Premier League Darts returns as supercomputer predicts champion and individual prize money for Luke Littler and Co

THE Premier League is about to get underway once again as eight of darts' top throwers begin their 17-week slog to be crowned champion. It was Luke Littler who won last year's tournament off the back of bursting onto the scene at the 2024 World Championship - but can he repeat history?. That's what the analysts at CasinoHawks have tried to figure out by running their data through a supercomputer to predict who will lift the Premier League trophy at the O2 Arena in May.

Using their supercomputer they have managed to give each of the eight stars a percentage chance of both topping the Premier League table and winning the whole lot in the London play-offs - as well as their average prize money from the simulations. This year's lineup is stacked with superstars as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall, Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price all return to the competition.

While Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting were chosen to join them after missing out on the action last year. Despite a field littered with some of the best players in the world, 18-year-old Littler has been backed to win the lot once again. The supercomputer reckons Littler has an incredible 51.9 per cent chance of topping the table, and 34.1 per cent of going on to win back-to-back titles. In fact, their simulations has him averaging a total prize money of £196,813 from the tournament.

Littler was crowned champion at the 02 last year after beating Luke Humphries in the final, and it's Cool Hand Luke that is predicted to be his biggest competitor once again. Night 1 - The SSE Arena, Belfast - Thursday February 6. Night 2 - OVO Hydro, Glasgow - Thursday February 13. Night 3 - 3Arena, Dublin - Thursday February 20. Night 4 - Westpoint Exeter - Thursday February 27. Night 5 - The Brighton Centre - Thursday March 6.

Night 6 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham - Thursday March 13. Night 7 - Utilita Arena, Cardiff - Thursday March 20. Night 8 - Utilita Arena, Newcastle - Thursday March 27. Night 9 - Uber Arena, Berlin - Thursday April 3. Night 10 - AO Arena, Manchester - Thursday April 10. Night 11 - Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam - Thursday April 17. Night 12 - M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool - Thursday April 24. Night 13 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1.

Night 14 - First Direct Arena, Leeds - Thursday May 8. Night 15 - P&J Live, Aberdeen - Thursday May 15. Night 16 - Utilita Arena, Sheffield - Thursday May 22. Play-Offs - The O2, London - Thursday May 29. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. World number one Humphries has been given an 18.3 per cent chance of winning the Premier League this year, and is also second favourite to top the group.

The supercomputer's predictions have Humphries to win £148,873 on average across their simulations as a result. Michael van Gerwen is the third most likely winner, with the Green Machine given a 14.9 per cent chance of winning his EIGHTH Premier League title. MVG may have won the competition more than any other player, but he is is still more than four times less likely to top the table than Luke Littler with just an 11.6 per cent chance.

However, an average prize money of £135,647 wouldn't be passed up by the Dutch dartman. Form is always so important in darts and as such, Stephen Bunting has been given the fourth highest chance of winning this year's Premier League. The people's champion would send the crowd Bunting mental if he came out on top, something that the supercomputer reckons there is a 12.6 per cent chance of happening. As for the others, both Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross have been given a 6.4 per cent chance of success.

While Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall would have to pull off a miracle with the pair given just 3.6 per cent chance of winning £275,000 grand prize. That means that Littler is almost TEN TIMES more likely to retain his title than Aspinall or Dobey. In fact, the supercomputer spat out an average winnings of less than £100,000 for the pair. Fans can get excited as action begins this evening as the eight stars take to the oche in Belfast at the SSE Arena to kick things off.

For Littler it will be a tricky start as he takes on MVG in his opening match. But the world champion is ready to get the better of the man he toppled on the biggest stage at Ally Pally. He said: "I think me and Michael are both going to be at the top of our game tomorrow night. "Belfast is where I claimed my first Premier League nightly win, so I'm hoping I can continue this great run of form. "There may be some nerves coming in as the reigning champion, but I'm just looking forward to getting back on the big stage in front of thousands of fans!.