Jonny Clayton, the 2021 titleholder, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, and Gerwyn Price have been announced as the four wildcards for the upcoming season of the BetMGM Premier League. These players will join the top four automatic selections based on the order of merit: double world champion Luke Littler, current world No. 1 Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen.
Van Veen and Rock will both be making their debut in the competition, with Van Veen climbing to World No. 3 after an impressive performance at Alexandra Palace. The Premier League, a seven-time champion, features a 17-week season starting in Newcastle on February 5 and concluding with the final at The O2 in London on May 28.
Littler, fresh from his recent world championship victory, aims to reclaim his crown after battling Humphries in the last two finals. Clayton, the 2021 Premier League champion, defeated Jose de Sousa 11-5 in the final. Bunting, ranked seventh in the world, had a successful campaign with six PDC titles under his belt.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed excitement over the new lineup for this year’s tournament, highlighting the high level of competition seen in the past year. The league format will consist of 16 nights of action, with points awarded each night contributing to the league table. The top four players will advance to Finals Night, where the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will be contested over the best of 11 legs.