Premier League Darts line-up revealed as champion Luke Littler learns opponents and two world champions are AXED
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LUKE LITTLER will headline Premier League Darts 2025 as he looks to defend his crown and bag £275,000 - as TWO former world champions are axed. The Warrington wonderkid, 17, stormed to the World Championship crown earlier this month after demolishing Michael van Gerwen in the final.
![[Luke Littler won the World Championship and will now headline the Premier League Darts 2025 event]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/luke-littler-england-celebrates-sid-961539408.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
That came just a year after Littler lost to fellow Luke - Humphries - after bursting onto the scene at the same tournament a year earlier. Putting his disappointment behind him, Littler would go on to hoover up a hoard of trophies... including the Premier League Darts 2024 title.
![[Littler won the Premier League title last season]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-luke-littler-celebrates-trophy-956906406.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
So it comes as no surprise the teenager chasing the mantle of world No1 headlines this year's event. While Littler - who will turn 18 before the new Premier League season starts - is joined by the likes of Humphries and Van Gerwen, two of last year's lineup have been cut.
![[Michael Smith won the world title two years ago but his dramatic slide has seen him axed from the Premier League]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03-01-2023-michael-smith-786453134.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Peter Wright, 54, and Michael Smith, 34, miss out following their alarming slump in form. They're replaced by Stephen Bunting - who last featured in the Premier League a DECADE ago, in 2015, and Chris Dobey - who returns having missed last season. Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall complete the eight-strong lineup fighting out for the £275,000 top prize.
![[Peter Wright is another former world champion to be axed for 2025]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/peter-wright-scotland-reacts-stephen-961264930.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The season begins Thursday February 6 in Belfast and comes to an end in the playoffs at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday May 29. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. Night 1 - The SSE Arena, Belfast - Thursday February 6. Night 2 - OVO Hydro, Glasgow - Thursday February 13.
![[Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen look likely to be Littler's biggest competition in the tournament]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/luke-humphries-michael-van-gerwen-918702820.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
