after 5 Major TV quarter-finals. The former World Champion finished 6th last year but was cut adrift from the top 5 quite early on, so will be hoping to do better this season.
Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall also both retained their Premier League places but both were perhaps the most controversial selections. Aspinall has had a torrid 18 months, riddled with injury, and has struggled with dartitis. 'The Asp' will probably feel fortunate to have been given another season in the event but he did play well in last year's Premier League, finishing 5th.
Gerwyn Price will also feel a little fortunate to have been given a place after publicly slating the Premier League format and also suggesting he wouldn't be interested in playing it in 2025. He later retracted that statement and has looked back to his brilliant best at times in the last 3 months but it will all depend on how much he enjoys the travelling, especially after finishing 7th, winning just 7/23 matches last year.
Michael van Gerwen will be competing in his 13th Premier League campaign and is a previous seven-time winner. His Premier League stats are quite remarkable and after a great run to the World Championship Final in January, losing out to Luke Littler, I believe the great Dutchman is close to his best again and could well go close once again this year.
Finally, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey have been reselected for the Premier League and will be making their second appearances, replacing Michael Smith and Peter Wright, marking the first Premier League line-up not to feature a player representing Scotland since 2010.
Both players had fabulous runs to the semi-final of the World Championship and in my opinion, both deserve their spots. Stephen Bunting has been in great form for 18 months now and has continued that into 2025, winning the Bahrain Masters. He struggled in his previous appearance in the 2015 Premier League, finishing 8th and only winning 3/16 matches.
Chris Dobey hasn't started the year off great, only managing one win so far in three events. His previous appearance at the Premier League was in 2023 where he finished 7th, winning just 8/23 matches.
The first night's action will be headlined by defending Premier League champion and current World Champion Luke Littler who kicks off his campaign this evening and faces an eye-watering repeat of January's World Championship final against Michael van Gerwen.
World number 1 Luke Humphries will begin his campaign against Nathan Aspinall, whilst the returning Stephen Bunting will play 2018 World Champion Rob Cross. Finally, opening up Thursday evening will be a clash between Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price.
James Hubbard's Premier League Darts Predictions (Night 1)
Chris Dobey vs Gerwyn Price
- Gerwyn Price Most 180s and Win: 11/4 at Midnite
Since his run to the semi-final of the World Championship, Chris Dobey has only managed to win one match and that was against Bassim Mahmood 6-0 in the Bahrain Masters. He then lost 6-0 to Stephen Bunting with an 84 average and hasn't quite looked the same since, losing his opening matches in the Dutch Darts Masters and the World Masters.
Gerwyn Price has looked magnificent at times over the last few months and he's started this season in good form also. He was runner-up in Bahrain to Stephen Bunting but did beat Luke Littler on route with a 115.31 average. He then made the semi-final in the Dutch Darts Masters and lost narrowly 4-3 in the quarter-final of the World Masters 4-3 to Damon Heta.
I rate Dobey, when he's on it he's a match for anyone but just at the moment he doesn't look quite himself so I'm swaying towards the in-form Welshman here. Dobey usually always hits a lot of maximums but again so far this season he hasn't scored as heavily as usual where as Price has been scoring extremely well. I believe if 'The Iceman' gets off to a good start in this year's Premier League, he could well go on to win this whole tournament.
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Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross
- Rob Cross Over 2.5 180s: 11/10 at SpreadEX
- Over 9.5 Legs: 10/11 at Betfred
Both of these two players have been in good form coming into this year's Premier League and both have a World Series Event win in 2025. Bunting won the Bahrain Masters in superior fashion and then lost to Rob Cross in the final of the Dutch Darts Masters a week later. Rob Cross was superb in Holland and averaged around 100 for the tournament. Cross did lose early in the World Masters but didn't play badly at all averaging 103.19 in a 3-1 defeat to William O'Connor.
Stephen Bunting was once again in form at the recent World Masters but lost out in the quarter-final 4-3 to Danny Noppert, but did average 101.28. I'm not entirely certain on who to back in the match, both players look in good form. I think it's obvious Bunting is playing better but I think the Dutch Masters win will do Cross the world of good, and a confident Rob Cross is a danger to anyone.
I always feel Cross is undervalued in the 180 markets, he hits more than you think and when his first dart is perfect, he very often flows with the other two and scores well. I can see this being a close match, Bunting may well be slightly nervous on his Premier League return so I expect it to be tight.
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Gerwyn Price to Win Week 1
- Gerwyn Price to win Week 1: 7/1 at Betfred
I've mentioned the Welshman quite a lot in recent tips, but it's simply because his attitude and action looks very close to where it was 3-5 years ago. Around that time he was threatening in most events he played in and had the hunger and aggression to win. It looks to me as if that's slowly coming back, especially after recent comments about wanting to get back to his best.
The travelling will be an issue he has to deal with, something he has publicly expressed he doesn't like, but also for him to win an event like the Premier League, he has to get off to a fast start.
Tonight though he is in the opposite half to Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, and Michael van Gerwen so I think 7/1 is a huge price. He will of course need to be on his A game, with a potential semi-final tie against the in-form Stephen Bunting, but for me, the price is too big to ignore and I think he has every chance of winning week 1 in Belfast.
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James is a former professional dart player who enjoys writing about darts, golf and football. In 2012, he was crowned the PDC World Youth Champion and these days, he puts his expertise to use with betting tips for BettingLounge readers.