The 2025 BetMGM Premier League season continues with Night Two in Glasgow on Thursday, as Luke Humphries bids to continue his perfect start to the season on Scottish soil.
Humphries produced a ruthless display of doubling to take glory on Night One in Belfast - including hitting six doubles from seven attempts in the final against Chris Dobey, and the pair renew their rivalry in the evening’s fourth quarter-final tie at the OVO Hydro.
The world number one – who celebrated his 30th birthday on Tuesday – also overcame Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen to register a five-point haul in the Northern Irish capital.
Humphries also lifted the Winmau World Masters title earlier this month and reached a Players Championship semi-final on Monday, although he is refusing to get carried away ahead of his latest tussle against Dobey.
“I really do think this is the strongest Premier League line-up for a very long time,” insisted the 2024 Premier League finalist.
“I have to capitalise on the win last week and make sure I keep pushing and keep striving for better, because this is going to be a really tough season in my opinion.
“When you’re winning all the time you have so much belief and so much confidence, but you cannot take it for granted.
“All it takes is a couple of defeats and the confidence can drain from you, so this is a really good moment for myself, but I have to back it up.”
Night Two of the darting roadshow will begin with a blockbuster clash between Rob Cross and reigning champion Luke Littler, who is searching for his first points of the new season.
Littler registered the second highest losing average in Premier League history during an extraordinary contest against Van Gerwen last Thursday, posting a 113.91 average in a deciding-leg defeat.
Cross, meanwhile, defeated Stephen Bunting in the Night One quarter-finals, before clinching victory in the year’s opening Players Championship event in Wigan on Monday.
“I’ve won two titles already - I’ve never won this early in a year before,” admitted Cross, who also prevailed at last month’s Dutch Darts Masters in Den Bosch.
“I’ve been hit and miss in the last few months, but when I do find it, I can play some special darts.
“I’m enjoying myself at the minute, and when I’m on my game, I love it. I love the game.
“I’m looking forward to the game against Luke. I believe I can beat anyone on my day, but we all know that young man is a special talent.”
The winner of Cross and Littler’s latest showdown will advance to a semi-final tie against Van Gerwen or Bunting, who go head-to-head in the evening’s second quarter-final.
Following his incredible quarter-final victory over Littler in Belfast, Van Gerwen missed a match dart to topple Humphries in the last four, but the seven-time Premier League champion heads to Glasgow in confident mood.
“I’m feeling good. It’s always nice being back in the Premier League,” declared the Dutch superstar.
“After the World Championship I think this is the biggest tournament of the year, so it’s important to compete and perform well.
“I think my game is in a good place. I feel comfortable, and I need to make sure I can do some damage.
“You have to prepare well in any game you play these days. You cannot afford any mistakes, so I need to be at the top of my game.”
Elsewhere on Night Two, 2023 Premier League runner-up Price takes on former World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall for the right to play Humphries or Dobey in the last four.
The pair suffered quarter-final defeats against Dobey and Humphries respectively on Night One, but Price comes into Thursday’s action fresh from winning his first ranking title since November 2023 at Tuesday’s Players Championship Two.
“I’m getting back to my best,” insisted the Welshman, who was also the runner-up at last month’s Bahrain Darts Masters.
“I’m enjoying the game more. I think my mentality and the way I think has changed, and it has just benefitted me.
“I had a little bit of help with a sports psychologist before the World Championship, which really helped.
“There’s a lot more positivity in my game now, and it seems to be working!”
The 2025 Premier League sees eight of the sport’s biggest names contesting 16 mini-events during the season, with each league night comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final over the best of 11 legs.
Ranking points will be awarded per night - with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists - to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 29.
The 2025 BetMGM Premier League will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
2025 BetMGM Premier League
Night Two - Thursday February 13
OVO Hydo, Glasgow
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross v Luke Littler
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries v Chris Dobey
Semi-Finals
Cross/Littler v Van Gerwen/Bunting
Aspinall/Price v Humphries/Dobey
Final
v
All matches best of 11 legs