Phil Taylor's Brutally Honest Opinion on Premier League Format Amid Controversy
Taylor has given his take on the subject.
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Topics: Darts
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Darts
With weeks to go until this season's Premier League opener, Phil Taylor has claimed the biggest names in darts are facing each other far too often.
The Premier League line-up was announced this month ahead of the opening night in Newcastle on February 5, with the remaining four spots being confirmed following much debate.
Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen are the four highest-ranked players in the PDC Order of Merit, meaning they automatically qualified.
The remaining four spots were up for grabs and, after much deliberation, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price were chosen to complete the line-up.
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Ahead of the news, PDC chief executive Matt Porter played down suggestions of a potential format change.
“We always say that we do evaluate it and we will change it at some point, but we just feel at the moment the data shows us that this is the right format," he told Sky Sports.
“The crowds in the arenas love it, they love seeing a winner on the night, it keeps them entertained until the last dart, and the TV audience figures are great," he added.
Porter also said the PDC will make a decision "as and when we feel that the format is tired".
Amid talk around the Premier League and its format, 16-time world champion Phil Taylor has had his say on whether big names are playing against each other too often.
"You need it, you need rivalry, you do. But you don't need that rivalry week in and week out," he said, as per Online Darts.
"Me and Raymond (van Barneveld). That was exciting when we were going to play each other. Sky even had a countdown. But once we had the Premier League and he was in it and I was in it, we were playing week in and week out. So it becomes a bit less.
"Manchester United versus Liverpool is exciting, but if they did it every other week, it wouldn't be as exciting."
Asked if he feels that the big games, or the big-name players, are playing each other too much, Taylor made his feelings abundantly clear.
"Yeah, I think so," he said, before the reporter asked whether it "detracts" from the big majors when they meet. "Yeah, it does, definitely," Taylor added.
Thoughts on Taylor's comments? Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.