Dean Etheridge
We’ve finally reached the end of the 2023 Premier League Darts season. Yes, this week is finals night at the O2 Arena in London, and with four of the best darts players in the world taking part, it promises to be an occasion to remember. Here we take a look ahead to the night’s action. And in the process we tell you who we think will win with our latest free darts betting picks.
- What; 2023 Premier League Darts – Finals Night
- Where; O2 Arena, London, England
- When; Thursday, May 25th, 2023
- Time; 2 pm ET
The four players competing for the right to be known as the 2023 Premier League Darts champion are Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, and Jonny Clayton. This quartet finished in the top four of the weekly points table, and as a result, they’ve qualified for the playoffs on finals night.
LEAGUE TABLE 🔢
Here's how the 2023 @CazooUK Premier League table shapes up after the final night of league action.
Price tops the table 👑
Clayton secures top four 🔢
Dimi picks up first night win ✅ pic.twitter.com/3i9RDZttWM— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 18, 2023
Finals Night; All you need to know
First up, there’s a slight change in format for Finals Night. Both the semi-finals are best of 19 (first to 10 legs), with the final being the best of 21 legs (first to 11). This means the better players have an improved chance, as they have longer to salvage a situation, should they go a few legs down early on.
In the regular-season format, that wasn’t the case. Back then it was the first to six, meaning if a player went two or three legs behind early on, it was almost impossible to come back.
Prior to Night 16 in Aberdeen, Price, van Gerwen, and Smith had all already secured their place at the O2. The only thing left to confirm on the final group stage night was the fourth player, and what order the table finished in. And the order of the table was important, as the table topper gets to play the fourth placed player in Thursday’s semi-finals match ups.
Semi-finals line up and betting odds
As it happened, Gerwyn Price made it to yet another final, his ninth of the Premier League season. And that was enough to ensure the Iceman topped the table. This means when the action gets under way at the O2 on Thursday, Price will face his Welsh compatriot, Jonny Clayton.
The Ferret, as Clayton is known, secured his place at Finals Night when the only player who could catch him, Nathan Aspinall lost 6-3 to Price in the semi-finals on Night 16. It was a nervy affair for Clayton though, as the winner of this competition in 2021 would have gone out had Aspinall defeated Price and made it to the final on Night 16.
Gerwyn Price -240 vs Jonny Clayton +200
Michael van Gerwen +102 vs Michael Smith -122
In the other semi-final, the world number one and two go head-to-head. Smith is No.1, and he is also the favorite to beat Michael van Gerwen. Not helping MVG is the fact he had to withdraw from his semi-final match against Dimitri Van den Bergh on Night 16 due to a shoulder injury.
VAN GERWEN WITHDRAWS ❌
Due to a shoulder injury suffered in his Quarter-Final with Chris Dobey, Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from his Semi-Final on Night 16 of the Premier League!
The final between Price and Dimitri Van den Bergh will now follow! pic.twitter.com/EyIN7ZSaDW
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 18, 2023
Just how well recovered MVG is from his shoulder problem, could have a big bearing on his chances of defending his title this week.
Betting to win 2023 Premier League Darts
Michael van Gerwen’s injury could lead to market changes in the betting to win the 2023 Premier League Darts title over the next few days. At the time of writing, he is set to play, and the best darts betting sites make van Gerwen the joint second favorite to win the event.
MVG is the defending champion. He won’t want to give up his title without a fight, so at the very least he is likely to turn up and attempt to play.
Whether MVG is injured or not, has probably had no effect on the betting to win the competition outright. Gerwyn Price is the favorite to win the event. The best online sportsbooks make Price +150 to win the Premier League for the first time in his career.
This is not a surprise. Price has been by far the best player in the Premier League in 2023. And he would have started Finals Night as favorite, no matter what MVG’s condition.
Following Price is Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith, both men are +240. The outsider is Jonny Clayton at +700.
| 2023 Premier League Darts; Finals Night Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Gerwyn Price | +150 | +150 | +150 |
| Michael Smith | +240 | +240 | +240 |
| Michael van Gerwen | +240 | +240 | +240 |
| Jonny Clayton | +700 | +700 | +700 |
Our Picks
First we’re going to name our betting picks to win the semi-finals, and then we will tell you who we think will win the competition outright.
In the opening match, Gerwyn Price faces Jonny Clayton. Price is -240 to win on the moneyline, which is too short. So we’re going to switch to one of our many different betting strategies, and back Price on the handicap spread. In this market, Price is -115 to win, giving Clayton a start of 2.5 legs. We think Gerwyn Price is a good bet to cover the spread.
In the second semi-final, we’re leaning towards Michael Smith. Bully Boy has won three of the last four Premier League Night’s, showing he’s in good form. Add to that the uncertainty around MVG’s shoulder, and Michael Smith to win has to be the pick.
This means we’re expecting a final between Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith to decide who wins the competition. Neither player has won the Premier League before, so both will be keen to add it to their respective Resumes.
It’s really hard to call who the current in-form player is here. Price has won the table, and has by far been the best player in the Premier League this season. But Smith has won three of the last four Night’s. If it is these two in the final, one thing for sure is it should be one hell of a showdown.
For our pick, we have to go with Gerwyn Price. As we’ve said, he’s been the best player across the season. And as a result, we have to keep the faith and stick with the Iceman.
