2018 Premier League Darts

The tournament format was identical to that since 2013. During the first nine weeks (Phase 1) each player played the other nine players once. The bottom two players were then eliminated from the competition. In the next six weeks (phase 2) each player played the other seven players once. Phase 2 consisted of four weeks where five matches were played followed by two weeks where four matches were played. At the end of phase 2, the top four players contested the two semi-finals and the final in the play-off week. ==Venues==

The players in this year's tournament were announced following the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship final on 1 January, with the top four of the PDC Order of Merit joined by six Wildcards. This was the first time in the event's history in which Phil Taylor did not take part, following his decision to retire. Unlike in previous years the six wildcards were joint decisions by the PDC and Sky Sports this year. There were no PDC specific wildcards or Sky Sports specific wildcards. The tournament was noteworthy for its high-number of debuting players. Rob Cross qualified by right due to being in the world's top four at the end of the season, with wildcards going to World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney, Champions League winner Mensur Suljović, and world number 12 Gerwyn Price. In fact, only four of the previous year's ten players (van Gerwen, Wright, Anderson and van Barneveld) were included this year. == Prize money ==

The prize fund remained the same as last year, £825,000.{{cite web|title=2018 Unibet Premier League - Event Information ==League stage==

1 February – week 1 (Phase 1) 3Arena, Dublin 8 February – week 2 (Phase 1) Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff 15 February – week 3 (Phase 1) Newcastle Arena, Newcastle 22 February – Week 4 (Phase 1) Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin 1 March – Initial Week 5 Cancelled Westpoint Exeter, Exeter The scheduled 5th week was cancelled due to Storm Emma. The matches, which were scheduled to be played that day, were instead played in Week 9 in Liverpool, with that week's games now being Judgement Night. In order to complete the schedule within the timescale, two rounds of Phase 2 were played on Wednesday 18 April and Thursday 19 April (Week 11) in the Rotterdam Ahoy complex. 8 March – Week 5 (Phase 1) First Direct Arena, Leeds 15 March – Week 6 (Phase 1) Nottingham Arena, Nottingham 22 March – Week 7 (Phase 1) SSE Hydro, Glasgow 29 March – Week 8 (Phase 1) SSE Arena, Belfast 5 April – Week 9 (Phase 1 – Judgement Night) Liverpool Arena, Liverpool The night was overshadowed by the sudden death of 5 time World Champion Eric Bristow, who suffered a heart attack outside the venue. His death was announced during the Gurney v Wright match. The crowd paid tribute to Bristow at the end of the night's play. 12 April – week 10 (Phase 2) Sheffield Arena, Sheffield 18 April – week 11A (Double Header, Phase 2) Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam 19 April – week 11B (Double Header, Phase 2) Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam 26 April – week 12 (Phase 2) Manchester Arena, Manchester 3 May – week 13 (Phase 2) Arena Birmingham, Birmingham 10 May – week 14 (Phase 2) AECC Arena, Aberdeen ==Play-offs – 17 May==

The O2 Arena, London ==Table and streaks==

Table After the first nine weeks (phase 1), the bottom two in the table are eliminated. In the next six weeks (phase 2) the eight remaining players each play a further seven matches. The top four players then compete in the playoffs. Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. When players are tied on points, leg difference is used first as a tie-breaker, after that legs won against throw and then tournament average. Positions by Week ==References==