Premier League darts outright predictions and Night One betting tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Arena, 7pm Thursday

Best outright bets

J Clayton to win Premier League
1pt each-way 10-1 BoyleSports, Coral, Ladbrokes

G Price not to make Premier League playoffs
1pt 13-10 Hills

Best bets for Night One

P Wright to win Night One
1pt 9-2 BoyleSports, Coral, Ladbrokes

J Clayton -1.5 legs v D van den Bergh
1pt 23-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

M Smith to beat M van Gerwen
1pt 13-10 Coral, Ladbrokes

N Aspinall to bt G Price
1pt 13-8 Coral, Ladbrokes

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Premier League outright preview

World finalists Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith head the betting for the 2023 Premier League but it's former winner Jonny Clayton who looks the value to power his way to glory.

Clayton lifted the trophy two years ago, topped the table 12 months ago, and that's the sort of formguide punters want to read ahead of a bet on this year's four-month slog which starts in Belfast on Thursday night.

Sure, the world's top four are the big hitters in the eight-man field and Van Gerwen's pedigree – he's a six-time winner and the defending champion – is beyond any argument.

But none of Smith, Peter Wright nor Gerwyn Price made the playoffs last year, and Gezzy has never yet finished in the top four.

Throw in the fact that two of the PDC's wildcard picks – Nathan Aspinall and world number 21 Chris Dobey – aren't obviously easy to fancy, and the case for Clayton at a pretty decent price gets ever stronger.

The Ferret certainly enjoyed the new format last year – 16 stand-alone mini-competitions each and every Thursday producing the four qualifiers for the playoffs – going on to win four times during the season.

He then went on to partner Price to the World Cup final, win the New South Wales Masters and saw off Josh Rock among others to get to the World Championship quarter-finals for the first time.

He bristles with self-belief and has already shown in Bahrain, Copenhagen and at the Masters at the weekend that his numbers are good.

Clayton and the four ahead of him in the betting represent a power-packed quintet, while world semi-finalist Dimitri van den Bergh is also a hugely consistent player these days.

Which all does leave the feeling that Masters winner Dobey and Aspinall could easily struggle.

Dobey will point to the fact that the last two winners of the Masters – Clayton and Joe Cullen – took full advantage of their last-minute call-ups by reaching the final at the first attempt.

He threw well at the worlds, unlike Aspinall, hence some of the raised eyebrows that they were given the nod ahead of the likes of Luke Humphries.

If there's a big gun who could misfire, however, it's Price, who looks a fair bet not to make the playoffs, given he hasn't managed to do so yet in four previous attempts.

Premier League Night One

History can repeat itself and ensure Peter Wright kicks off Premier League 2023 with opening-night glory in Belfast.

Wright won't be topping the bill at the SSE Arena as Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen get set for their first rematch since last month's epic world final which Bully Boy won.

But Snakebite will be happy enough to fly under the radar and land the odds as he seeks to carry on a positive start to the new darting year.

Just like this Thursday, Wright started the 2022 Premier League schedule by finding himself housed at five in the opening-night draw bracket and duly saw off Michael Smith, Gary Anderson and Jonny Clayton to collect the five points on offer.

It would turn out to be the only win of the Scot's campaign which ended in him missing out on the playoffs.

In Belfast, Wright has the darts against newcomer Chris Dobey in round one, would then be 'at home' against Nathan Aspinall or Gerwyn Price, before shackling whoever emerges from the top half in the final.

Dimitri van den Bergh v Jonny Clayton

This looks a tough one to call though Van den Bergh was tamely vanquished by Gary Anderson in his first-round match at the Masters on Friday.

The Belgian beat Clayton 5-3 in the world quarter-finals at Christmas but the Ferret can get his revenge. Clayton is 8-11 but needs to break if he's to win, so if you fancy him you may as well take the 23-20 he wins giving up 1.5 legs.

Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen

Mighty Michael van Gerwen would love to avenge that world final defeat to Smiffy in Belfast, but the world champion looks the bet at 13-10.

Smith has come out and won again since Ally Pally and the number one ranked player in the world is now free of those doubts which used to floor him.

Peter Wright v Chris Dobey

Chris Dobey is buzzing after his Masters triumph, which earned him his call-up for a debut Premier League campaign.

But Wright, also a winner in 2023 having prevailed in the Nordic Masters, can put the newcomer in his place.

Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price

Gezzy blows more hot and cold than is healthy these days and that has to give Nathan Aspinall hope that he can topple the Welshman.

With the darts the Asp looks quite the price at 13-8.