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 BetMGM Premier League season. These four players will join the top four automatic picks based on their 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 climbed to World No. 3 after an impressive performance at Alexandra Palace, will be making his Premier League debut alongside Northern Ireland’s World Cup winner, Josh Rock. This season’s league matches will span 17 weeks, commencing in Newcastle on February 5 and culminating in the final showdown at The O2 in London on May 28.
Following his recent world championship victory, Luke Littler aims to maintain his winning streak in the upcoming Premier League. Meanwhile, Clayton, the world No. 5 and last year’s Premier League champion, will be defending his title after defeating Jose de Sousa in the 2021 final.
Notably, Josh Rock led Northern Ireland to their first World Cup triumph in June and also excelled in televised semi-finals at various prestigious events. Additionally, world number seven Stephen Bunting had a successful campaign, securing six PDC titles including wins in World Series events and European Tour competitions.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement for the revamped lineup of this year’s Premier League, promising an entertaining season for fans across the UK and Europe. With a strong field of players and high expectations following a historic World Championship, the 2026 season is anticipated to be exceptional, with the tournament expanding to Belgium for the first time.
The competition format will consist of 16 league nights, each featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final played over the best of 11 legs. Points earned on each league night will determine the standings, with the top four players advancing to Finals Night.