With the first ranking major of the season coming to a close at the weekend, with Luke Littler picking up his maiden World Masters Title over reigning champ Luke Humphries, all eyes turn to Newcastle as the Premier League of Darts returns for 2026. 

Once more, the Premier League line-up drew up plenty of controversy within the darting sphere, as many debated who they believed should make the cut for the 17-week roadshow that all culminates in the thrilling play-offs.

Of course, the top four in the order of merit automatically qualify for the prestigious event, while the rest of the field is selected based on who the PDC view as the most deserving over the last 12 months.

In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Charlie Fawcett looks at the eight players selected for this year’s edition.