PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter has conceded that the current Premier League Darts format is approaching the end of its life cycle, after four years of use. In an interview with Oche180, Porter acknowledged that while the 2026 campaign was successful—featuring sold-out arenas, a debut in Antwerp, nine-dart finishes, and a thrilling final where Luke Littler defeated Luke Humphries to regain his crown—the format itself is nearing its expiration. 'If you look at the life cycle of it, then yes, it would certainly be in that latter stage rather than in the ascendancy,' Porter said.
Porter highlighted the jeopardy in the qualification race, noting that while Littler and Jonny Clayton breezed to the O2, Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries faced more tension. Humphries secured his first nightly win of the campaign in Birmingham, allowing both to qualify for finals night with a week to spare. Despite the drama, fan discourse around the format remains heated. 'I think people see this tournament—and this format—through different eyes,' Porter commented, acknowledging the challenge of balancing spectator excitement with viewer desire for variety. 'While people are talking about it, that shows they care—and we can't ask for much more than that.'
On the subject of the Premier League lineup, Porter defended the selection process, which this year saw Stephen Bunting included over Nathan Aspinall, Danny Noppert, and James Wade. He listed factors such as playing performance, star quality, major event results, ranking, on-stage presence, and conduct. 'There isn't an algorithm or mathematical formula behind it. There's a lot of judgement involved,' he explained. Porter emphasised the need to keep the lineup fresh, with three changes this year, and acknowledged that the process is difficult: 'It's not often that you get 100% agreement... Sometimes players can be very unlucky to be left out.'
Porter also addressed the growth of darts globally, confirming that the PDC will return to Saudi Arabia in January for the Saudi Darts Masters, though he dismissed speculation about moving a major event there. Regarding the United States, he confirmed plans to improve darts' status following a minority stake acquisition in Matchroom. 'We want to produce an American darting superstar,' Porter said, though he noted the challenge of breaking into a mature sports market. On the DRA's recent ruling preventing transgender women from competing in women-only events, Porter confirmed the PDC follows DRA rules and that the decision was made independently based on scientific evidence, with no influence from other sports like World Athletics.
