2016 Premier League Darts


2016 Betway Premier League Darts
Winner

Format

The tournament format remained identical to that since 2013. During the first nine weeks each player plays the other nine players once. The bottom two players are eliminated from the competition. In the next six weeks, each player plays the other seven players once. Phase 2 consists of four weeks where five matches are played followed by two weeks where four matches are played. At the end of phase 2 the top four players contest the two semi-finals and the final in the play-off week.

Venues

Rotterdam's Ahoy Arena became the first arena from outside the British Isles to host a Premier League event, it replaced the Brighton Centre.

Players

The players in this year's tournament were announced following the 2016 PDC World Darts Championship final on 3 January 2016, with the top four of the PDC Order of Merit joined by six Wildcards. The ten players made up the top ten in the PDC Order of Merit following the World Championship. Stephen Bunting and Kim Huybrechts did not return from last year. Robert Thornton returned after a year out, and Michael Smith made his début.
PlayerAppearance in
Premier League
Consecutive
Streak
Order of Merit
Rank
Previous best performanceQualification
hs|1

Prize money

The 2016 Premier League saw the introduction of a £25,000 League Leader's Bonus for the player who topped the league table following the 15 league nights, taking the total prize fund for the event up to £725,000 from £700,000 in 2015.

Results

League stage

4 February – Week 1 (Phase 1)

First Direct Arena, Leeds
*Gary Anderson was originally scheduled to play against Adrian Lewis, but was sidelined with an illness, so Michael Smith played twice in Round 1. Anderson played Lewis on 17 March, giving Smith the night off.

11 February – Week 2 (Phase 1)

Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne
*Robert Thornton was originally scheduled to play against Michael Smith, but was sidelined with an illness, so James Wade played twice in Round 2. Thornton played Smith on 24 March, giving Wade the night off.

18 February – Week 3 (Phase 1)

'''3Arena, Dublin'''

25 February – Week 4 (Phase 1)

'''GE Oil & Gas Arena, Aberdeen'''

3 March – Week 5 (Phase 1)

'''Westpoint Arena, Exeter'''

10 March – Week 6 (Phase 1)

'''Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, Nottingham'''

17 March – Week 7 (Phase 1)

'''SSE Hydro, Glasgow'''

24 March – Week 8 (Phase 1)

'''Echo Arena Liverpool, Liverpool'''

31 March – Week 9 (Phase 1)

'''Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff'''

7 April – Week 10 (Phase 2)

'''Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield'''

14 April – Week 11 (Phase 2)

'''SSE Arena Belfast, Belfast'''

21 April – Week 12 (Phase 2)

'''Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth'''

28 April – Week 13 (Phase 2)

'''Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham'''

5 May – Week 14 (Phase 2)

'''Manchester Arena, Manchester'''

12 May – Week 15 (Phase 2)

'''Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam'''

Play-offs – 19 May

'''The O2 Arena, London'''

League summary

Table

After the first nine weeks, the bottom two in the table are eliminated. Each remaining player plays a further seven matches. The top four players then compete in the playoffs.
When players are tied on points, leg difference is used first as a tie-breaker, after that legs won against throw and then tournament average.