The line-up for Premier League Darts 2014

Posted: 18.02.14 in Tournament Analysis Blog category

The PDC Premier League is up and running but who is heading for the top or going to make the drop?

World Darts runner-up Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall are making their debuts in Premier League Darts in 2014 after being named as part of the ten-player field in January.

The 16 week campaign has already started, with each of the players playing the other nine players once. Then in week nine, the bottom two will be relegated, leaving the eight remaining players in the competition. The eight will meet each player once more during the next six weeks and then the top four will progress to the Play-Offs that take place at the O2 arena in London on 22 May.

Wright reached the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship final and Chisnall is currently one of the world’s top five darts players. His rise to success has included being part of the World Grand Prix final, winning a European Tour and having two Players Championship victories to his name.

Last year’s Premier League Darts title champ Michael van Gerwen, who is also the new World Champion, will have to defend his title against six-time champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and Gary Anderson, 2011 winner and one of the Sky Sports Wildcards taking part in the event.

Other players include Adrian Lewis and Simon Whitlock, both former Premier League Darts finalists and Raymond van Barneveld, who has made it to the semi-finals six times. Two players who made their Premier League Darts debuts in 2013, Robert Thornton and Wes Newton, have held onto their places for this season’s championship.

If you’re looking to get a value bet on the Premier League winner in these early weeks, check out the odds available on Betfair, the world’s biggest betting exchange. At the moment, the favourite three are Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis. The player with the longest odds on Betfair for outright winner is Wes Newton, currently at 80/1.