Sat. Jan 11th, 2025

Dave Chisnall has questioned the inclusion of Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price in this year’s BetMGM Premier League field, suggesting picks should be “about the darts, and not your walk-on”.

After Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker hit out at his omission from the tournament – a decision the Belgian labelled “a bit scandalous” – world No 6 Chisnell has waded in to the debate over the eight-player line-up revealed for the 17-date roadshow, which starts in Belfast on Thursday February 6 live on Sky Sports.

Although himself ranked higher than three of the four wildcard picks – Price, Chris Dobey and Aspinall – ‘Chizzy’ said he had no qualms about his own omission, but admitted he felt for De Decker and world No 8 Damon Heta.

“The Premier League line-up was hardly surprising this week, but you’d have to be gutted if you were someone like a Mike de Decker or Damon Heta,” Chisnall told kwiff.

“I never expected to get a phone call – despite being world No 6 – because of how poor I’ve been on TV this year, but Mike can feel let down after his great run at the Grand Prix. Maybe being No 24 in the world counted against him, but these young lads are all chomping at the bit to be given a chance to shine.

Premier League Darts 2025 line-up:

Luke Humphries

Luke Littler

Michael van Gerwen

Rob Cross

Stephen Bunting

Gerwyn Price

Chris Dobey

Nathan Aspinall

“Damo is another who I think can feel unlucky, while it’s good to see Chris Dobey and Steven Bunting rewarded with a spot. It seems like something of a changing of the guard with no Michael Smith and no Peter Wright, while Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price can both feel a bit lucky in my opinion to be involved this year.”

Explaining why he felt Aspinall and Price were fortunate to receive a call-up, Chisnall added: “Gezzy has had a lot going [on] and struggled in 2024, while Nathan has done similarly.

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It was Gerwyn Price versus the crowd as Chris Dobey missed five match darts

“His run to the quarter-finals of the Worlds probably got him involved, that and everyone loving his Mr Brightside theme song.

“It’s a great entrance, but it should be about the darts, and not your walk-on that gets you involved in these big competitions. Nothing against them personally, as both great lads and get on well with, but it should be about your actions on the dartboard, not on a song and a dance.”

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Aspinall blew the roof off Alexandra Palace as his walk-on got the crowd on their feet for his match against Andrew Gilding at the World Darts Championships

PDC chief explains rationale behind wildcard picks

While the top four in the PDC Order of Merit – which this year are world No 1 Luke Humphries, world champion Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross – automatically qualify for the prestigious weekly roadshow, the remaining four players are chosen by the PDC.

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Stephen Bunting earned one of four wildcard slots to join world champion and reigning Premier League champion Luke Littler in a star-studded field

Explaining this year’s wildcard selections, PDC chief executive Matt Porter told Sky Sports News: “Obviously with Price, Dobey, and Aspinall, there are players above them in the rankings who haven’t been selected but we have looked at it in terms of big stage presence, popularity, and the way they can get a 10,000 crowd every Thursday going.

“We want people on the edge of their seats. We want people up and enjoying their darts.

“That isn’t to say other players can’t do that. You have to make decisions on who is right at the time.”

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PDC CEO Matthew Porter and Sky Sports’ Mark Webster reflected on the 2025 Premier League Darts line-up and urged the players to step up and retain their places for next year

And on De Decker specifically after the Belgian became the first reigning Grand Prix champion to miss out on selection, Porter added: “Mike is an outstanding talent and someone who we undoubtedly will see in the Premier League in the future.

“We didn’t feel he was quite ready. There are a lot of tournaments and winning one… players in the past like Ross Smith, Danny Noppert and Andrew Gilding, they have won TV tournaments, but you have to show you can compete at the latter stages of a tournament on a regular basis.

“Doing it once is fantastic and something you will always have but to really be part of the elite, you have to be doing it on a regular basis over multiple years.”

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Highlights of Luke Littler against Michael van Gerwen in the final of the World Darts Championship

2025 BetMGM Premier League schedule

Night 1 – The SSE Arena, Belfast – Thursday February 6
Night 2 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow – Thursday February 13
Night 3 – 3Arena, Dublin – Thursday February 20
Night 4 – Westpoint Exeter – Thursday February 27
Night 5 – The Brighton Centre – Thursday March 6
Night 6 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham – Thursday March 13
Night 7 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff – Thursday March 20
Night 8 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle – Thursday March 27
Night 9 – Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday April 3
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29

Watch the Premier League Darts on Sky Sports

Watch all the action from the Premier League on Sky Sports with Luke Littler aiming to defend his title. The new Premier League season will begin in Belfast on Thursday, February 6, as darts’ biggest party returns to an unchanged line-up of 17 venues across the UK and Europe.

Who will win the Premier League Darts? Watch all the action on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.

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The post Premier League Darts: Dave Chisnall joins debate over Nathan Aspinall, Gerwyn Price selections appeared first on WorldNewsEra.

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