Eight players will compete for a share of £1m across the UK and Europe
CARDIFF is playing host to the start of this year’s Premier League darts tournament as eight players play in 16 mini-events aiming to win a share of the £1m prize fund.
Wales have two representatives in the £1m tournament which starts at The Motorpoint Arena on Thursday before moving on to venues across Britain and Europe, finishing in May.
Caerphilly-born, World number 1 Gerwyn “The Iceman” Price is taking part alongside his 2020 PDC World Cup of Darts partner Jonny “The Ferrett” Clayton from Llanelli.
Clayton heads back to Cardiff as the Premier League defending champion and the pair were triumphant in the 2020 World Cup after beating English duo Michael Smith and Rob Cross.
The Professional Darts Corporation has experimented with a number of format changes since the tournament was introduced in 2005, initially beginning with seven players before moving to eight and 10 competitors, and in recent years featuring Challengers.
The 2022 tournament will feature 16 league nights acting as individual events in arenas in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Germany.
Each event will compromise of quarter finals, semi-finals and a final over the best of 11 legs (first to six). There will be an extra incentive with a £10,000 bonus to each night’s winner.
Additionally, ranking points will be awarded on each night – with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists – to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to the Play-Offs.
“The Ferret” had an impressive year in 2021 with many darts fans calling it the ‘Year of the Ferret.’ Winning the Masters, two Players Championship events, the World Grand Prix and the World Series of Darts Finals.
“That will make all my dreams come true. To be home in Wales and to be announced as defending champion is fantastic,” he said.
Clayton got the better of his fellow Welshman on Saturday, beating Price 10-8 at the Masters, as the World Cup team-mates faced off for the fifth time on television in the last 12 months.
Awaiting the fixture list for the inaugural event in Cardiff, Gerwyn Price said: “I just hope they don’t put me against Jonny first game because they might even boo me there. I’m looking forward to it.”
The 2020 Premier League darts was scheduled to start at the Motorpoint Arena in 2021 but due to Covid-19 was delayed with the first nine rounds taking place being closed doors in Milton Keynes.
PDC chief executive Matt Porter, said: “The Premier League has grown beyond recognition since first being introduced 17 years ago, but the time was right to introduce this ground-breaking new format.
“Our new format means that every match matters. Every night throughout the season has its own champion and will provide even greater value for fans attending and watching around the world, with seven games playing through to a conclusion to find a winner in each venue.
“We’ve already seen great interest across the UK and Europe from fans looking forward to attending the Premier League live once again, and this year they’ll be experiencing more top-class darts than ever before in this event.”
Sky Sports darts presenter Emma Paton added: “While we’ve got fewer players involved with eight, we’re guaranteed more drama than ever, and I think it’s great the crowds at every venue get their own mini-tournament each week.”
2022 Cazoo Premier League competitors
Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen
James Wade
Michael Smith
Gary Anderson
Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen
2022 Cazoo Premier League Schedule
Thursday February 3 – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Thursday February 10 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Thursday February 17 – SSE Arena, Belfast
Thursday February 24 – Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
Thursday March 3 – Westpoint Exeter
Thursday March 10 – The Brighton Centre
Thursday March 17 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Thursday March 24 – Rotterdam Ahoy
Thursday March 31 – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Thursday April 7 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
Thursday April 14 – AO Arena, Manchester
Thursday April 21 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
Thursday April 28 – 3Arena, Dublin
Thursday May 5 – OVO Arena, Glasgow
Thursday May 12 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Thursday May 19 – The O2, London
Thursday May 26 – Utilita Arena Newcastle
