The 2024 Unibet Premier League Darts was a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation and the seventeenth edition 🌝 of the tournament. The event was scheduled to begin on Thursday 4 February at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and 🌝 end with the play-offs at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on Thursday 27 May, but due to the continuation of 🌝 the COVID-19 outbreak,[1][2] was delayed to begin with the first nine rounds taking place from 5 April behind closed doors 🌝 at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.[3] On 22 March 2024, it was then confirmed that all the fixtures would take 🌝 place in Milton Keynes, with the playoffs taking place on Friday 28 May; up to 1,000 people were allowed to 🌝 attend from Monday 24 May.[4]
Glen Durrant was the reigning champion, having beaten Nathan Aspinall 11–8 in the 2024 final, but 🌝 a run of seven successive defeats saw him eliminated on night seven;[5] Durrant eventually became the first player in Premier 🌝 League Darts history to fail to score a single point. Rob Cross was also eliminated from the competition for a 🌝 second consecutive year on the eighth night, despite earning seven points, which is the most by an eliminated player since 🌝 elimination came into effect in 2013.
Two nine-dart finishes were thrown during the tournament. Jonny Clayton threw a nine-darter against José 🌝 de Sousa on Night Three, and the very next day, de Sousa threw a nine-darter of his own against Nathan 🌝 Aspinall. He also hit 11 maximum scores of 180 during the match, equalling the Premier League record set by Gary 🌝 Anderson in 2011.[6] De Sousa threw 96 maximums during the tournament, surpassing Gary Anderson's record of 79.
For the first time, 🌝 the playoffs featured four players from four nations: Michael van Gerwen from the Netherlands, Jose de Sousa from Portugal, Nathan 🌝 Aspinall from England, and Jonny Clayton from Wales.
Jonny Clayton won his second individual televised title, defeating fellow debutant José de 🌝 Sousa 11–5 in the final. He became the first Welshman to win the event, the first champion to have finished 🌝 fourth in the league phase, and the first person to defeat Michael van Gerwen in a Premier League semi-final.[7]
Format [ 🌝 edit ]
The tournament format reverted to that used in 2024, with a permanent list of ten players, instead of nine 🌝 players and a guest "challenger" each week, as had been used in 2024 & 2024.[2]
Phase 1: In each round, the 🌝 ten players play each other in five matches. Phase 1 matches have a maximum of twelve legs, allowing for the 🌝 winner being first to seven or a six-six draw. At the end of Phase 1, the bottom two players are 🌝 eliminated from the competition.
Phase 2: In each round, the remaining eight players play each other in four matches. Phase 2 🌝 matches have a maximum of fourteen legs, allowing for the winner being first to eight or a seven-seven draw. At 🌝 the end of Phase 2, the bottom four players in the league table are eliminated from the competition.
Play-off Night: The 🌝 top four players in the league table contest the two knockout semi-finals with 1st playing 4th and 2nd playing 3rd. 🌝 The semi-finals are first to 10 legs (best of 19). The two winning semi-finalists meet in the final which is 🌝 first to 11 legs (best of 21).
Venues [ edit ]
The Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, was the only venue to host 🌝 the Premier League in 2024.
The announced calendar included The Brighton Centre being restored to the calendar, having last hosted the 🌝 Premier League in 2024. The initial calendar also restored rounds in Birmingham, Belfast, Leeds, Berlin, Rotterdam, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield 🌝 and London; all of which had been scheduled for 2024 but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; with Berlin replacing 🌝 London as the scheduled host of the final. Milton Keynes and Coventry, which hosted rounds in 2024 following the pandemic, 🌝 were not intended to be on the 2024 calendar.[1] Due to the continuation of the pandemic, the PDC confirmed that 🌝 the first nine rounds would be held over two weeks at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.[3] On 22 March 2024, 🌝 it was confirmed that all the remaining dates, including the playoffs, would also be played in Milton Keynes.[4]
The first five 🌝 nights took place from Monday 5 April to Friday 9 April, with the next four nights, including Judgement Night (where 🌝 the bottom two players are eliminated), taking place from Monday 19 April to Thursday 22 April. The second half will 🌝 again be in two parts with the first part taking place between Wednesday 5 May to Friday 7 May, and 🌝 the second part to take place from Monday 24 May to Thursday 27 May, with the playoffs taking place on 🌝 Friday 28 May.[3]
Prize money [ edit ]
The prize money for the 2024 tournament was increased from £825,000 to £855,000, due 🌝 to the additional player compared to 2024.
