The Premier League Darts format for handling last-minute withdrawals is under scrutiny after Gian van Veen's absence due to kidney stones, with Michael van Gerwen's near-miss last year cited as a key example. Currently, if a player withdraws, their opponent receives a bye to the semi-finals and a 6-0 win, impacting leg difference. Van Gerwen narrowly missed the play-offs last season, and it's suggested the rules may have contributed, as he was given a 6-0 defeat when he couldn't make Berlin. Van Veen, who has missed weeks this year due to illness, could face similar issues, especially as he's been forced to return earlier than planned by skipping ProTours.
Gerwyn Price has called the idea of 'Challengers' replacing absent players "totally unfair," noting that while it brought moments like William O'Connor's walk-on after its 2019 introduction, it remains a yearly debate. O'Connor himself recently said a shake-up is needed, proposing a reserve player on standby, similar to tennis alternates at the ATP/WTA Finals who get paid regardless. Mark Webster, on the Love The Darts Podcast, acknowledged the complexity, stating it's tricky because bringing in players for a week or two creates an unequal playing field, yet Van Gerwen's play-off charge was theoretically halted by the current rules.
Webster elaborated: "I get the idea, but I just don't know how you do it. Who you get and obviously the players are going to be of a different level to say Gian [when he pulled out in Dublin]. It's not an equal contest anyway so it's tricky. It happened last year and it's happened a couple of times this year and it could be pivotal come the Play-Offs, so you don't know how it's going to pan out. It cost Van Gerwen last year, missing out on the Play-Offs when he was given a 6-0 defeat because he couldn't make Berlin." He added that players would prefer the bye and two points, but fans want to see a full night of action.
Laura Turner, also on the podcast, agreed that a reserve system might not be fair or balanced, but emphasized that fans in the arena, as Matt Porter often notes, want to see the event unfold completely. She questioned whether the PDC should prioritize entertainment, asking: "We used to have 'Challengers' and 'Contenders' so when you're playing someone different each week, is it fair? Is it balanced? If that player then beats you and goes on to win the night, does that then transfer into points or do they just play an exhibition-type match? From a crowd point of view, they want to see the whole thing pan out, but it's just how you go about it if it's an option the PDC want to consider."
