Stephen Ponting is set to return to the Premier League for the first time in 10 years, earning a place as one of four wildcard selections in darts' premier promotional event.
He is joined in the wildcard category by Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobbie, completing the eight-man squad for the 2025 competition.
The English Premier League begins on February 6 in Belfast.
These four join the top four players automatically eligible for the PDC Order of Merit: newly crowned world champion and reigning Premier League champion Luke Littler, world No.1 Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross.
Ponting, ranked No. 5, is the highest-ranked player outside of the automatic qualifier.
His impressive 2024 season, highlighted by a semi-final finish in the World Darts Championship and a runner-up finish in the PDC Players Championship, makes him a worthy inclusion.
Chris Dobie, nicknamed 'Hollywood', has also had an impressive year, reaching the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship before losing to Van Gerwen and claiming three Players' Championship titles in 2024.
Class of 2025 🎓
Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Stephen Ponting, Gerwyn Price, Chris Dobbie and Nathan Aspinall
It all starts in Belfast on February 6th… Let's get started ✅
👉 https://t.co/C8DHdQrRUB pic.twitter.com/ZnrMJVwpt1
— Siham PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 6, 2025
Premier League lineup for 2025
The full 2025 Premier League roster includes:
- Luke Humphries
- Luke Littler
- Michael van Gerwen
- Rob Cross
- Stephen Bunting
- Jeroen Price
- Chris Dobie
- Nathan Aspinall
Several big names missed out on selection this year, including world No.6 Dave Chisnall, 2023 world champion Michael Smith, and 2021 Premier League champion Johnny Clayton.
Former world champions Peter Wright and Gary Anderson have also been ruled out, with Wright missing out on the Premier League for the first time since 2013.
World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker has become the first player in history to miss out on a Premier League spot after winning the title.
Speaking about the decisions, Matt Porter, CEO of PDC, said: “Obviously for Price, Dobey and Aspinall, there were players higher in the rankings than them who were not selected, but we looked at it in terms of great stage presence and popularity.” , and the way they can rally 10,000 people every Thursday.
“We want people on the edge of their seats. We want people to wake up and enjoy the game of darts. This doesn't mean other players can't do it. You have to make decisions about who is right at that time.”
The Premier League follows a knockout system, with each event featuring a bracket of eight players.
During the first seven weeks, each player will face another opponent once in the opening round. Matchups occur frequently in Weeks 9-15, while Week 8 and Week 16 matches depend on league standings.
2025 @BetMGMUK The Premier League is upon us… 🙌
Here are the eight stars who will be competing for the 2025 Premier League title 🏆
👉 https://t.co/C8DHdQrk53 pic.twitter.com/TbWqE28ETu
— Siham PDC (@OfficialPDC) January 6, 2025
After 16 weeks, the top four players in the league standings will advance to the semi-finals and final, which will be held at The O2 in London.
The semi-finals will be contested in a best-of-19 match format, with the final being played over 21 matches.
English Premier League schedule 2025
Here is the complete schedule of English Premier League matches for this year:
- Night 1: SSE Arena, Belfast – Thursday 6 February
- Night 2: OVO Hydro, Glasgow – Thursday 13 February
- Night 3: 3Arena, Dublin – Thursday 20 February
- Night 4: Westpoint Exeter – Thursday 27 February
- Night 5: Brighton Center – Thursday, March 6
- Night 6: Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham – Thursday 13 March
- Night 7: Utilita Arena, Cardiff – Thursday 20 March
- Night 8: Utilita Arena, Newcastle – Thursday 27 March
- Night 9: Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday, April 3
- Night 10: AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday 10 April
- Night 11: Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday 17 April
- Night 12: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday 24 April
- Night 13: Utilita Arena, Birmingham – Thursday 1 May
- Night 14: First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday 8 May
- Night 15: P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday 15 May
- Night 16: Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday 22 May
- Playoffs: The O2, London – Thursday 29 May
