Premier League darts week one betting tips and selections for Newcastle as Luke Littler eyes more glory

The Premier League darting extravaganza kicks off in Newcastle on Thursday night with eight of the PDC’s top performers ready to do battle.

Luke Humphries will be back to defend the Premier League crown he won when defeating Luke Littler in last year’s final, but the Nuke has been a winning machine since that defeat and the world champion starts the competition as favourite.

The format is unchanged with an eight-person knockout tournament each week and qualification for Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena up for grabs.

We have a trio of selections for the opening evening.

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Premier League darts week one betting tips

Tip 1 – Stephen Bunting to beat Michael van Gerwen @ 11/8

Stephen Bunting rates the standout play on the opening week of Premier League action, as he takes on Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals.

The Bullet had a miserable Premier League campaign last season, but the experience of returning to the tournament should see an improved showing this time around.

Van Gerwen was beaten in round one of the World Masters in January and the last 18 months has been a period of regression and not progression for Mighty Mike.

MVG did beat the Bunting in the pair of World Series events last month, but latter put up better numbers than the Green Machine in Bahrain and squandered a mountain of opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Bunting can make amends for those two defeats by getting one over on Van Gerwen on opening night on Tyneside.

Tip 2 – Jonny Clayton to beat Josh Rock @ 6/5

Jonny Clayton is a former Premier League winner and the Welshman has reached Finals Night in each of his last three appearances in the competition.

The Ferret worked back to near his peak last season, finishing runner-up at the World Masters and making the semi-finals of the UK Open, World Grand Prix and World Matchplay.

Josh Rock has been brilliant on the floor over the last 12 months, but Clayton’s record in major events is stronger and that has to be a worry on the Northern Irishman’s Premier League debut.

Rocky folded when put under pressure by Justin Hood at the World Championship and it remains to be seen if he can bring his best form to the Premier League.

Given the question marks over Rock, it seems sensible to stick with the experienced Clayton to pick up the win.

Tip 3 – Over 7.5 180s in Luke Littler v Gian van Veen @ 20/21

There will be a repeat of the World Championship final on Thursday when Luke Littler and Gian van Veen meet in the quarter-finals.

Littler was a rampant 7-1 winner of the Alexandra Palace showdown, winning seven sets in a row after going 1-0 down, but Van Veen had darts to go 2-0 up in the final and the Dutchman can keep tabs on the Nuke.

A closely-fought contest could see the quarter-final go 10 or 11 legs, which should mean plenty of 180s.

There were 11 maximums hit when the pair met in the Saudi Arabia Masters last month and that was a clash which went 10 legs.

With both players hoping to make an early statement, expect some heavy scoring with over seven 180s a possibility.

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