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Dart’s biggest party returns in 2023 as a Premier League roadshow to a venue near you! The SSE Arena in Belfast hosts the first of 17 individual events from Thursday, February 2 with the Play-Offs returning to London’s O2 Arena on Thursday, May 25.
Last updated: 30/01/23 16:21
Will it be Premier League glory for Michael van Gerwen or could it end?
Will Michael van Gerwen go for a record seventh Premier League crown? How will the rest of the pack chase? Does Chris Dobey’s ‘Hollywood’ deserve a spot? Wayne Mardle answers all the key questions.
There’s only one place to start and that’s who Wayne thinks will win this year’s event, which will culminate at London’s O2 Arena on May 25.
Will it be seventh heaven for Dutch ace Van Gerwen or will he be challenged by one of the other seven players?
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Watch every nine-darter that has been hit in the Premier League
Will it be among the top four players for the title?
MVG will be favorites to win the Premier League for the seventh time
I don’t think so. Jonny Clayton came as a debutant, and one of the outsiders, and won. Joe Cullen almost won. Nathan Aspinall has made the final, as has Jose de Sousa and all the outsiders.
With the format as it stands, every player won one night in the Premier League last year. I am who appeared at night.
Well, Van Gerwen will be the favorite because he is still the best player in the world, in my opinion.
Price has never done justice to the league, while Peter Wright has never won, while Michael Smith was the runner-up.
I just knew there was going to be some darting drama!
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Take a look back at one of the tournament’s most dramatic finals when Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright met at the O2 Arena in 2017
Who are your favorites to win the Premier League this year?
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Michael van Gerwen beat Joe Cullen in a dramatic final in 2022 to claim his sixth Premier League title in Berlin.
Michael van Gerwen is the favorite in every event he enters. I believe that everything played well, he won and he proved that in 2022 by winning what he won.
This is a battle of the best against the best and I find it hard to believe they won’t be playing in the Play-Offs. Usually, they make the Play-Offs and I think they’ll do it again, but you can’t discount anyone because they’re all world-class players.
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See all four of Michael van Gerwen’s Premier League whitewashes
Does Dobey deserve a spot?
Wayle Mardle says Chris Dobey is a world-class player who deserves to win this year’s Premier League
Chris Dobey already knows about this lark of darts. In the last five majors he has participated in, he has reached two quarter-finals, a semi-final and now a win. He is a world-class player and he is on the rise.
He appears to be setting a precedent with Jonny Clayton and Joe Cullen having won the Masters in previous years. Clayton went and won it, while Cullen went to the width of the wire to win in his debut.
I wouldn’t rule Dobey out of winning at all.
What about the clamor for Luke Humphries?
Nathan Aspinall was handed a Premier League place, but world number 5 Luke Humphries missed out
I’m sure he’s given preference to the Premier League in the last few months and during the Masters his head is all over the place.
He looks lost and a man without confidence and unfortunately he wants to be in the Premier League more than win the Masters.
He will get over it. He’s really going to be confused, but he’s No. 5 in the world for a reason. He has won several events, but I also feel for Danny Noppert and Ross Smith.
Is there a case for Gabriel Clemens?
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Gabriel Clemens made a name for himself after disposing of Gerwyn Price to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship
No, I don’t think so. I ask the German audience, but without sounding disparaging to Gabriel you can not play well for one event and then be selected for the Premier League. You have to play better than that.
He didn’t play well at the Masters and it looked like he was under pressure. It was definitely too fast for him.
How about Aspinall, Clayton and Van den Bergh?
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Jonny Clayton beat Jose de Sousa to win the Premier League in his debut season
If you do it at the end of the year, you will have more opportunities. That’s where I think Nathan Aspinall’s choice comes in.
He’s played well in the Premier League before, but getting to the Grand Prix and Grand Slam finals, I’m sure it pays off when you perform at the end of the year.
Jonny Clayton won the Premier League on his debut in 2021, won the league phase in 2022. Yes, put him in. He’s a likable person. He will sell tickets and people will want to watch him play.
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Get ready for more on this from Dimitri Van den Bergh during this season’s Premier League…
Dimitri Van den Bergh will make his second appearance and people often forget that he led the Premier League for eight or nine weeks in his debut year. He won the Matchplay and was runner-up in the same event.
He’s won two recent world series events and I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but you can’t discount his ability and for the growth of the game, I understand why he’s in it.
There are 39 players who will play in the Premier League in 2019 and people come and go. People are chosen and left behind – that will never change.
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Phil Taylor takes on James Wade at Wembley Arena in an extraordinary Premier League encounter
Do you still like the format?
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Welshman Clayton spoke about the new Premier League format on the opening night of the season finale
I was in four of the first five Premier Leagues and I saw some changes in the format then.
It makes little difference to the player. It’s all about what’s watchable and what’s fun and I really enjoyed that piece last year. It is not hopeless!
I like the fact that to win the night you have to play well. Every single player last year won the night, but in the end it was darts that won!
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Remember when Raymond van Barneveld stunned Van Gerwen to win his first title at the O2 Arena?
Your favorite place?
Leeds Arena is a favorite with Mardle
It is between Leeds and Glasgow because of the way it is set out. They are amphitheaters, but even the smallest place is full of atmosphere.
I’m lucky enough to be involved in every Premier League game, playing or commentating, and I have to say I love it.
Premier League 2023 Schedule
| Night 1 | SSE Arena, Belfast | February 2nd |
| Night 2 | Cardiff International Arena | February 9 |
| Night 3 | OVO Hydro, Glasgow | February 16 |
| Night 4 | 3 Arena, Dublin | February 23rd |
| Night 5 | Westpoint Exeter | March 2 |
| Night 6 | Central Brighton | March 9 |
| Night 7 | Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham | March 16 |
| Night 8 | Utilita Arena, Newcastle | March 23 |
| Night 9 | Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin | March 30 |
| 10 at night | Utility Arena, Birmingham | April 6 |
| 11 at night | M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool | April 13 |
| 12 at night | Rotterdam Ahoy | April 20 |
| Night 13 | First Direct Arena, Leeds | April 27 |
| The night of the 14th | AO Arena, Manchester | May 4th |
| The night of the 15th | Utilita Arena, Sheffield | May 11 |
| Night 16 | P&J Live, Aberdeen | May 18 |
| Play-Offs | The O2, London | May 25 |
The new Premier League Darts season kicks off at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, February 2, the first of 17 individual venues to host the 2023 Premier League, which will be held on Thursday nights in February until May – live on Sky Sports!
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