Grant Heaney picks out his best bets from the Premier League Darts Night 1.
The 2026 Premier League Darts kicks off tonight in Newcastle, bringing together eight of the sport’s biggest names for what promises to be a thrilling 16-week league campaign. World No. 1 Luke Littler returns as the clear favourite after a stunning run of back-to-back world titles, aiming to add another Premier League crown to his growing trophy haul.
Defending champion Luke Humphries, seven-time winner Michael van Gerwen, and rising star Gian van Veen are all set to light up the oche, while wild-card selections Josh Rock, Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, and Jonny Clayton complete a star-studded line-up.
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Premier League Darts Night 1 Schedule & Odds
| Time | Player 1 | Player 2 | Odds (Player 1) | Odds (Player 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:15 | Josh Rock | Jonny Clayton | 13/18 | 5/4 |
| 19:45 TV | Luke Littler | Gian van Veen | 2/5 | 19/10 |
| 20:15 TV | Luke Humphries | Gerwyn Price | 33/50 | 7/5 |
| 20:45 TV | Stephen Bunting | Michael van Gerwen | 6/4 | 8/13 |
Premier League Darts Night 1 Accumulator Tips
Josh Rock vs Jonny Clayton
Leg 1: Josh Rock vs Jonny Clayton - Jonny Clayton + 2.5 Handicap @ 2/5 (Betway)
This year’s Premier League curtain-raiser sees Josh Rock go head-to-head with Jonny Clayton. The Northern Irishman is the firm favourite to come out on top on his Premier League debut, available at best odds of 4/6 with Bet365. However, this contest could be closer than the pre-match odds suggest, which makes Clayton worth supporting with a +2.5 handicap.
While the Ferret hasn’t appeared in the Premier League since 2023, he still has plenty of experience on this stage, having notably won the title in 2021. This matchup has the feel of one that could go the distance, with all 11 legs a genuine possibility, so it makes sense to keep Clayton onside with a +2.5 start.
Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen
Leg 2: Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen - Luke Littler Win @ 4/9 (BetMGM)
Luke Littler and Gian van Veen go head-to-head in a blockbuster rematch of their World Championship final, and it’s hard to see the outcome being any different this time around. Teenage sensation Littler arrives in fine form, fresh from adding the Winmau World Masters title to his ever-growing trophy collection.
Littler will now have his sights firmly set on reclaiming the Premier League crown after falling short in last year’s final against Luke Humphries. Despite that disappointment, Littler was dominant throughout the league phase, racking up a remarkable 27 wins from 37 matches to top the table with a record-breaking points tally. The Nuke will be eager to lay down an early marker on Thursday night and should have too much for newcomer Van Veen, who was hammered 5-0 by Humphries at the Masters over the weekend.
Luke Humphries vs Gerwyn Price
Leg 3: Luke Humphries vs Gerwyn Price - Over 8.5 Legs @ 4/11 (10Bet)
Another heavyweight showdown sees Luke Humphries go head-to-head with Gerwyn Price in Newcastle on Thursday night. Humphries is unsurprisingly the odds-on favourite here, but a fired-up Price is more than capable of keeping pace with the defending champion.
The Iceman produced some of his best form of 2025 in last season’s Premier League, finishing comfortably inside the top four and claiming three weekly titles - a tally bettered only by Luke Littler, who took six.
The pair crossed paths five times in last season’s Premier League, with all five meetings producing over 8.5 legs - a repeat looks well worth backing on Night One in Newcastle.
Stephen Bunting vs Michael van Gerwen
Leg 4: Stephen Bunting vs Michael van Gerwen - Michael van Gerwen + 1.5 Handicap @ 4/11 (Bet365)
Michael van Gerwen will kick off his quest for a record-extending eighth Premier League title against Stephen Bunting in the final quarter-final tie of the night. The legendary Dutchman has made a quietly impressive start to 2026, lifting the Bahrain Darts Masters before finishing as runner-up at the Saudi edition the following week.
Notably, van Gerwen defeated Bunting in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, giving him a potential psychological edge heading into this clash. A 6–1 win over Bunting in one of their two Premier League clashes last year only strengthens the case for backing MVG with a +1.5 handicap on Thursday.
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Premier League Darts Night 1 Weekly Winners Tips
Week 1 Winner
Luke Littler To Win Night 1 - @ 5/4 (Sky Bet/PaddyPower)
Luke Littler is hard to oppose for victory on Night One in Newcastle. Littler was the last player standing on no fewer than six occasions in last year’s Premier League, and he looks well placed to rack up the first five point bounty of this year’s weekly roadshow.
The teenage sensation appears to be on the softer side of this week’s draw, with Jonny Clayton or Josh Rock lying in wait if he can get past Gian van Veen in his opener. Naturally, Littler would go into the final as the odds-on favourite, regardless of the opponent, so it makes sense to back him at a best price of 5/4 to come through all three of his matches victorious on Thursday night.
Luke Humphries To Win Night 1 - @ 7/2 (Sky Bet/PaddyPower)
Following their clash in last weekend’s Winmau World Masters final, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler could well be the two players bringing the curtain down in Newcastle on Thursday night. The pair remain a class above the rest of the field and faced each other regularly in Premier League finals throughout last year.
Should Cool Hand get past Price in his quarter-final tie, he looks well placed to overcome either Michael van Gerwen or Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals. If Humphries then meets Littler in the final, he has the tools to push the teenager to the limit - and could emerge as the Night One winner at an eye-catching price.
Humphries was at his brilliant best this past weekend, giving even more reason to back him to top the table at the end of week one.
