Mike De Decker, the 2024 Grand Prix champion, expressed his disappointment on social media after being excluded from the 2025 Premier League Darts lineup. This snub marked a historical first, as De Decker became the only player in the tournament’s 20-year history to win a major televised event on Sky Sports and subsequently be omitted from the following year’s Premier League. The Belgian darts player shared a tweet highlighting this unusual circumstance, adding an eye-roll emoji to convey his frustration. This unexpected decision sparked controversy and debate among fans and commentators.
De Decker’s exclusion was particularly surprising given his recent success and rising prominence in the darts world. He achieved a career milestone by winning his first major televised title at the 2024 Grand Prix, a victory that significantly boosted his world ranking to No. 24. This accomplishment seemed to solidify his position as a rising star in the sport, making his absence from the Premier League even more perplexing. While De Decker experienced some early exits in other major tournaments like the PDC World Championship, European Championship, and Grand Slam of Darts, his overall performance throughout the year suggested a positive trajectory, further fueling the confusion surrounding the selection process.
The PDC, the governing body of professional darts, responded to the criticism surrounding De Decker’s exclusion. Matt Porter, the PDC chief executive, defended the decision, stating that while De Decker possessed undeniable talent and was a likely candidate for future Premier League participation, he wasn’t deemed “quite ready” for the intense competition at this time. Porter emphasized the importance of consistent performance in major tournaments over an extended period, suggesting that a single victory, although significant, wasn’t sufficient to guarantee a spot in the elite Premier League.
He pointed to examples of other players like Danny Noppert, Ross Smith, and Andrew Gilding who had won televised tournaments but hadn’t immediately secured a Premier League position. Porter argued that these players, like De Decker, needed to demonstrate sustained success at the highest level before earning a place amongst the top eight players selected for the prestigious tournament. This explanation aimed to clarify the selection criteria and emphasize the PDC’s focus on consistent high-level performance as a key factor in determining Premier League participation.
Despite the controversy surrounding De Decker’s omission, the 2025 Premier League lineup boasts an impressive roster of talented darts players. Reigning world champion Luke Littler, who secured his title at the iconic Alexandra Palace, leads the pack, joined by world No. 1 Luke Humphries. The lineup also includes established players like Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, and Stephen Bunting, along with rising stars Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey. This diverse mix of experienced veterans and emerging talents promises an exciting and competitive tournament, although the absence of De Decker will undoubtedly be a talking point among fans and analysts.
The debate surrounding De Decker’s exclusion highlights the complex considerations involved in selecting players for the Premier League. While a major tournament victory is a significant achievement, the PDC’s emphasis on consistent performance across multiple events demonstrates a commitment to showcasing the most consistently high-performing players in the world. This approach, while potentially disappointing for individual players like De Decker, aims to maintain the Premier League’s status as a fiercely competitive and prestigious event featuring the true elite of professional darts. De Decker’s future participation will likely depend on his ability to translate his talent into sustained success at the highest level, proving that he can compete consistently with the best players in the world.
