Saturday, March 23 (from 1 p.m.)
Quarterfinals
Leonard Gates v Richie Howson
Phil Taylor v Martin Adams
John Henderson v Andy Hamilton
Robert Thornton v Richard-Eirig Rowlands
Sunday, March 24 (from 1 p.m.)
Semi-final
Gates/Howson v Taylor/Adams
Henderson/Hamilton v Thornton/Rowlands
Final
Gates/Howson/Taylor/Adams v Henderson/Hamilton/Thornton/Rowlands
World champ Luke Humphries says he's in peak shape physically and mentally.
After claiming a third straight Premier League win, the Englishman also claimed it would need a "big performance" to stop him.
Humphries told Sky Sports: “I’m not bored, I’m really enjoying myself.
The start of the season I felt a little bit worn out. It felt really tough for me. Now I’m enjoying the game and that’s when I’m at my best.
“I feel like I belong here. The last three weeks have been fantastic, my standard has been really high. I’m not unbeatable but I feel like I’m at the stage where it takes a big performance to beat me.
“At the start I was so busy and I had to take time off. I feel like you have to manage your calendar in the best way. I’ve got to keep myself in the best frame of mind and best shape.
“Next week I want to create a record and win four on the trot. "
“I’m not arrogant at all. But I feel if I play my A game I feel like there’s only a couple of people who can test me. Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, they are the two that can push me. Their A level can probably beat me.”
Three-in-a-row thrower Luke Humphries has thanks fans for their "wonderful support.
The world champ made it three successive winning nights in Premier League Darts while in Ireland yesterday.
And Cool Hand Luke went on social media to share his joy.
He posted: "Super made up to win last night in Dublin.
"Played some fantastic darts and proud of this wonderful achievement off winning 3 nights in a row!
"Will be looking to make it 4 next week. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support. Means a lot
"Will be looking to make it 4 next week. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support. Means a lot."
The format of the Premier League continues to deliver exciting nights of high quality darts.
Despite Luke Humphries dominating of late, in all the matches, they are proving to be such knife-edge events that draw in the crowds.
Next time out, Belfast will be the location as Luke Humphries looks to become the first player to win four tournaments in a row.
Fans have compared Luke Humphries' hot streak to Phil Taylor's glory days.
Humphries will be chasing a record fourth Premier League Darts night of glory in Belfast next Thursday.
And darts lovers on social media have called him "unstoppable" as well as "on fire".
One went even further with his praise for the current Ally Pally king - saying his consistency was similar to that of 16-time world champ Taylor in his prime.
He posted: "I’ve seen loads of people on here saying that darts is boring to watch now because Luke Humphries keeps winning everything.
"Good job they didn’t watch 20 years ago when Taylor didn’t give anyone a sniff."
World champion Cool Hand Luke feels only two people can stop him winning the Premier League crown – Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen.
Humphries told Sky Sports after his latest win: “I’m not being arrogant, but if I play my A game there is only a couple of people who can test me in that manner – Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are the only two, I think, when I’m at my best.
“I’m not unbeatable but I’m putting in those kind of performances where it’ll take something big to beat me. If I keep playing like this it’s just going to take a tough performance to beat me.”
Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock lead an entry of more than 110 players in the £240,000 PDC Women's Series.
Greaves and Sherrock notched victories after qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts via the Women's Series last season - the first time two women have won in the same televised PDC tournament.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven then raised the standing of women in darts even further by triumphing in a Challenge Tour event this month.
Other established stars competing in the first four events of the PDC Women's Series in Wigan are Lisa Ashton, Mikuru Suzuki, Aileen de Graaf, Deta Hedman, Anastasia Dobromyslova, Rhian O'Sullivan, Laura Turner and Robyn Byrne.
The whole series is over 24 tournaments, starting this weekend, with £2k at stake for each one.
Manchester United fan Luke Littler went as close as possible to predicting Premier League Darts will be a season of two halves.
The 17-year-old seems philosophical about dropping to fifth in the table after yesterday's early exit in Dublin at the midway point.
But after sitting out of the top four for the first time, he also sounds determined.
Littler said: “It’s my first year in the Prem. Some weeks have gone to plan and some weeks have not.
“But it’s all about getting the points on the board.
Obviously this is the halfway point, whatever happens from now until the end is the crucial part.”
"Something switched" to cause Luke Littler's shock Premier League Darts woe last night.
That's the claim from Sky Sports pundit Mark Webster after the 17-year-old's 6-4 quarter-final exit against Michael Smith.
Webster reckons Littler got "slack" at 3-1 up - by choosing to focus on his leg technique but losing momentum.
Bully Boy won five of the last six sets to go through, albeit eventually losing to Luke Humphries in the final.
Webster said: "He got 3-1 up and something switched.
" It wasn't as if Michael Smith blew him away. He got a bit slack and he was sort of working on his technique in his legs. It just didn't happen for him there.
"He can't dwell on that, he's still in a great position, he's got to go again next week.
"He'll be disappointed with the fact he was 3-1 up but he's in a good position in the league phase. He regroups in Belfast."
Darts all-time great Phil Taylor aims to bow out of the game for good this year with staggering career earnings.
The Power, 63, believes 2024 will be his last season on the senior tour.
The 16-time world champ has already amassed around £5.5million in prize money.
Now he's in action this Saturday in the World Seniors Champion of Champions in Blackpool.
Taylor faces long-time rival Martin Adams in the quarter-finals.
Raymond van Barneveld says it's "weird" Luke Littler hasn't responded to his efforts at chatting via text.
