Premier League Darts: Dave Chisnall joins Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price selection debate | News about darts
Dave Chisnall has questioned the inclusion of Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price in this year’s BetMGM Premier League field, suggesting the selection should be “about darts, not your walk”.
After Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker criticized his omission from the tournament – a decision the Belgian called “a bit scandalous” – world No. 6 Chisnell waded into the debate over the eight-man line-up revealed for the 17-date roadshow, which starts in Belfast on Thursday 6 February live Sky Sports.
Despite being ranked higher than three of the four wildcards selected – Price, Chris Dobey and Aspinall – ‘Chizzy’ said he had no doubts about his own omission, but admitted he had feelings for De Decker and world No.8 Damon Heta.
“The Premier League line-up wasn’t surprising this week, but you’d have to be gutted if you were someone like Mike de Decker or Damon Heta,” Chisnall said. kwiff.
“I never expected to get a phone call – despite being No. 6 in the world – about how bad I’ve been on TV this year, but Mike may feel let down after a great run at the Grand Prix. Maybe what the world number 24 was counting against him, but these young lads can’t wait for their chance to shine.
“Damo is another who I think can feel unlucky, while it’s good to see Chris Dobey and Steven Bunting rewarded with a place. It seems like something of a changing of the guard without Michael Smith and Peter Wright, while Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn In my opinion, Price can both feel lucky to be participating this year.”
Explaining why he thinks Aspinall and Price were happy to get the call-up, Chisnall added: “Gezzy’s been doing really well [on] and fought in 2024, while Nathan did likewise.
“His run to the World Cup quarter-finals probably turned him on, that and everyone who loves him Mr. Brightside theme song.
“That’s a great entry, but it should be about darts, not your walk that gets you into these big competitions. I’ve got nothing against them personally, because they’re both great guys and get on well, but it should be about your action on a dart board, not on song and dance.”
The head of the PDC explains the reasons for choosing wildcards
While the top four in the PDC Order of Merit – this year’s world number 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 selected by the PDC.
Explaining this year’s choice of wildcards, PDC CEO Matt Porter said in favor of Sky Sports News: “Obviously with Price, Dobey and Aspinall, there are players above them in the rankings who haven’t been selected, but we’ve looked at it in terms of big stage presence, popularity and how they can get crowds of 10,000 every Thursday.
“We want people on the edge of their seats. We want people to get up and enjoy darts.
“That doesn’t mean other players can’t do it. You have to decide who is right at that moment.”
And on De Decker in particular after the Belgian became the first reigning Grand Prix champion to miss out on selection, Porter added: “Mike is an outstanding talent and someone we will no doubt 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 have won TV tournaments, but you have to show you can compete regularly in the later stages of tournaments.
“To do it once is fantastic and something you’ll always have, but to really be part of the elite you have to do it regularly over many years.”
BetMGM Premier League 2025 Schedule
- 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 6 March
- 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, April 17
- Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday 24th 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 15th May
- Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday 22 May
- Play-offs – O2, London – Thursday, May 29
Watch Premier League Darts on Sky Sports
Watch all the action from Premier League on Sky Sports with Luke Littler wants to defend his title. The new Premier League season will kick off in Belfast on Thursday 6 February as darts’ biggest party returns to an unchanged line-up of 17 venues across the UK and Europe.
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