The 2025 Premier League Darts season has delivered a whirlwind of drama, with world No. 1 Luke Humphries and teenage prodigy Luke Littler lighting up the oche in a rivalry for the ages. Yet, as the tournament barrels toward its May 29 finale at London’s O2 Arena, darts legend Steve Beaton has thrown a dart of dissent, labeling the current format repetitive and lackluster. His sharp critique, challenging Humphries’ spirited defense of the league’s structure, has sparked a fiery debate about whether the Premier League’s reliance on frequent superstar matchups is thrilling or tiresome.
The Premier League’s format, unchanged since 2022, sees eight elite players compete in a weekly mini-tournament, earning points based on their finishes. This setup guarantees regular clashes between the sport’s biggest names, none more prominent than Humphries and Littler, who have met six times in 14 nights this season, including four finals. Humphries, the 2024 world champion, has been a vocal advocate for the system, especially after fans voiced frustration over the repetitive Humphries-Littler showdowns. “Do you want to see the best players in the world playing against each other, or do you want to wait six months for it?” he asked, drawing parallels to iconic boxing rivalries like Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. For Humphries, the constant tests against Littler, who posted a blistering 115.96 average in a 6-3 Night 14 win, are what drive excellence. “It gets you out of bed and makes you want to play better,” he said, embracing the pressure.
Steve Beaton, the “Bronzed Adonis” and 1996 BDO world champion, begs to differ. With three decades in the sport, his perspective carries weight. “There are too many of the same players playing each other,” Beaton said, aligning with Belgian star Kim Huybrechts, who quipped, “Who wants to watch the twentieth meeting between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen in just half a year?” Beaton argues that the relentless rematches strip away the anticipation that once made these encounters must-watch events. “Before, the top players met now and again; now they’re playing all the time,” he said, warning that the format risks becoming predictable. Even with sellout crowds packing venues from Leeds to Sheffield, Beaton believes the league’s charm is fading, a sentiment echoed
Leave a Reply