‘Players are not enjoying it' – Phil Taylor makes explosive claim about Premier League Darts and demands urgent change
DARTS legend Phil Taylor has slammed the format of the Premier League.
Luke Humphries beat Luke Littler in the play-off showpiece to end the 16-night roadshow.
2
2
The eight-player format involving a quarter, semi and final every Thursday has been in place since 2022.
But Taylor is not a fan of the setup, saying: "It's very tiring… I think they do need to look at it now.
"It needs revamping, that's what I think. A lot of the players are not enjoying it and you can tell."
Fans also criticised the repetitive format after last week's final and so did legend Steve Beaton, labelling it "boring".
He argued that seeing top players face each other regularly dampens the blockbuster feel to the match-ups.
But Taylor has been entertained by the standard of play on show throughout this year's Premier League.
He added: "Luke and Luke are really setting the standards at the moment.
"The levels they're producing and how they're bringing the best out of each other — it's incredible for the rest of the sport.
"And not just Luke and Luke — I love watching Chris Dobey.
"Nathan Aspinall is playing superb. Absolutely superb. He's won two or three of these Premier Leagues. He's done brilliant.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘I didn't like the attitude': Thomas Tuchel tears into lacklustre England
Thomas Tuchel admitted England had 'played with fire' in their 1-0 win over Andorra, risking the concession of an equaliser and a draw that would have registered as perhaps their greatest humiliation since defeat to the USA in 1950. 'I felt it was like a Cup game where the favourites don't see the danger,' he said. England won thanks to Harry Kane's 50th-minute goal, leaving them top of the group on nine points without having conceded a goal. No previous England manager has ever begun with three successive victories to nil, but Tuchel was clearly very unhappy with the performance. 'I didn't like the attitude how we ended the game,' he said. 'I liked the attitude how we started the game. But I didn't like the last half hour. I think we lacked urgency and seriousness you need in a World Cup qualifier. I didn't like the body language and it was not what the occasion needed.' What made it all the more frustrating was that there had been no indication of that flatness in the days leading up to the game during warm-weather training in Spain. 'They were enthusiastic and they showed that as a group when they were in the camp. When we started the game, the attitude was right. We wanted to play according to our principals and to the plan. 'Matches like this can become awkward when you don't score. It can be stuck. Then it's necessary to not get frustrated, to do the little things right. I had the feeling after 25 minutes we were a bit frustrated with the little things and everybody tried different things. Then it becomes freestyle and it gets slower. Everyone wanted the ball in to feet, and nobody was speeding the game up with runs. You need contra-movements and runs and if you don't invest it becomes a stuck game.' Tuchel acknowledged that fatigue at the end of the season might have been a factor, but was determined not to offer that as an excuse. 'The window is the window so no excuses. I think the clubs don't like the window and for the national team also it's not easy because the players are coming from a long season. We can and have to do better for the 90 minutes. We created an xG of 3 and underperformed with one goal. Normally in games like this you overperform the xG because of greater individual quality. But we didn't. We lacked the energy. It's the most honest thing to admit it and not talk around it.' On a night of very few positives, the brightest element was probably the performance of Noni Madueke, who set up Kane's goal and whose runs behind his full-back did stretch Andorra. 'He was a constant threat today and he got the assist as well,' said Kane. 'We need more of that – we've got amazing players and you need one v one quality in these games.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Tuchel had no problem with the boos at half-time and full-time, saying he understood why fans were unhappy. 'The support was amazing,' he said. 'They created a fantastic atmosphere for a match like this. They were underwhelmed and not happy with our performance. I don't think we can blame them for that.' He said he was unaware of the offensive chanting about Keir Starmer. 'If it happens,' he said, 'it is not acceptable, but I didn't hear it.' Fundamentally, though, this was a night of frustration. 'It's very hot here, dry pitch, probably similar conditions to next year at the World Cup,' said Kane. 'We probably weren't good enough on the ball – we kept giving it away, which gave them confidence and energy. It is what it is.'
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Luke Littler dumped out of Nordic Masters in quarter-finals after surprise loss to stablemate Nathan Aspinall
LUKE LITTLER was dumped out of the Nordic Darts Masters by Nathan Aspinall. The reigning world champion headed to Copenhagen as the pre-tournament favourite. 2 2 But he suffered a shock 6-3 defeat by his stablemate in the quarter-finals. This was Littler's first match against a top player since losing to Luke Humphries in the Premier League final last month. And The Nuke was unable to become a Great Dane this weekend in Denmark. Aspinall, 33, roared in delight when he took out double 16. And he gave it back to those in the crowd who had booed him on the oche. For the Stockpot thrower, who is ranked sixth in the world, it was only his SECOND win over the teen sensation in a professional capacity in 16 meetings. It is the first success over the sport's biggest name since a Prem night in Nottingham in March 2024. World No2 Littler won the overall World Series of Darts crown last year in Amsterdam. Yet this loss is not exactly ideal preparation for his debut appearance at the PDC World Cup of Darts in England colours. Littler will team up with Humphries later this week. Darts host forced to apologise after Nathan Aspinall's X-rated interview with Asp left covering his face in horror The World Cup takes place at Frankfurt's Eissporthalle, with defending champions England given a bye to the second round. Humphries teamed up with Michael Smith to lift the trophy in 2024.
Scottish Sun
29 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Luke Littler dumped out of Nordic Masters in quarter-finals after surprise loss to stablemate Nathan Aspinall
Worst prep ahead of huge debut for Littler later this week NOT SO GREAT DANE Luke Littler dumped out of Nordic Masters in quarter-finals after surprise loss to stablemate Nathan Aspinall LUKE LITTLER was dumped out of the Nordic Darts Masters by Nathan Aspinall. The reigning world champion headed to Copenhagen as the pre-tournament favourite. Advertisement 3 Luke Littler was knocked out of the Nordic Darts Masters Credit: Reuters 3 His close pal Nathan Aspinall beat him 6-3 in the quarter-finals Credit: Getty But he suffered a shock 6-3 defeat by his stablemate in the quarter-finals. This was Littler's first match against a top player since losing to Luke Humphries in the Premier League final last month. And The Nuke was unable to become a Great Dane this weekend in Denmark. Aspinall, 33, roared in delight when he took out double 16. Advertisement READ MORE ON DARTS DART BORED Phil Taylor makes explosive claim about PL Darts and demands urgent change And he gave it back to those in the crowd who had booed him on the oche. For the Stockpot thrower, who is ranked sixth in the world, it was only his SECOND win over the teen sensation in a professional capacity in 16 meetings. It is the first success over the sport's biggest name since a Prem night in Nottingham in March 2024. World No2 Littler won the overall World Series of Darts crown last year in Amsterdam. Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Yet this loss is not exactly ideal preparation for his debut appearance at the PDC World Cup of Darts in England colours. Littler will team up with Humphries later this week. Darts host forced to apologise after Nathan Aspinall's X-rated interview with Asp left covering his face in horror The World Cup takes place at Frankfurt's Eissporthalle, with defending champions England given a bye to the second round. Advertisement Humphries teamed up with Michael Smith to lift the trophy in 2024.
