Mighty Mike, a seven-time Premier League champion, isn’t quite at the consistent level we’ve come to expect from the Dutchman. Despite some vintage MVG performances, Van Gerwen is yet to capture a nightly win, and no matter how well he performs, the Green Machine seemingly gets exploded by Luke ‘The Nuke’ every time the 2025 World Championship finalists meet.
With the chasing pack of Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, and Nathan Aspinall closing in, MVG’s spot at the O2—once an absolute guarantee since his debut win in 2013—could be in real danger.
Nathan Aspinall Captures a Night Win
The dominance of Luke Littler has raised the bar for any player hoping to steal a nightly victory. While Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries have managed it, Aspinall’s recent Euro Tour success suggests he could fight his way to a win before the season is over.
His selection in the Premier League faced scrutiny from pundits and players alike, with some suggesting his fan-favourite walk-on, Mr. Brightside, played a role in his inclusion. However, Aspinall has battled toe-to-toe with the very best this season, proving he belongs in the elite eight. A night win might seem unlikely, but The Asp has the grit and determination to cause an upset.
At Least Two More Nine-Darters
Given the current level of darting excellence on display this season, this wouldn’t be a major shock. However, the record for most nine-darters in a single Premier League campaign stands at three.
With Littler, Humphries, and Cross already hitting perfection this year, the stage is set for that record to be shattered. This year’s players, led by the relentless Luke Littler, are determined to etch their names into the history books. Expect at least two more moments of perfection before the season is out.
Stephen Bunting Turns Things Around and Reaches Double Digits
Poor Stephen Bunting. The Bullet has played some solid darts scoring-wise, yet after eight weeks, he remains winless. Since the Premier League’s format shift in 2022, Peter Wright holds the unfortunate record for the worst season, managing just two wins and four points last year.
However, Bunting has shown enough promise to suggest a turnaround is possible. With Night 12 in Liverpool looming, the local support could be the spark he needs. If he can feed off that energy and secure at least five match wins, he could reach double digits and even climb off the bottom of the table.
Gerwyn Price Reaches the Final
At this stage, backing anyone other than Luke Littler to win the Premier League feels like a long shot. However, with two nightly wins so far, The Iceman Gerwyn Price has shown glimpses of his former World Champion form.
His inconsistency—several quarter-final exits mixed with wins in Dublin and Nottingham—means he’s still fighting for an O2 spot rather than cruising there like Littler and Humphries. But if he makes it, Gezzy could be a nightmare opponent for The Nuke.
Price has won his last six meetings against Littler, and even the teenage sensation himself has admitted to struggling against the Welshman. If their Night Six final in Nottingham is anything to go by, Price should be seriously considered as a real contender to dethrone Littler at the O2.