Premier League Darts permutations: Luke Humphries chasing down Michael van Gerwen for Play-Off spot
Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton have booked their places at Finals Night at The O2 on May 28; Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen occupy final two Play-Off spots, with Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen chasing; watch Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports every Thursday
Friday 1 May 2026 00:14, UK
![Michael van Gerwen [PDC Darts]](https://e0.365dm.com/26/01/768x432/skysports-michael-van-gerwen_7149958.jpg?20260130094207)
Seven-time Premier League Darts champion Michael van Gerwen is in a "really precarious position", according to Sky Sports' Wayne Mardle, with his lead in the final Play-Off spot cut to just two points with three nights remaining of the 2026 season.
Van Gerwen in battle with Humphries and Van Veen for Play-Off spot
Van Gerwen was arguably the biggest loser from Night 13 in Aberdeen as he was beaten by Luke Humphries in their quarter-final, one of his biggest rivals for a Play-Off spot.
Van Gerwen would have increased his lead to at least seven points with a victory. Instead, his advantage has been cut to two by both Humphries and Gian van Veen, who also claimed a couple of points with a quarter-final win over Jonny Clayton.
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Humphries added a third point by then getting the better of Van Veen in their semi-final, but could not beat Luke Littler for the nightly win that would have drawn him level on 18 points with Van Gerwen.
"Michael van Gerwen is in a really precarious position. He's not playing great," Sky Sports pundit Mardle said. "And Luke Humphries has at least given the others cause for concern.
"Things have changed. The gap is closer and Van Gerwen is just hanging on.
"Humphries is in a way better spot than he was before the night began... it's three welcome points. He's got to believe he can somehow still make the Play-Offs."
Clayton and Littler battling for top spot
The top two are already assured of their places at Finals Night at The O2 on May 28, with Littler and Clayton having shared the last four nightly wins to sit first and second respectively, on 34 and 32 points.
The Welshman's quarter-final exit in Aberdeen, however, granted Littler the chance to leapfrog him into top spot which he duly took with his fifth nightly win of the campaign.
And Littler is not done there.
"I always want to be on the top," Littler told Sky Sports. "Jonny, I don't know if he's much bothered about it, but I want to chase and hopefully break my own record [of six nightly wins from 2025].
"I can't wait for [Leeds] next week."
Can Rock and Bunting still make Finals Night?
"You can rule out seventh and eighth in the table," Mardle said emphatically when assessing the run-in to the 2026 season, with three nights remaining.
Josh Rock remains rooted to the foot of the table after his quarter-final exit to Littler in Aberdeen, stuck on eight points, 10 off a play-off spot - and with only 15 left to play for.
Though one place better off in the table, Stephen Bunting's Play-Off prospects are not a whole lot better, as his quarter-final defeat to Gerwyn Price on Night 13 not only kept him on 11 points - seven off fourth - but it also allowed Price to nudge further clear of danger in third spot on 21.
Premier League Darts - remaining league fixtures
Night 14 - May 7, First Direct Arena, Leeds
Quarter-finals
Gerwyn Price v Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock v Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen v Stephen Bunting
Night 15 - May 14, Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Quarter-finals
Josh Rock v Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton v Luke Littler
Night 16 - May 21, Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Based on league table after Night 15
Quarter-finals
2nd vs 7th
3rd vs 6th
1st vs 8th
4th vs 5th
What is the format for Finals Night?
The season-ending play-offs take place on a bumper night at The O2 in London on Thursday, May 28.
Finals Night is not the best-of-11 legs we see in the regular rounds, with each semi-final contested over 19 legs before a final that is the best-of-21 legs instead.
What is the prize?
As part of the PDC's biggest prize money increase in its history, the total prize pot for the 2026 Premier League is £1.25 million, up from £1m the previous year.
Each of the four semi-finalists are guaranteed £110,000, with the runner-up taking home £170,000 and the winner claiming £350,000.
Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? You can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
