Michael van Gerwen won a record-equalling sixth Premier League title by defeating Cullen 11–10 in the final, after Cullen missed a dart at double to win the title, which would have made him the third debutant in a row (after Glen Durrant and Clayton) to win the title at his first attempt.[3]
This tournament also saw the beginning of the PDC's new partnership with Winmau as their dartboard supplier.[4]
Format
On 14 January 2022, the PDC announced a new format for the Premier League. Instead of the previously used round robin format, the event consisted of an eight-person knockout bracket every night. Each of the seven matches was played over the best-of-11 legs. The players were guaranteed to meet each other once in the quarter-finals throughout the first seven weeks and once in the quarterfinals in weeks 9–15, with weeks 8 and 16 being drawn based on the league standings at that point. Players received two points per semi-final finish, three points per runner-up finish, and five points per final win.[5]
Though it was assured that players meet each other only twice in the quarter-finals on regular nights (i.e. weeks 1–7 and 9–15), no other guarantees are made. So certain players were drawn onto the same semi-final branch more often than others. For example, while Price–Wright, van Gerwen–Anderson and Wade–Smith pairs were on the same branch only when they play each other in the quarter-finals, a Wright–Anderson and van Gerwen–Smith final was possible only twice on the regular 14 nights.
Following the regular phase, the top four players in the league table contested the two knockout semi-finals with 1st playing 4th and 2nd playing 3rd.
Venues
2022 saw the return of the Brighton Centre, which was last used as a Premier League venue in 2017.
The prize money for the 2022 tournament increased to £1 million, including a £10,000 bonus to each night's winner.[6][7]
Stage
Prize Money
Winner
£275,000
Runner-up
£125,000
Semi-finalists (x2)
£85,000
5th place
£75,000
6th place
£70,000
7th place
£65,000
8th place
£60,000
Weekly Winner Bonus (x16)
£10,000
Total
£1,000,000
Players
Usually, the top four players in the PDC Order of Merit following the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship would be joined by six invited players, of which they would have been announced following the World Championship final. However, this year, following the announcement of the new format, it was announced that only 8 players will participate in 2022.
It was revealed that the new format would encompass eight players, each playing against each other in a knockout tournament each night. The winner of each night would receive an additional £10,000 towards their prize money. Those who make it out of the last 8 each receive 2 points, the runner-up will receive 3 points and the winner receives 5.
The full list of players was announced on 31 January 2022, with the Top 6 players on the PDC Order of Merit joined by the reigning Premier League champion Jonny Clayton, and debutant Joe Cullen, fresh from winning his first televised title at the Masters the previous evening.[8]
This new format saw “Judgement Night” and relegation disappear from the league.
^Anderson tested positive for COVID-19, and therefore had to withdraw. Under the rules of the competition, his opponent, van Gerwen, was given a 6–0 win.[10]
^Wade was forced withdraw after falling ill during the 2022 European Darts Open, and was still in hospital in Leverkusen, after being ruled unable to fly home. Under the rules of the competition, his opponent, Cullen, was given a 6–0 win.[11]
Five points are awarded for a night win, three points for the runner-up and two points for the semi-finalists. 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.
The top 4 players after 16 nights advance to the play-offs on 13 June.
^wins after withdrawals; (Cullen's 6-0 over Price on Night 5, and Wade on night 14, and van Gerwen's 6–0 over Anderson on Night 9), do count towards Cullen's, and van Gerwen's standings, but not towards Price's, Anderson's and Wade's standings, resulting in an uneven ratio of games won and lost, plus in an overall league leg difference of +18.
(C) Champion after the playoffs, (RU) Runner-up after the playoffs
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Michael van Gerwen
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Joe Cullen
Gerwyn Price
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