Premier League Darts: Betting tips as arrows roadshow hits Ireland
The 2026 Premier League Darts table has an unexpected look to it after six weeks, with pre-tournament outsider Jonny Clayton holding a comfortable lead at the top of the standings.
Week seven sees the arrows roadshow roll into Dublin and our expert Matt Hill is on hand to run you through Thursday evening’s four quarter-final match-ups, along with his best bets ahead of the action.
Luke Littler - 6/4 (Sporting Index)
Luke Humphries - 4/1 (Star Sports/ Priced Up)
Gerwyn Price - 13/2 (Star Sports/ Priced Up)
Gian van Veen - 9/1 (Sky Bet/ Paddy Power/ Betfair)
Jonny Clayton - 10/1 (various)
Michael van Gerwen - 16/1(Sky Bet/ Paddy Power/ Betfair)
Josh Rock - 16/1 (various)
Stephen Bunting - 30/1 (Sky Bet/ Paddy Power/ Betfair)
*Best odds shown. Prices correct as of 4pm on Wednesday March 18th, 2026.
It’s probably a stretch to call this a crisis for Gian van Veen but January’s PDC World Championship runner-up is certainly experiencing his first mini-wobble since completing a stunning ascent into the world’s top four.
After making three of the first four nightly finals on Premier League debut this term (alongside a Euro Tour final), GVV has now exited at the quarter-final stage two weeks running. Those woes have also been compounded by a fourth-round UK Open exit to Rob Cross (10-7), before a heavy 6-1 defeat to an inspired Wessel Nijman on the Euro Tour last weekend.
Van Gerwen’s Euro Tour exit was even quicker, thumped 6-1 by Niels Zonneveld in an eyebrow-raising scoreline. And yet, dig a little deeper and you’ll find the Green Machine actually averaged 107 in that loss – somewhat of a freak result, all things considered.
Van Gerwen is a hard player to trust these days as consistency is seriously lacking in his game. However, I think he’s playing a bit better than bare results suggest. He was an early break up on Jonny Clayton last Thursday before being edged out 6-3, while there was some good stuff at the UK Open – even in a 10-3 loss to James Wade, where he still averaged over a ton.
Notably, Van Gerwen has won both of his meetings with Van Veen this calendar year. So, what may look on paper a good opportunity for the youngster to return to winning ways may actually be trickier than the odds suggest. I’d happily get with Van Gerwen here at 5/4.
Stephen Bunting was taking pelters from all corners a few weeks ago. A controversial recall to this year’s eight-man lineup, the Bullet was an easy target for hecklers after three opening-game defeats left him rooted to the bottom of the table.
Whatever your opinion on Bunting, he deserves immense credit for the way he bounced back on night four. Averages of 106, 106 and 97 saw him reign supreme in Belfast and it was a clear reminder of how dangerous he is on a going day.
He’ll need to be at that mercurial best to worry Luke Littler, you feel. Things haven’t really gone to plan for the Nuke yet this campaign but the world champ finally broke his nightly duck a fortnight ago, smashing everyone in his path by operating at a level only he can currently reach in this sport.
There was a bit of talk about Littler not being at his brilliant best until that first nightly win. But the reality is he has won 30 of his 36 matches across all PDC competitions this year. That is the definition of relentless consistency.
Bunting has the tools to compete with Littler, particularly over a best-of-11 where the Nuke is most vulnerable. The head-to-head record is actually a respectable 8-4 in Littler’s favour, so I wouldn’t be steaming into the 2/7 or handicap lines. Ultimately, I’d be wanting more like 7/2 to chance the Bullet on recent form lines though, so it’s a no bet.
You’d have to think Josh Rock’s feeling of joy from being selected for his maiden Premier League may be wearing off quite quickly. The Northern Irishman is still searching for his first win in the competition – six games, six losses and he’s lost 36 of 49 legs played.
Qualification hopes have probably sailed already, though things can turn quickly with a couple of nightly wins. The time is very much now for Rocky, though. He has to get that monkey off his back and find a victory through any means necessary now.
