In recent years, the Darts Premier League has grown into one of the biggest tournaments of the entire darts year. Why is this not a given?
The answer is simple. The money raised has no influence on the money list, the so-called Order of Merit . So why is the Darts Premier League so popular?
We answer this question. We also explain why the Premier League is the most important darts event of the year after the World Championship.
The schedule and format of the Darts Premier League
The schedule has followed a very specific format for years. A total of ten players participate from the start. They compete against each other over nine match days . After these first nine match days, the bottom two players in the rankings are eliminated from the tournament.
This leaves eight players remaining. They will duel each other for another seven match days until every player has competed against all the others.
The field of participants is now reduced to the top four players in the standings . These four players will compete in the so-called playoffs , also known as the semifinals .
The first-place finisher plays against the fourth-place finisher, while the second-place finisher competes against the third-place finisher. The two winners then compete in the final. But beware, WDF Darts has nothing to do with the PDC and is an independent darts association .
How many participants are there in the Darts Premier League?
The Darts Premier League is considered an invitational tournament . This means that players cannot simply qualify for the Premier League on a sporting basis.
The PDC itself allocates starting places according to a set principle, which is structured as follows:
- The top 4 players in the PDC Order of Merit automatically receive a starting place .
- The PDC distributes so-called wild cards for the remaining six starting places .
Infobox: A wild card is awarded, for example, to a player who has performed impressively throughout the past year . Not just recently, but especially at the Darts World Championship.
Since the Premier League is a tournament lasting several months , darts' top stars want to showcase themselves on this stage. It's considered an honor to be able to participate in this tournament .
Of course, the Premier League is also financially worthwhile for the ten participating players.
Who participated in the 2023 Darts Premier League?
In 2023, the PDC did not announce the participants immediately after the Darts World Championship, but waited for the results of the Masters . These eight superstars competed in the Premier League:
- Gerwyn Price
- Michael Smith
- Michael van Gerwen
- Peter Wright
- Chris Dobey
- Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Jonny Clayton
- Nathan Aspinall
In addition to the top 4 in the world rankings Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright, Masters winner Chris Dobey will also be there.
In addition, three wildcards were awarded to Dimitri van den Bergh, Jonny Clayton and Nathan Aspinall.
Prize money: How much does the winner of the Darts Premier League get?
As already mentioned, the prize money of the Darts Premier League is not included in the Order of Merit. Nevertheless, the Premier League is currently considered the second-biggest tournament of the year – after the World Championship.
Financially, participation is particularly worthwhile for the top four players. The winner receives a whopping 250,000 pounds , and the semifinalist receives 80,000 pounds .
Even if the team is eliminated after the first nine match days, the participants will still receive 25,000 pounds .
This financial incentive ensures that players hope for one of the coveted wild cards year after year. But the image and, above all, awareness are also enhanced by the regular matchday broadcasts.
So it's not just about sporting and financial success . It's primarily about sustained awareness , which can significantly boost your merchandising sales in the long run.
Full halls and great atmosphere
The large indoor venues, in particular, contribute to the Darts Premier League phenomenon. The 2019 Premier League season will host matches in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland , the Netherlands, and Germany .
Each venue is bigger than the next. On match day in Berlin alone, well over 10,000 darts fans were in attendance, transforming the venue into a madhouse.
By comparison, the Ally Pally, where the World Cup is being held, can only accommodate around 3,000 visitors per session.
The local heroes, in particular, enjoy playing in front of their own fans. This often leads to a heated atmosphere in the arenas. Match days in the Netherlands are described as particularly special.
Of course, all Premier League match days will also be broadcast live.
The previous champions – well-known names
The 2023 tournament will be the 19th edition of the Premier League. Of the 19 tournaments so far, Phil Taylor alone has won a total of six. Michael van Gerwen has achieved the major coup seven times.
In 2023, van Gerwen overtook Phil Taylor. He also had two wins from Gary Anderson, one from James Wade, one from Jonny Clayton, and one from Raymond van Barneveld.
So far, there have been no surprises in the list of winners. This also suggests that the top stars are proving year after year that they deserve to be represented in the Premier League.
They simply deliver the most consistent performances of the entire PDC field throughout the year. Here, too, you have to be careful that PDC Europe and PDC are two different associations.
That's why the Premier League is so interesting for sponsors
The Premier League has a very special advantage: For nearly four months, a Premier League matchday takes place and is broadcast on television almost every week .
This also makes it an enormously attractive event for sponsors . This means that the players benefit not only from the PDC prize money but also from new sponsorship contracts.
How much does a ticket for the Darts Premier League cost?
Tickets for the 2024 Premier League are already on general sale. The Premier League's annual roadshow will take place over 17 nights in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands , and Germany between February and May 2024 .
Tickets for night 2 in Berlin at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on February 8, 2024 are available between 39 and 300 euros , depending on the provider and seat.
Infobox: Fans also have access to a hospitality ticket. This includes premium seating, a two-hour pre-show, dinner, a meeting with a legend, a souvenir gift, and much more. The price is €365.
Admission is from 6 p.m. and prices have not changed much compared to 2023.
However, anyone hoping to see the show at London's legendary Ally Pally is in for a treat. Tickets are nearly impossible to come by , as they sell out faster than you can blink.
Where can you watch the Darts Premier League?
DAZN is definitely the home of darts. No other channel shows as much darts as DAZN. However, you can also watch the 2024 Darts Premier League for free via a free live stream on Sport1 .
Conclusion
We hope that this overview has provided you with the most important information about the Darts Premier League.
If you still want tickets for the tournament , you should hurry, as only a few are still available , according to the individual providers.
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