The biggest names in world darts embark on a 14-week long roadshow across the UK as they entertain packed-out arenas in the 2013 edition of the McCoys Premier League.
Now in its ninth year, the competition will see ten elite players battle it out for a chance to reach May’s finals at the O2 Arena in London.
The tournament features a bold new format for 2013 as it expands from eight to ten players for the new season, with Sky Sports screening live coverage of all the action over 14 consecutive weeks, starting in Belfast on February 7.
The PDC have opted to change the format of the ever-growing competition with two extra places now being offered for the 15-night darting tour of the UK and Ireland.
16-time world champion Phil Taylor was already guaranteed a place along with the other top three in the world rankings – Adrian Lewis, James Wade and beaten 2013 World Championship finalist Michael van Gerwen.
Four other picks were expected, but that has now been increased to six with established Premier League stars Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld joined by Andy Hamilton after he made an impact in his debut season last year.
2011 champion Gary Anderson returns and he is joined by two new faces in the event with Wes Newton and Robert Thornton set to make their debuts in the 2013 Premier League.
“This new format for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts is going to take the tournament to a whole new level,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
“Fans across the UK and Ireland will experience five spectacular matches on each night, and all ten players have earned their spots with their achievements over the last 12 months.
“This new format will mean incredible competition both to avoid relegation and then for Play-Off places before the ninth McCoy’s Premier League champion is crowned at The O2 in May.”
The ten players will face each other once over the opening nine weeks of the tournament, over the best of 12 legs, before the bottom two players in the league table are relegated following the ninth league night in Brighton.
The remaining eight players will then face each other again over the remaining five league nights before the top four progress to the play-offs at The O2 in London on May 16.
Phil Taylor is likely to be the man to beat yet again after capping off a stunning 2012 by claiming his 16th world title with a comeback victory over van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace.
‘The Power’ also possesses a truly remarkable record in Premier League Darts, having won six of the eight tournaments held.
Unbeaten in his first three seasons, Taylor went 44 matches before losing to James Wade in the first match of the 2008 campaign and still holds the record for the biggest triumph in the event’s history.
Taylor and Michael van Gerwen will renew their rivalry on the opening night of at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on February 7 when they clash in a repeat of their memorable recent World Championship final.
The McCoy’s Premier League Darts, screened exclusively live on Sky Sports HD, will begin on Thursday, February 7 at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast before travelling to Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Exeter, Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and Brighton for the first phase of the event.
The final five league nights will be held in Sheffield, Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle before the top four players progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London.
Dave Clark will present Sky Sports’ live coverage with commentary duties shared between Rod Harrington, Wayne Mardle, Rod Studd, John Gwynne, Stuart Payke and Nigel Pearson.
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Thursday 14th February
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 2, Aberdeen
Wes Newton v Raymond van Barneveld
Andy Hamilton v James Wade
Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Robert Thornton v Michael van Gerwen
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports 1
Thursday 21st February
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 3, Bournemouth
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Robert Thornton v Wes Newton
Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Andy Hamilton v Gary Anderson
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports 1
Thursday 28th February
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 4, Exeter
Robert Thornton v Gary Anderson
Andy Hamilton v Michael van Gerwen
James Wade v Phil Taylor
Wes Newton v Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports 1
Thursday 7th March
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 5, Nottingham
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis v Michael van Gerwen
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Wes Newton v Simon Whitlock
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports 2
Thursday 14th March
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 6, Manchester
Michael van Gerwen v Wes Newton
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports 2
Thursday 21st March
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 7, Cardiff
Andy Hamilton v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton v Adrian Lewis
Wes Newton v Phil Taylor
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports 2
Thursday 4th April
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 9, Brighton
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Robert Thornton
Wes Newton v Andy Hamilton
Michael van Gerwen v Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
Thursday 11th April
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 10, Sheffield
Six matches to be played
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
Thursday 18th April
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 11, Dublin
Six matches to be played
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
Thursday 25th April
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 12, Birmingham
Six matches to be played
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
Thursday 2nd May
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 13, Liverpool
Five matches to be played
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
Thursday 9th May
McCoy’s Premier League Darts – Week 14, Newcastle
Five matches to be played
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
Thursday 16th May
McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Offs – The O2, London
Semi-Finals
Final
Plus: PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship Final
LIVE: 7.00pm-10.30pm – Sky Sports
