The 2025 Premier League Darts kicks off in Ireland on Friday morning Australian time with the eight Premier League participants heading to Belfast for Week 1. World Champion Luke Littler is understandably the favourite to win the opening week and the entire Premier League, but as always, there will be betting opportunities across every match this season.
It always shapes up to be an intriguing competition and opening week. Check out our Week 1 preview and betting tips below, or you can check out our 2025 Premier League of Darts season preview for our chances on each of the eight participants this season.
2025 Premier League Darts Week 1 Preview
Friday, February 7th 6:15am AEDT
Chris Dobey vs Gerwyn Price
I think the market has it right with $1.60 for Price vs $2.20 Dobey. Dobey did beat Price 5-3 in the World Championship, the first time Dobey has beaten Gezzy since 2019, with Price, winning the previous 12 encounters between the pair. The World Championship run of Dobey was impressive, but bumped into a lethal MVG in the Semi Final. But, I will say that the last couple of months from Price, the form he is in, it reminds me of Price from a few years ago where he was the best in the world, by some distance. His Bahrain/Dutch Masters efforts in recent weeks have been impressive and if he holds that form, then he should prove too good for Dobey. Keep in mind in 2022, Price hit two 9 Darters in the one night at Belfast, so the crowd will be on his side.
Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross
This pair recently clashed in the Dutch Masters Final, with Cross getting the better of Bunting in an epic contest. This is the debut of Bunting in the Premier League whereas Cross has been involved for a few years to minimal success. Traditionally, players on debut in the Premier League generally do well, and nothing really seems to fluster Bunting. He'll have the crowd with him given his popularity and he is the sort of player that loves the crowd on his side. I think Cross could be in for a tough opening night and the market does reflect that.
Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
The clash of the World Championship finalists highlights the opening night. Littler was the star of 2024, and started 2025 in the best way possible when beating MVG in the Final, and the baton was passed on when it came to generational talent. Littler is heading down the Michael Jordan path in terms of dominating the sport and transcending it, making it mainstream worldwide. The query will be whether he has the hunger and desire to keep being brilliant given he has achieved the ultimate. If he does, then he should be winning this contest.
Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Humphries
This is the intriguing match up for me for the opening night. On paper, Humphries should win and win comfortably, with the market saying as much with Humphries at around $1.30 to win. But, I don't think Humphries has that aura about him anymore. He is heading down the path of recent World Champions that drop off a cliff re form. He had a solid 2024, but nowhere near the level he was at in 2023, and for mine, he is beatable every time he is on stage. The saving grace for him is that he is taking on Nathan Aspinall, who hasn't set the world on fire in recent years and was poor last year in the Premier League. But, this to me seems the sort of game where he could scrap and get an unlikely win. It will all depend on Humphries and what level he is playing at. If he plays at a decent level, he wins. But if he is nowhere near his best, Aspinall can drag him to the trenches and win.
Price to beat Dobey ($1.61)
Bunting to beat Cross ($1.61)
Littler to beat Van Gerwen ($1.36)
Aspinal +2.5 Legs vs Humphries ($1.66)
