2023 Premier League Night One Preview
2023 Premier League Night One Preview
Following the PDC announcement of eight Premier League participants on Monday, all the talk can now turn to the oche with the first night’s action getting underway in Belfast.
This year’s tournament will again see eight of the sport’s top stars contesting 16 mini-events during the season, with each league night comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final over the best of 11 legs.
Repeat or Revenge
As always on the opening night of the Premier League we see the World Championship finalist going head to head.
The two Michaels currently hold World Championship, World Matchplay, Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts, and Grand Prix titles between them, and this match-up guarantees to offer fireworks.
Following a disappointing ending to The Masters, both players will be looking to recapture the form and pick up the 10k prize money.
Opening the 2023 Premier League will be a tie between Dimitri Van den Bergh and Jonny Clayton.
Following the social media frenzy after the Premier League picks, not everyone had these two in their picks with neither picking up a TV Title in 2022. However, Jonny Clayton will be looking to lean on the positives of his 2022 Premier League campaign when he reached half of 16 finals and finished top of the league table.
Dimitri’s 2022 season didn’t go to plan, however, the DreamMaker pick in this year’s competition was helped by his run to World Championship Semi-Final. With both players eager to impress on night one, and the winner taking on a World Championship Finalist, this opener will be intriguing.
Dobey Ready To Rhumble In Belfast
This time last week, did anyone have Chris Dobey in this year’s Premier League? With the PDC picks being more difficult this year than any other one in history, Dobey got his name in contention after winning his first TV title picking up The Masters just four days ago.
Chris Dobey will take on 2022 PDC World Champion Peter Wright. This weekend’s talking point may have been Dobey lifting the title, however, Peter Wright’s return to form comes at the right time for a good Premier League campaign.
Two averages of over 100 and match darts in the Semi-Final are signs that Wright is returning to the form that has seen him pick up two of the last four World Titles and will be looking to take advantage of Dobey’s inexperience on the Premier League stage, with Dobey only ever competing in Newcastle as a contender.
The final Quarter-Final on the opening night will see Nathan Aspinall take on World Number Four Gerwyn Price.
After a mixed 2022 Premier League campaign for The Iceman, he will be looking to focus on getting his campaign off to a winning start over the returning Nathan Aspinall.
Just over six months ago, Nathan Aspinall set his sights on a return to the weekly roadshow, and his place was confirmed on Monday following two TV finals in 2022. The winner of this game will take on either Wright or Dobey
Night One – Thursday February 2
The SSE Arena, Belfast
Quarter-Finals
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright v Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price
Semi-Finals
Van den Bergh/Clayton v Smith/Van Gerwen
Wright/Dobey v Aspinall/Price
Final
All games – best of 11 legs
