Nathan Aspinall has revealed he found out he didn’t make the Premier League Darts 2026 line-up via text.
The top four on the PDC Order of Merit automatically qualified, meaning world champions Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and world championship finalists Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen were guaranteed places.
Then there’s Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton. It was selected as a wildcard selection.
Rock’s debut, Clayton’s return and Price and Bunting retaining their places meant ‘The Asp’ missed out on a spot.
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Wayne Mardle has revealed who is lucky and unlucky to be included in the Premier League darts 2026 line-up.
Aspinall reached last year’s Premier League Finals Night but fell to 14th in the world in the rankings.
Meanwhile, there were mixed reactions to Bunting keeping his position. It was a tough outing for Bunting in the Premier League in 2025 as he lost the opening eight of his first eight games before winning on Night Nine in Berlin, but he is set to return to the Premier League for a second successive season.
Aspinall actually sat down next to ‘The Bullet’ when he found out he didn’t make it this time.
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A stunning 170 checkout earned Nathan Aspinall a hard-fought first round win over Lourence Ilagan.
“The only difference this year was that it was difficult, we were at the event and I was traveling on a plane with Stephen Bunting and he got a text message at 3.15pm saying he was there and I got a text at 3.21pm saying I wasn’t there,” Aspinall said.
“It was a difficult journey home. Matt Porter explained why I couldn’t make it.
“I felt like I backdoored it last year, but I don’t think I deserved it last year.
“I felt like I deserved it if I got it this year. Smooth out the rough edges. I don’t dwell on it.
“I didn’t post anything on social media because it bothered me when people posted it.
“I accepted the decision, and we moved forward. It gave me a hunger and a fight to never miss again.”
The PDC has been contacted for comment.
Bunting: I deserve my place.
Bunting, meanwhile, said he was unhappy with the question mark over his position and the prospect of getting another challenge in 2026.
“To be honest, I was a little disappointed that people thought it was between me and Nathan,” Bunting said.
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On Love The Darts, Matt Edgar and Paul Nicholson discuss Stephen Bunting’s arrival in the Premier League in 2026.
“I believe I deserve to participate. I am ranked seventh in the world. I had a good year last year, won six tournaments and reached 10 finals.”
“It’s one of those things: I have a great fan base, I have great walk-ons, and I know people don’t talk about the walk-ons.
“I honestly believe I deserve to be there and I’m just trying to show everyone that I deserve to be there.
“When I was in the Premier League 11 years ago, it was absolutely dead.
“To be honest, for the next two or three years it affected the rest of my career. I was in the dumps.
“I am just grateful that PDC saw the opportunity to put me in. I will repay their trust with great performances and many wins.”
Watch Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports
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Find out which eight players will be competing for the Premier League Darts title in 2026.
The Premier League resumes week-to-week on February 5. Sky Sports live broadcast.
Luke Humphries returns as the defending champion, while Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen are the other automatic qualifiers.
Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting complete the eight-man line-up as wildcards, with the season starting in Newcastle on February 5.
Sky Sports will once again be the home of Premier League Darts, World Match Play, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, World Darts Championship and more! Stream darts and other top sports without a contract.
