The 2023 Premier League Darts kicked off in a way that only Darts can.

Premier League debutant Chris Dobey stunnedthe Darts world by beating Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall to reach the finalin Belfast. Then he created a moment that only he could have dreamed of bytoppling two-time world champion Michael Van Gerwen, with a 160 checkout, inthe opening night final.

The second night in Cardiff, Wales, also madefor an enthralling night of darts. With Jonny Clayton’s exit in thequarter-finals, Gerwyn Price carried the flag for the Welshman.

Price used the backing of the Welsh fandom towill himself through two razor-close matches, and topple Nathan Aspinall in thefinal.

On Thursday, February 23rd, the Premier Leaguewill head to Dublin for the fourth night of the tournament.

The new format puts all players in a singleelimination knockout tournament every night. Players receive two points for asemi-final finish, three points for being runner-up, and five points if theywin that night's final. Each match will be a best of eleven legs.

The new format has been met with approval byfans who get to see an entire mini-tournament every Thursday. It also puts theplayers to the test, as to earn the full five points, players need to win threedifferent best of eleven games.

The Premier League is considered one of thethree pinnacles of professional darts. Alongside the World Championship and theWorld Matchplay, the Premier League makes up the triple crown of darts.

With the rise of darts and the newly favoredplaying format, online bookmakersin Ireland have jumped on the Darts bandwagon.

All major UK and Ireland sports bettingcompanies accept wagers on the Premier League. And many offer boosts,promotions, and special odds each Thursday before the players take to the oche.

The new format gives bookies more options forpundits to bet on. Outright winner of each game, accumulators, and winner ofthe night as a whole.

2023 definitely feels like the year for darts.It started with the emphatic world championship final between Michael Smith andMichael Van Gerwen that included the best leg of darts of all time.

The Premier League is the next major dartscompetition of the year and has a lot to live up to.

When the Premier League arrives in Dublin, thecompetition will be heating up. Although it’s a long tournament, no one canafford to fall too far behind and every point matters.

But who are the favorites to win it all whenthe Premier league descends on Dublin?

Michael van Gerwen

MvG is currently the third-ranked Darts playerin the world. However, he is by far the most decorated and dominant player inthe tournament.

He first won the tournament in 2013 and liftedthe trophy for the sixth time last year. He has the most appearances in thePremier League than anyone else this year.

Van Gerwen only trails the legendary Phil ‘ThePower’ Taylor as the most successful darts player in history.

Losing in the final of night one in Belfast issure to light a fire in MvG. Mix that with losing to Michael Smith in the WorldChampionship final this year, the defending Premier League Champion could be ona one-man demolition course back to claiming the World's number-one spot.

On the second night of Premier League Darts,in Cardiff, MVG defeated Dimitri Van Den Bergh in the quarter-final beforelosing six legs to five in the semis against Gerwyn Price.

He will have his chance to seek revenge forhis night one shock exit against Chris Dobey as the pair are scheduled to meetin the quarter-final in Dublin.

Peter Wright

The Scotsman is undoubtedly the mostflamboyant and lavish player in Darts today. ‘Snakebite’ Wright is a uniqueindividual who is widely recognized for his colorful Mohican hairstyle andglitter paint on the side of his head and face to match his vibrant clothing.

However, with the theatrics he brings, hebacks it up on the oche.

Wright is the current number-two player in theworld. But held the top spot twice last year. He’s a two-time PDC WordChampion, winning the Sid Waddell trophy in 2020 and 2022.

‘Snakebite’ has made ten Premier Leagueappearances, however, has never lifted the trophy. The closest he has come isin 2020 when he reached the final for the only time. But he suffered defeat toMichael Smith.

Wright has stumbled out of the blocks so farin the competition. He lost 6-3 to Chris Dobey on night one, who was playinghis first-ever Premier League Darts match. Then he also failed to reach the semi-finalsagain in Wales, this time falling short to Nathan Aspinall.

The 52-year-old will no doubt be looking tofill one of the final spaces in his trophy cabinet. Of the “Triple Crown ofDarts,” Wright has only the Premier League to win.

Michael Smith

With the tremendous events of the WorldChampionship final still so fresh in our minds, Michael Smith is looking tosolidify his place atop the darts world.

‘Bully Boy’ Smith captured everyone’s heartswhen he won the World Championship this year in what was one of the best gamesof darts in history. The victory saw the Englishman reach the pinnacle of thePDC by earning the top rank.

Smith has never won the Premier League. Hisbest run in the competition was in 2018 when he fell short in the final to MichaelVan Gerwen.

His 2023 campaign didn’t get off to the beststart. He lost in his opening quarter-final against Van Gerwen. And in thesecond night of the tournament, he defeated Jonny Clayton in his home countrybefore falling to Nathan Aspinall in the semi-final.

It’s a long competition. But if Smith wants tohold onto the top rank in world darts, he’ll need to find his footing as soonas possible. But there are no easy games in this competition. He has to playPeter Wright in the quarter-final in Dublin.

Gerwyn Price

Gerwyn Price is one of the most polarizingfigures in Darts today. His antics on and off the oche spark livelyconversations every time he’s in a major competition.

‘The Iceman’ is making his 5th appearance inthe Premier League. A competition that has not been kind to him.

His highest finish in the competition is 5thplace. A position he earned in 2019 and 2020.

Price is a three-time Grand Slam Champion andthe first Welshman to win the World Championship in 2021.

He suffered defeat in the quarter-final of theopening night in Belfast to Nathan Aspinall. However, one week later, GerwynPrice evened the score.

In front of a raucous, unusually Gerwyn Pricesupportive home-country crowd, Price toppled Aspinall six legs to three to winthe full five points in Cardiff.