Stage Prize Money Winner £250,000 Runner-up £120,000 Semi-finalists (x2) £80,000 5th place £70,000 6th 🌝 place £60,000 7th place £55,000 8th place £50,000 9th place £35,000 10th place £30,000 League Winner Bonus £25,000 Total £855,000
Players 🌝 [ edit ]
Nine of the ten players in this year's tournament were announced following the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship 🌝 on 3 January. The top four on the PDC Order of Merit are joined by six wildcards. The tenth was 🌝 announced following the 2024 Masters, with the final of that event serving effectively as a play-off between Mervyn King and 🌝 Jonny Clayton, with the winner qualifying.
Gerwyn Price, the world number one and reigning world champion, tested positive for COVID-19 before 🌝 the start of the tournament and had to withdraw. James Wade, the highest-ranked player not in the tournament, was brought 🌝 in as a replacement.[8]
Player Appearance in
Premier League Consecutive
Streak Order of Merit
Rank on 3/1/21 Previous best performance Qualification 4th 4 1 🌝 5th (2024, 2024) PDC Order of Merit 9th 9 2 Winner (2013, 2024, 2024, 2024, 2024) 8th 8 3 Runner-up 🌝 (2024) 4th 4 4 Runner-up (2024) 2nd 2 5 Runner-up (2024) Wildcard 10th 2[a] 8 Winner (2011, 2024) 1st 1 🌝 10 Debut 2nd 2 13 Winner (2024) 1st 1 15 Debut 1st 1 18 Debut 11th 1 7 Winner (2009) 🌝 Replacement
League stage [ edit ]
5 April – Night 1 (Phase 1) [ edit ] Score 97.62 7 – 3 87.99 🌝 96.53 6 – 6 91.66 101.20 6 – 6 105.56 98.14 6 – 6 98.13 100.16 6 – 6 99.52 🌝 Night's Average: 97.69[9] Highest Checkout: 164 Most 180s: 6 Night's 180s: 30 6 April – Night 2 (Phase 1) [ 🌝 edit ] Score 99.75 7 – 5 97.08 98.61 7 – 3 88.81 103.70 7 – 5 98.32 92.16 7 🌝 – 2 88.41 88.78 3 – 7 94.34 Night's Average: 95.26[10] Highest Checkout: 145 Most 180s: 7 Night's 180s: 32
9 🌝 April – Night 5 (Phase 1) [ edit ] Score 95.54 4 – 7 99.11 100.94 7 – 5 95.43 🌝 99.71 6 – 6 105.38 90.83 7 – 3 87.69 98.48 3 – 7 104.30 Night's Average: 97.69[13] Highest Checkout: 🌝 152 Most 180s: 6 Night's 180s: 33 19 April – Night 6 (Phase 1) [ edit ] Score 100.54 5 🌝 – 7 94.82 101.91 7 – 5 104.01 101.12 3 – 7 102.32 84.94 3 – 7 87.63 105.20 7 🌝 – 3 98.27 Night's Average: 97.89[14] Highest Checkout: 121 Most 180s: 6 Night's 180s: 30
20 April – Night 7 (Phase 🌝 1) [ edit ] Score 89.32 4 – 7 96.09 99.95 4 – 7 101.17 95.44 6 – 6 99.50 🌝 98.36 4 – 7 105.76 98.25 6 – 6 97.37 Night's Average: 97.92[15] Highest Checkout: 124 Most 180s: 5 Night's 🌝 180s: 29 Eliminated:
21 April – Night 8 (Phase 1) [ edit ] Score 90.52 5 – 7 94.58 91.16 5 🌝 – 7 87.28 104.72 7 – 4 98.69 105.29 7 – 2 103.23 94.75 7 – 1 79.54 Night's Average: 🌝 94.51[16] Highest Checkout: 156 Most 180s: 7 Night's 180s: 35 Eliminated:
22 April – Night 9 (Phase 1) [ edit ] 🌝 Score 85.19 5 – 7 91.36 100.25 7 – 3 91.01 102.45 7 – 2 88.35 101.23 6 – 6 🌝 97.08 97.96 6 – 6 102.93 Night's Average: 95.58[17] Highest Checkout: 160 Most 180s: 7 Night's 180s: 36
5 May – 🌝 Night 10 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 105.33 8 – 5 92.67 99.28 8 – 3 93.62 106.78 3 🌝 – 8 109.96 88.52 5 – 8 93.81 Night's Average: 98.10[18] Highest Checkout: 161 Most 180s: 6 Night's 180s: 29
6 🌝 May – Night 11 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 103.33 6 – 8 102.89 97.40 7 – 7 97.56 🌝 104.63 8 – 3 92.70 95.83 8 – 5 93.68 Night's Average: 98.44[19] Highest Checkout: 136 Most 180s: 10 Night's 🌝 180s: 32
7 May – Night 12 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 84.30 1 – 8 102.90 107.44 8 – 🌝 3 110.28 92.87 8 – 6 91.64 104.40 4 – 8 107.85 Night's Average: 99.52[20] Highest Checkout: 146 Most 180s: 🌝 6 Night's 180s: 27