Littler, 17, has described the Dutchman as his idol.
But Barney is mystified about what he claims is a lack of response from the Warrington whizkid to his text messages.
Now the five-time world champ has told his home-country outlet Sportnieuws.nl: "The next time I get asked if I want to do something for him, I'll pass."
World champ Luke Humphries has revealed he was "worn out" early in the season- but is now bouncing with energy.
After claiming a third straight Premier League win, the Englishman also claimed it would need a "big performance" to stop him.
Humphries told Sky Sports: “I’m not bored, I’m really enjoying myself.
The start of the season I felt a little bit worn out. It felt really tough for me. Now I’m enjoying the game and that’s when I’m at my best.
“I feel like I belong here. The last three weeks have been fantastic, my standard has been really high. I’m not unbeatable but I feel like I’m at the stage where it takes a big performance to beat me.
“At the start I was so busy and I had to take time off. I feel like you have to manage your calendar in the best way. I’ve got to keep myself in the best frame of mind and best shape.
“Next week I want to create a record and win four on the trot. "
“I’m not arrogant at all. But I feel if I play my A game I feel like there’s only a couple of people who can test me. Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, they are the two that can push me. Their A level can probably beat me.”
Following last night’s action, here is a reminder of what’s up for grabs...
Gerwyn Price consoled himself after his quarter-final defeat to Michael Smith last night with a packed of crisps
He posted a picture of the treat on his Instagram story.
He captioned the post: "Ohh well suppose these will have to do."
Luke Littler has paid tribute to fans following last night's darts action.
He wrote on Instagram: "Appreciate every one of you that came out to support last night.
"Not the result I wanted but another chance next week in Belfast."
Michael van Gerwen has come out on social media following his defeat to Gerwyn Price.
He wrote: "Was hoping for more in Dublin, but fair play to Gerwyn after that deciding leg.
"There’s plenty more to play for!"
Luke Humphries claims Luke Littler is one of only two darts stars who can stop him right now.
The world No.1 cruised to his third successive win in the Premier League on Thursday night.
However, the ace himself admits there are two rivals who can stop his incredible run.
He explained: “I’m not arrogant at all. But I feel like if I play my ‘A’ game, there are only a couple of people who can test me in that manner. I think Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are the two that can push me and their ‘A’ level can beat me.
“Anything can happen and if I don’t keep playing like this then anybody can beat me. I feel like I’m playing the best darts in the world, especially in the past six or seven months consistently.
“But there are so many great players and anything can happen every week.”
Three wins in a row have given Luke Humphries a clear lead at the top of the table, with early pace-setter Michael van Gerwen now lagging behind.
Luke Littler will not be playing at the Nordic Darts Masters in June.
The teen ace has withdrawn due to family commitments.
Newly-crowned UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh will instead take the Nuke’s place in Denmark.
Players Championship Order of Merit:
Rank – Name – Prize money (in units of £1,000)
Following last night's action, here is a reminder of what's up for grabs...
Luke Humphries is already eyeing up victory next week and making it four wins on the bounce.
Speaking on Sky Sports after his win, Humphries said: “I’m not bored, I’m really enjoying myself. The start of the season I felt a little bit worn out. It felt really tough for me.
“Now I’m enjoying the game and that’s when I’m at my best.
“I feel like I belong here. The last three weeks have been fantastic, my standard has been really high. I’m not unbeatable but I feel like I’m at the stage where it takes a big performance to beat me.
“At the start I was so busy and I had to take time off. I feel like you have to manage your calendar in the best way. I’ve got to keep myself in the best frame of mind and best shape.
“Next week I want to create a record and win four on the trot.
“A lot of people think I’ve got one foot in the semis. But I don’t think that. I have to keep working hard.
“I’m not arrogant at all. But I feel if I play my A game I feel like there’s only a couple of people who can test me. Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, they are the two that can push me. Their A level can probably beat me.”
Ryan Searle ranks as the current nation’s favourite darts player and the least likely to be booed at the next major tournament, receiving a huge 84% of positive reactions online as sourced by AceOdds.
Searle is closely followed by the 2023 world champion and former world number 1, Michael Smith, who ranks number two in the most loved darts player list, with 82% of reactions online towards him being positive.
Surprisingly, the nation’s favourite, Luke Littler, didn’t even make the top 10 most-loved players, ranking number 14 in the list and scoring a positive percentage of only 59%.
Luke Humphries, who notoriously has been booed in his last few games by fans, ranks higher than Littler, coming in at number 12 with a positive percentage of 61%.
New data from AceOdds highlights the darts players who are most at risk of being booed at tournaments as more and more players face the wrath of the crowd.
Data shows that Rob Cross is the most likely darts player to be booed in the next major tournament, with the Englishmen receiving the most amount of negative reactions online.
8% of all online reactions for Rob Cross are negative, beating the infamous ‘bad boy’ of darts, Gerwyn Price, who comes in third place with a total of 6% of reactions towards him being negative.
Cross was recently booed by Scottish fans in Glasgow last month, after he was seen attending a Rangers game the day before his match with Michael Smith.
Commentators Wayne Mardle and Stuart Pyke were quick to add: “They booed him when he walked on and they're giving him a bit of stick here.”
Luke Humphries opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with last night's victory.
MVG is in second place and finalist Michael Smith moves up into fourth place.
Nathan Aspinall is in third place, with all to play for those qualifying spots.
Luke Littler has dropped out of the top four and is now in fifth.
