Premier League Darts: Eight-player field unveiled as Masters champion Chris Dobey joins the elite
- Seb Sternik
- 30 January 2023
Newly crowned Masters champion Chris Dobey has been included in the eight-player field for the 2023 Premier League Darts season.
Dobey, who beat Rob Cross 11-7 in Sunday's Masters final, previously featured in the Premier League as a 'Challenger' in 2019 and 2020. This time, the 32-year-old will be a full member of the four-month event.
World champion Michael Smith headlines the line-up and will be joined by Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Jonny Clayton.
There are also two players who will mark their return to the event, with Nathan Aspinall and Dimitri Van den Bergh sealing their spots in the field.
Aspinall, who was the runner-up in 2020, is set for his third Premier League appearance after impressing in recent TV events. The 31-year-old reached the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts finals.
Van den Bergh, on the other hand, returns to the fold following a solid 2022 campaign.
The Belgian won two World Series of Darts titles and also reached the World Matchplay and World Championship semi-finals.
This year's edition of the Premier League will begin on Thursday in Belfast before going on a four-month tour across the United Kingdom and Europe.
The format will remain the same as last season, with the eight players contesting 16 mini-events before competing in finals night.
Points will be awarded each night to form the league table, from which the top four players will progress to the play-offs, which will be held at The O2 in London on Thursday May 25.
