Premier League 2026 - Preview Night 15
Luke Littler is targeting a record-breaking fourth consecutive nightly win in the BetMGM Premier League on Thursday, as the penultimate night of league phase action takes place in Birmingham.
Night Fifteen of the darting roadshow will take place at the Utilita Arena on May 14, as the race to qualify for Finals Night continues in the West Midlands. The league's top two will also go head-to-head, as Littler renews his rivalry with Welsh number one Jonny Clayton in the evening's fourth quarter-final.
Littler has celebrated three consecutive nightly wins in Liverpool, Aberdeen and Leeds to create a five-point buffer over Clayton at the Premier League summit. The World Champion has also equalled his record tally of six nightly wins - set in last year's competition - and victory over Clayton will ensure he will top the standings for a third consecutive campaign.
"I've just got to keep going," claimed Littler, who is bidding to become the first player to register seven nightly wins in a single Premier League campaign.
"I've got a lot of confidence and now I can go chasing my own records within the next two weeks.
"After the win against Jonny last week, I knew I was a few points clear. I've just got to keep top spot now.
"I think it will be a very good game against Jonny. He will be wanting the win, I'll be wanting the win, so expect fireworks!"
Clayton is now assured of a top-two finish having performed superbly on his return to the Premier League fold, but the 2021 champion must beat Littler on Thursday to preserve his hopes of snatching top spot.
However, two places remain up for grabs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28, with Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries currently sat third and fourth respectively in the table.
Price takes on Michael van Gerwen in a crucial last eight showdown, after Humphries leapfrogged seven-time champion Van Gerwen to move up to fourth last week. The Dutchman is three points adrift of Price ahead of Thursday's action, although he will arrive in Birmingham buoyed by his Players Championship Fifteen success on Tuesday. Van Gerwen produced a string of magnificent performances to clinch his first PDC ranking title since last April, averaging 122.34 in a staggering semi-final demolition of Martin Schindler.
"I believe in my own ability, and I think I'm playing some good darts," declared Van Gerwen, the most successful player in Premier League history.
"For me, it was important after a long time that I managed to win a ProTour. It meant a lot.
"I love what I do, and especially when I play like this, I love it even more."
Humphries, meanwhile, has catapulted himself back into top four contention by reaching back-to-back finals in Aberdeen and Leeds - succumbing 6-5 to Littler on both occasions. The reigning Premier League champion spurned a match dart to topple Littler in Leeds last week, although he has his destiny back in his own hands as he bids to reach Finals Night for a third straight season. Humphries will play Bunting for a place in the Night Fifteen semi-finals, in a repeat of their last four clash at the First Direct Arena last week. Bunting fell short despite averaging almost 106, which he means he must avenge that defeat against the world number two to preserve his Play-Off aspirations. However, the Liverpudlian is determined to finish with a flourish, having previously celebrated Night Four success in Belfast back in February.
"I'm always raring to go when it comes to the Premier League," claimed Bunting, who is six points adrift of Humphries in seventh position.
"I know what I need to do - I need to have two really good nights now, so let's hope this is the start of something big.
"It's been a long season already, but I feel fresh, I feel ready and I'm just looking forward to the night to be honest."
The evening's opening quarter-final pits Josh Rock against Gian van Veen, as the latter faces a potentially decisive night in his bid to secure a top-four finish. Van Veen trails Humphries by three points heading into Birmingham, with Rock now mathematically unable to qualify for Finals Night following his quarter-final exit in Leeds.
Rock - fresh from lifting the Austrian Darts Open title on Sunday - achieved perfection against his Dutch opponent on Night Four - though Van Veen has won both of their meetings in the league phase.
Fifteenth Night's Quarterfinals:
Josh Rock v Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton v Luke Littler
Night Fifteen of the darting roadshow will take place at the Utilita Arena on May 14, as the race to qualify for Finals Night continues in the West Midlands. The league's top two will also go head-to-head, as Littler renews his rivalry with Welsh number one Jonny Clayton in the evening's fourth quarter-final.
Littler has celebrated three consecutive nightly wins in Liverpool, Aberdeen and Leeds to create a five-point buffer over Clayton at the Premier League summit. The World Champion has also equalled his record tally of six nightly wins - set in last year's competition - and victory over Clayton will ensure he will top the standings for a third consecutive campaign.
"I've just got to keep going," claimed Littler, who is bidding to become the first player to register seven nightly wins in a single Premier League campaign.
"I've got a lot of confidence and now I can go chasing my own records within the next two weeks.
"After the win against Jonny last week, I knew I was a few points clear. I've just got to keep top spot now.
"I think it will be a very good game against Jonny. He will be wanting the win, I'll be wanting the win, so expect fireworks!"
Clayton is now assured of a top-two finish having performed superbly on his return to the Premier League fold, but the 2021 champion must beat Littler on Thursday to preserve his hopes of snatching top spot.
However, two places remain up for grabs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28, with Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries currently sat third and fourth respectively in the table.
Price takes on Michael van Gerwen in a crucial last eight showdown, after Humphries leapfrogged seven-time champion Van Gerwen to move up to fourth last week. The Dutchman is three points adrift of Price ahead of Thursday's action, although he will arrive in Birmingham buoyed by his Players Championship Fifteen success on Tuesday. Van Gerwen produced a string of magnificent performances to clinch his first PDC ranking title since last April, averaging 122.34 in a staggering semi-final demolition of Martin Schindler.
"I believe in my own ability, and I think I'm playing some good darts," declared Van Gerwen, the most successful player in Premier League history.
"For me, it was important after a long time that I managed to win a ProTour. It meant a lot.
"I love what I do, and especially when I play like this, I love it even more."
Humphries, meanwhile, has catapulted himself back into top four contention by reaching back-to-back finals in Aberdeen and Leeds - succumbing 6-5 to Littler on both occasions. The reigning Premier League champion spurned a match dart to topple Littler in Leeds last week, although he has his destiny back in his own hands as he bids to reach Finals Night for a third straight season. Humphries will play Bunting for a place in the Night Fifteen semi-finals, in a repeat of their last four clash at the First Direct Arena last week. Bunting fell short despite averaging almost 106, which he means he must avenge that defeat against the world number two to preserve his Play-Off aspirations. However, the Liverpudlian is determined to finish with a flourish, having previously celebrated Night Four success in Belfast back in February.
"I'm always raring to go when it comes to the Premier League," claimed Bunting, who is six points adrift of Humphries in seventh position.
"I know what I need to do - I need to have two really good nights now, so let's hope this is the start of something big.
"It's been a long season already, but I feel fresh, I feel ready and I'm just looking forward to the night to be honest."
The evening's opening quarter-final pits Josh Rock against Gian van Veen, as the latter faces a potentially decisive night in his bid to secure a top-four finish. Van Veen trails Humphries by three points heading into Birmingham, with Rock now mathematically unable to qualify for Finals Night following his quarter-final exit in Leeds.
Rock - fresh from lifting the Austrian Darts Open title on Sunday - achieved perfection against his Dutch opponent on Night Four - though Van Veen has won both of their meetings in the league phase.
Fifteenth Night's Quarterfinals:
Josh Rock v Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton v Luke Littler