The Premier League Darts format won't stay the same forever, but don't expect any immediate shake-ups.
PDC chief executive Matt Porter has confirmed changes are on the horizon, though he's in no rush to tinker with what's clearly working.
"We will change it at some point, but at the moment, you can only look at the numbers that are in front of you," Porter said.
"The live crowd and the TV audience, the numbers are telling us that the format is working."
PDC chief Matt Porter has confirmed changes are on the horizon
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He pointed out that every metric is improving, from ticket sales to viewing figures.
"If people stop buying tickets or start changing the channel, then it wouldn't be working, but every metric is improving."
Porter acknowledges that seeing the same faces clash repeatedly is the biggest gripe fans have with the current setup.
But he reckons it's a matter of perspective.
"You're looking at it through the eyes of somebody who's perhaps watching it on TV every week," he explained.
Michael van Gerwen complained about the Premier League format
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"If you're in Nottingham, you want to see Littler vs Humphries, and if you're in Aberdeen, you might want to see the same, and if you're in Brighton, you might want to see the same."
He drew a comparison to tennis, noting that nobody seemed to mind watching Roger Federer take on Rafael Nadal time and again.
Michael van Gerwen, who won the first Premier League night on Thursday, has criticised the format already, speaking out against the competition just hours before it got underway in Newcastle.
When it came to player selection, Porter revealed that Danny Noppert was the unluckiest to miss out on this year's tournament.
The Dutchman reached four semi-finals throughout 2025, giving him a strong case for inclusion.
"Danny Noppert was probably the one who would have the most cause to say he could have been in it and he had a very valid case and he was very, very unlucky not to be selected," Porter admitted.
Stephen Bunting's spot raised eyebrows after he finished bottom of the table last year without reaching any Premier event semi-finals.
But Porter defended the decision, pointing to Bunting's world number seven ranking and six tournament victories across the year.
Michael van Gerwen won the first Premier League night this season
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The 2026 Premier League Darts kicked off last night in Newcastle, with eight players battling it out for a share of the £1.25 million prize pot.
Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price make up this year's field.
The knockout format sees competitors face each other once between weeks one and seven, then again from weeks nine to fifteen.
Each night's winner takes home £10,000, with the top four after 16 weeks advancing to finals night in London on May 28.
The overall champion will pocket £350,000.