NEW LUKE
Luke Humphries calls for major format change to Premier League Darts – and wants fans to vote on it
Michael van Gerwen has also given his thoughts
LUKE HUMPHRIES wants darts fans to go to the polls this summer – and decide on the future of the Premier League Darts.
The eight-person invitation tournament, which carries the second-richest purse in the sport, celebrates its 20-year anniversary in 2025.
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It originally started out as a round-robin league format where tungsten throwers had one match each night and draws were part of the fun.
In 2022, it changed to a nightly knockout contest involving eight players where there is one winner every evening but two stars have three walk-on introductions.
Michael van Gerwen, in particular, is a critic of the change and hates the regularity of playing the same top stars week-in, week-out.
And days after a General Election was called, reigning world champion Humphries believes there should be a proper discussion among the paying public.
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Ahead of Thursday's Premier League final, Cool Hand Luke, 29, said: “It’s all about what works for the fans. I’m happy to play in whatever the fans want.
“Whether it’s one game a night or a knockout format.
“I think they should do a poll. What do the fans want? What do the fans want to see?
“At the end of the day, this is for the fans. Maybe that would have a good choice. And whatever they choose, none of us can moan.
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“At the moment, you have got the likes of me and Michael van Gerwen, that is a special game in darts. So, too, me and Luke Littler.
“But we have played each other about six or seven times this year already in the Premier League. So it takes away that special moment.”
Littler speaks out after historic Premier League Darts in
Humphries went on to lose 11-7 to Luke Littler in the final, with the teenager hitting an incredible nine-darter on his way to the title.
The PDC have no plans to change the format and are satisfied with how it is structured, having consulted supporters.
Officials say the knockout competition encourages fans in the arenas over 16 weeks to stay until the very end as they want to witness an overall winner.
Holland’s Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, said: “For me as a player and as a darts fan, I’d rather not play all the top players all the time in a row. It becomes less special.
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“On the other side, if you are in the venue, watching the darts and they bring in the money, buying the tickets, they want to see a winner at the end of the night.
“I get it. But for me as a player, I prefer one game on the night.
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“Back in the day, at the beginning of the Premier League, let’s say I was playing Phil Taylor, it’s week seven, everyone was leading towards those games.
“Now it’s a little bit special. For the people in the crowd, I get it. It is better for the people in the crowd.”
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Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age - smashing records along the way.
He has since joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he's even the face of a brand new cereal.
The wonderkid has now cemented his place among the tungsten elite by winning the Premier League Darts final - and the £275k top prize.
Check out all of our Luke Littler stories here.
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