The buzz surrounding the 2026 BetMGM Premier League Darts reaches a fever pitch as Night Four descends upon the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, February 26. With a raucous crowd expected to pack the venue, the evening promises high-octane action featuring the sport’s elite, including the prodigious talent of Luke Littler. The young sensation, already a double world champion and the 2024 Premier League victor, is set to take the stage at 7:15pm GMT for his quarter-final clash against Jonny Clayton. This opening match of the night sets the tone for what could be a pivotal evening in Littler’s campaign, as he seeks to climb the standings and secure his first nightly triumph of the season.
Littler, currently languishing in sixth place after a rocky start with just four points from three appearances, faces a familiar foe in Clayton. The Welshman, a newcomer to this year’s Premier League lineup, delivered a stinging 6-1 semi-final defeat to Littler just last week in Glasgow, showcasing his precision and composure under pressure. That loss highlighted Littler’s early struggles, but the 19-year-old has bounced back emphatically. Fresh off his victory at the inaugural Poland Darts Open in Krakow, where he overcame Gian van Veen 8-4 in the final despite the Dutchman’s stunning nine-darter, Littler expressed renewed confidence. Reflecting on van Veen’s perfect leg, he said, “It definitely spurred me on… when Gian hit it, in my head I was like ‘let’s get him now he’s a bit tired’.” He added, “In the past people have hit nine-darters against me and it’s a big achievement… In the final, so early, I was like just go for him now while he’s a bit overwhelmed.” This win, Littler’s fifth European Tour title, came at a crucial juncture. “In the Premier League, the first three weeks, I’ve not felt the best but coming here I definitely needed this one. We can take it onto Belfast on Thursday,” he noted, signaling his intent to translate that momentum into Premier League success.
The matchup against Clayton adds an extra layer of intrigue. Known for his consistent scoring and clinical finishing, Clayton has quickly adapted to the Premier League format, topping the early leaderboard with a nightly win in Glasgow. His 22 maximum 180s so far this season underline his threat, and predictions favor a high-scoring affair, potentially featuring over six 180s given Littler’s own prowess in that department—he’s averaged four per game despite his form dip. The winner of this 7:15pm showdown will advance to the semi-finals around 9:15pm, facing the victor from the subsequent quarter-final between Stephen Bunting and Luke Humphries, scheduled for 7:45pm. Humphries, the reigning Premier League champion, is also hunting his first nightly win of 2026, making that bout a clash of heavyweights.
The rest of the evening’s lineup ensures non-stop drama. At 8:15pm, Michael van Gerwen returns after missing Night Three due to illness, taking on Gerwyn Price in what promises to be a grudge-filled encounter between two darts titans. Van Gerwen, a multiple-time world champion, will be eager to reclaim his spot near the top, while Price’s explosive style could ignite the crowd. Closing out the quarter-finals at 8:45pm is Gian van Veen versus local hero Josh Rock. As newcomers, both bring fresh energy—van Veen with his recent nine-darter flair and Rock reveling in the home support of Belfast’s passionate fans. The semi-finals follow at 9:15pm and 9:45pm, culminating in the final around 10:30pm, all contested in best-of-11-leg formats.
This year’s Premier League boasts an electrifying mix of established stars and rising talents. Alongside Littler and Humphries, the eight-player field includes Bunting, Price, van Gerwen, van Veen, Clayton, and Rock—three of whom are making their debuts. The format rewards consistency: nightly winners earn five points and a £10,000 bonus, runners-up get three, and semi-finalists two. After 16 regular nights across the UK and Europe, the top four advance to the play-offs at The O2 in London on May 29, vying for the £350,000 top prize from a £1.25 million pot. Special incentives, like 18-carat gold darts for a nine-darter, add to the allure.
For Littler, Night Four represents a turning point. His early exits in Newcastle and Antwerp, coupled with the Glasgow setback, have left him outside the play-off spots, but his Poland triumph demonstrates the explosive potential that made him a global phenomenon. As he steps onto the Belfast oche at 7:15pm against Clayton, the darts world will be watching to see if “The Nuke” can detonate and propel himself back into contention. With the SSE Arena’s electric atmosphere and the stakes escalating each week, this Thursday promises to be another unforgettable chapter in the Premier League saga, blending raw skill, mental fortitude, and the sheer thrill of competition.
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