Favourites to Win the 2025 Darts Premier League

Earlier this month, Luke Littler managed to become the youngest PDC Darts World Champion in history when he defeated Michael van Gerwen at the Alexandra Palace. The resounding 7-3 victory banished memories of last year when The Nuke burst onto the scene at just 16 years of age to reach the final, only to be defeated by Luke Humphries. His run to the showpiece in 2024 was arguably the biggest sporting news of the year at the time, but now, attention turns to the future.

While he fell short in last year's World Championship final, Littler didn't make the same mistake in the Premier League, winning the tournament in his debut and attracting the attention of websites like Bodog.News. Now, the latest evidence suggests he may very well successfully defend his title in 2025. The latest odds from the popular Bodog news and betting site currently make The Nuke a +135 betting favourite to successfully go back-to-back, but who joins him in the list of frontrunners?

 

Luke Littler

At just 18 years of age, Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm. As mentioned, his meteoric rise began this time last year as he reached the World Championship final at the first time of asking. Even though he ultimately came up unsuccessful in his quest to claim the crown, he wouldn't have a similar fate in the Premier League, winning the title after a dominant campaign. Fast forward 12 months, and The Nuke is now a world champion after making no mistake the second time around, and he will be aiming to become a second-time Premier League winner.

However, as with any young player, challenges could emerge. We have already seen Littler suffer a shock exit at the Bahrain Darts Masters, losing out in a shootout against Gerwyn Price. He bounced back with a narrow 6-4 victory against Dimitri van den Bergh in the ongoing Dutch Darts Masters, but managing to hold his nerve throughout the gruelling Premier League is a different matter entirely. The Nuke has often displayed maturity beyond his years, but the mental toll of consecutive high-stakes encounters could test even his steely resolve.

 

Luke Humphries

Should Littler end up losing his cool, then the best-placed man to capitalize is Cool Hand Luke himself. Luke Humphries was the man who famously made the teenager's dream ultimately become a nightmare in that 2024 World Championship final, and he is certainly capable of beating Littler again. His defence of the world title didn't go as planned, suffering an early exit at the hands of Peter Wright after a bitter war of words, and now he is on the hunt for redemption.

What better way to secure that than with a victory in the Premier League? Humphries' ability to produce bursts of brilliance is his biggest strength. But while his highs are undeniably spectacular, his issue has been maintaining that level across extended tournaments. Consistency will be key if he wants to overcome the likes of Littler in the Premier League, but if he can maintain his form, then he will surely have a part to play in who ultimately emerges victorious.

 

Michael van Gerwen

You can never count out Michael van Gerwen. Even at +500 odds, the seven-time Premier League champion is still one of the greatest threats in the competition. The Green Machine reached the recent world championship final, where Littler ultimately beat him, but he remains some way short of his best form.

Following the reign of Phil Taylor, MVG became the dominant force on the tour. He's a three-time world champion, but it's the Premier League where he has truly shone, picking up a mighty seven titles. Though his dominance has cooled drastically in recent years, "Mighty Mike" remains one of the most dangerous players on the oche.

Van Gerwen's 2024 season was slightly underwhelming by his immense standards, with inconsistent results and a string of quarter-final exits. But the Dutchman has always been a player who thrives on major stages, as we recently saw at Alexandra Palace. The Premier League has been his baby over the last decade, and he will be looking to return to his brilliant best in 2025, with plenty of exciting events approaching.

 

Gerwyn Price

Gerwyn Price is another star who has waned in recent years. The Iceman claimed his maiden world championship back in 2021, but that triggered a downturn in form that it has taken years to find a way out of. His best Premier League appearance came in 2023, where the aforementioned MVG ultimately beat him. However, in the opening weeks of 2025, he is showing signs that he could be returning to his best.

The Welshman managed to roll back the years to pick up a thrilling 4-3 win against Joe Cullen in arguably the best match of the recent worlds. Then, he produced one of his best results in years when he eliminated Littler in Bahrain, averaging a whopping 115 as he reeled off a stunning 6-2 victory. Stephen Bunting eventually beat him in the Sakhir showpiece, but at odds of +1400, don't be surprised to see Price throw a spanner in the works for the market-leading Lukes.