Darts legend **Phil Taylor**, the 16-time world champion widely regarded as “The Power” and one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, has delivered a **brutally honest** assessment of the **Premier League Darts** format, fueling ongoing debates about its structure just weeks before the 2026 edition kicks off.
The Premier League Darts, a flagship event in the PDC calendar since its launch in 2005, has long been a highlight of the professional circuit. It features eight of the world’s top players competing over 17 thrilling Thursday nights from February to May, culminating in high-stakes play-offs at London’s O2 Arena. The current format, in place since 2022, turns each weekly night into a mini knockout tournament starting from the quarter-finals. Players battle in best-of-11 leg matches early on, escalating to best-of-19 in the semi-finals and best-of-21 in the final, with a £10,000 bonus for each night’s winner and substantial points contributing to the overall league table. The top four advance to the play-offs, where the champion claims a boosted £350,000 prize in 2026—an increase amid the PDC’s record prize money surge.
Taylor, who dominated the early years of the competition by winning six titles—including six of the first eight editions—remains deeply invested in the sport even in retirement. Amid growing criticism that the repetitive knockout style has become stale, with fans and some players calling it predictable and overly focused on the same elite match-ups, Taylor weighed in decisively.
**”You need it, you need rivalry, you do. But you don’t need that rivalry week in and week out,”** he stated candidly. Drawing a sharp analogy to football, he added: **”Manchester United versus Liverpool is exciting, but if they did it every other week, it wouldn’t be as exciting.”** He reflected on his own era, noting how frequent clashes with rivals like Raymond van Barneveld lost some spark once they became routine in the Premier League: **”But once we had the Premier League and he was in it and I was in it, we were playing week in and week out. So it becomes a bit less.”**
This comes at a time when the PDC has confirmed no major changes for 2026, sticking with the eight-player lineup and knockout nights. PDC chief executive Matt Porter defended the setup, emphasizing its popularity: **”The crowds in the arenas love it, they love seeing a winner on the night, it keeps them entertained until the last dart, and the TV audience figures are great.”** He added that the organization continually evaluates the format and will adjust **”as and when we feel that the format is tired.”**
The 2026 field promises fireworks, with automatic qualifiers Luke Littler (the reigning world champion and world No. 1), Luke Humphries (defending Premier League champion), Gian van Veen (making his debut), and Michael van Gerwen. Wildcard picks Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock, and Stephen Bunting complete the octet, setting up intense rivalries—especially between the young sensations Littler and Humphries.
Taylor’s comments echo earlier sentiments he expressed after the 2025 season, where he described the format as **”very tiring”** and suggested it **”needs revamping,”** noting that **”a lot of the players are not enjoying it.”** His perspective carries immense weight, given his unparalleled success in the event and his role in elevating darts to arena-filling spectacles.
As the new season approaches—starting February 5 in Newcastle and featuring a historic first night in Antwerp, Belgium—the discussion highlights a classic tension in sports: balancing entertainment, commercial success, and competitive freshness. Taylor’s no-nonsense take reminds everyone that even the most successful formats can benefit from fresh ideas to preserve the excitement that made the Premier League a must-watch in the first place.
With rising stars like Littler chasing Taylor’s legendary records and the sport booming, the coming months will test whether the current setup continues to deliver or if change becomes inevitable. Either way, “The Power’s” voice ensures the conversation stays lively.
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