The man he faces here, Gerwyn Price, is in excellent form. While many of his fellow elite are opting for significantly reduced schedules, the Iceman is instead opting to play virtually everything in a bid to play himself into top form. Pro Tours, Euro Tours, Premier League, majors. The lot.
You’d have to say it is working, with another final reached on Sunday in the European Darts Trophy. He’s going at a 75% win rate in all competitions since the World Championship concluded and there’s been some spell-binding stuff in that 43-game sample too.
I do think a win is coming for Rock at some point (surely?!) but Price just seems to be scoring so much better than him at the moment. I really do like Price to win with the most 180s here at a very generous 9/4 with Sky Bet at time of writing.
Jonny Clayton’s remarkable start to this year’s Premier League has indeed seen his prices contract in the betting markets, but the question is quite whether things have adjusted enough.
The current market says Clayton loses this contest two in three occasions – but that’s probably more reflective of the last couple of years to my eye. In the last two months, the Ferret has been phenomenal, seemingly buoyed by his return to this lucrative competition and enjoying his role as an underdog.
Luke Humphries, meanwhile, has not had the best start to 2026. To my eye, he remains undisputedly the second best player on the planet but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to rough patches.
Cool Hand’s 26 wins from 37 matches post-World Championship is a solid if unspectacular return, but the drop down to 17 wins from 27 when removing his floor matches (nine wins from ten) is slightly more concerning. He’s still hunting for a first nightly win too, having been thumped by Clayton in last week’s final.
All told, I think you have to play this one simple at the prices and simply side with Clayton at 15/8. It’ll be a value loser, if nothing else!
On the above predictions, I’m leaning towards a Michael van Gerwen vs Luke Littler semi-final, where you’d have to give the edge to Littler.
The bottom half looks slightly trickier to call but if it does end up being another all-Welsh affair between Clayton and Price, I’d have to lean towards the latter, who seems to generally have the better of his compatriot – even if Clayton is in splendid nick.
That would leave us with a Littler vs Price final, which is rated a 9/2 chance with several firms. I’d be happy to have a small saver on a Littler vs Clayton final too, which is 19/2 best price with Star Sports at time of writing.
2pts - Michael van Gerwen to beat Gian van Veen - 5/4 (various)
2pts - Gerwyn Price to beat Josh Rock and hit the most 180s - 15/8 (Sky Bet)
2pts - Jonny Clayton to beat Luke Humphries - 15/8 (various)
1pt treble - Van Gerwen, Price and Clayton to win - 8.2/1 (AK Bets)
2pts - Name The Finalists - Luke Littler + Gerwyn Price - 9/2 (various)
1pt - Name The Finalists - Luke Littler + Jonny Clayton - 19/2 (Star Sports)
Total staked - 10pts
*All prices correct as of 3pm on Wednesday March 18th, 2026.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt's p/l
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2026
VAN GERWEN WINS WEEK ONE! Michael van Gerwen wins in Newcastle 🟢 MvG averages seven points higher than Gian van Veen to win 6-4 and pick up the first five points of 2026! 📺 bit.ly/PLDWhereToWatch #PLDarts | Final
170 TO WIN IT FROM LITTLER!!! 🎣 Luke Littler dishes the big fish in Cardiff to K.O. Gerwyn Price in style! WOW 👏 Live Scores & Streaming 📲 bit.ly/NewPDCApp
PRICE PUTS OUT THE HEAT ❄️ Gerwyn Price is through to a 12th European Tour final 🙌 The Welshman fends off a late Damon Heta fightback to set up a tantalising final against Wessel Nijman in Goettingen! 📺 bit.ly/PDCTVLive #ET2
CLAYTON WINS NIGHT SIX 🏴 The Ferret is on FIRE 🔥 Jonny Clayton becomes the first player to record a second nightly win, blasting past Luke Humphries 6-1 and extending his lead at the top of the table to an incredible eight points! #PLDarts | Final