24 May – Night 13 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 101.24 8 – 1 104.48 100.19 🌝 8 – 6 95.08 96.90 8 – 3 96.74 96.29 4 – 8 98.68 Night's Average: 98.39[21] Highest Checkout: 124 🌝 Most 180s: 5 Night's 180s: 25
25 May – Night 14 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 101.85 7 – 7 🌝 97.89 91.80 5 – 8 96.90 95.08 4 – 8 98.02 102.82 8 – 5 106.97 Night's Average: 98.78[22] Highest 🌝 Checkout: 138 Most 180s: 8 Night's 180s: 27
26 May – Night 15 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 95.29 5 🌝 – 8 98.09 100.20 7 – 7 101.08 97.65 7 – 7 94.35 100.80 6 – 8 98.62 Night's Average: 🌝 98.22[23] Highest Checkout: 161 Most 180s: 6 Night's 180s: 27
27 May – Night 16 (Phase 2) [ edit ] Score 🌝 100.52 6 – 8 99.51 92.03 3 – 8 103.25 94.79 6 – 8 100.20 100.55 6 – 8 103.92 🌝 Night's Average: 99.40[24] Highest Checkout: 152 Most 180s: 7 Night's 180s: 27
Play-offs – 28 May [ edit ]
Marshall Arena, Milton 🌝 Keynes
Score Semi-finals (best of 19 legs) 101.97 8 – 10 103.25 98.29 10 – 9 95.93 Final (best of 21 🌝 legs) 100.18 11 – 5 100.52 Night's Total Average: 100.02 Highest Checkout: 140 Most 180s (in one match): 8 Night's 🌝 180s: 31
Table and streaks [ edit ]
Table [ edit ]
After the first nine rounds in phase 1, the bottom two 🌝 players in the table are eliminated. In phase 2, the eight remaining players play in a single match on each 🌝 of the seven nights. The top four players then compete in the knockout semi-finals and final on the playoff night.
Two 🌝 points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. When players are tied on points, leg difference 🌝 is used first as a tie-breaker, after that legs won against throw and then tournament average.
Pos Name Pld W D 🌝 L Pts LF LA LD LWAT 100+ 140+ 180s A HC C% 1 16 10 3 3 23 103 79 🌝 +24 36 208 92 39 98.68 148 41.53% 2 16 8 4 4 20 104 84 +20 39 167 102 🌝 81 100.08 149 42.80% 3 16 7 5 4 19 103 88 +15 40 158 120 59 97.58 161 43.10% 🌝 4 (C) 16 8 2 6 18 95 88 +7 34 213 129 50 99.64 151 38.46% 5 16 6 🌝 4 6 16 95 95 0 34 158 122 72 100.2 164 41.48% 6 16 5 5 6 15 93 🌝 96 −3 31 241 129 44 98.89 152 48.95% 7 16 6 3 7 15 87 95 −8 31 196 🌝 124 47 96.03 156 42.03% 8 16 5 3 8 13 85 98 −13 23 185 110 58 97.84 156 🌝 38.29% 9 9 3 1 5 7 49 52 −3 17 209 90 29 95.78 118 40.00% 10 9 0 🌝 0 9 0 24 63 −39 7 160 52 6 86.36 121 37.50%
(C) Champion Updated to match(es) played on 25 🌝 May 2024. Source: Match reports from the results section Champion
Streaks [ edit ]
Player Phase 1, Nights 1 to 9 Phase 🌝 2, Nights 10 to 16 Play-offs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 🌝 15 16 SF F D W W L D W D W L W W W L W W W 🌝 L — D L L D W W W L D W D W W W L W W L 🌝 W L W D D W D W W W L L W D D L L — D W 🌝 W L W L D L W W L W W L L W W W D W W D 🌝 L W W W D L W L L L D L — D L L W W L W 🌝 W D L D L L D D W D L W D W L L W D L L 🌝 L W W W L D W L W L W D L L L W W L L D 🌝 L D W L W L L L L W Eliminated L L L L L L L L L
Legend: 🌝 W Win D Draw L Loss — Eliminated
Positions by Week [ edit ]
Player Phase 1, Nights 1 to 9 Phase 🌝 2, Nights 10 to 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 🌝 16 4 1 2 3 4 3 3 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 9 7 8 🌝 9 9 6 5 6 6 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 6 4 2 3 2 2 🌝 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 1 4 4 8 5 4 5 🌝 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 5 5 5 🌝 5 6 8 9 8 7 9 7 4 4 6 6 7 7 7 7 6 3 9 7 🌝 7 5 7 8 7 7 7 8 8 8 6 6 7 7 5 6 6 8 5 6 🌝 5 8 8 7 6 6 8 8 8 8 3 5 5 6 8 9 9 9 Eliminated 10 🌝 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
