BETMGM VS LAURA WOODS: PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS NIGHT 1
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League Darts roadshow rolls into Newcastle for Night 1 – meaning our brand new challenge with ambassador Laura Woods kicks off too!
Each week, Laura pits her darting wits against the house to predict the action across three key markets:
- Night Winner
- Most 180s
- Highest Checkout
A point is awarded for every correct prediction but please note that, if someone calls all three correctly, they’ll earn an extra two bonus points (meaning they get five points in total for that night).
Whose side are you on?
Remember: with the latest offers and odds, expert weekly previews, tips, special features and more, the BetMGM Premier League Darts Hub is your front-row seat for the entire 2026 season.
NIGHT 1 FIXTURES
Like the past four Premier League campaigns, the 2026 format consists of an eight-player knockout tournament each night.
The winner receives five league points and £10,000, second place receives three points and the semi-finalists receive two. The four leading points scorers after 16 nights will advance to Finals Night at the O2 in London on 28th May.
Here’s the order of play for the BetMGM Premier League Darts Night 1 quarter-finals:
The top half of the Night 1 draw sees debutant Josh Rock take on returning former Premier League champion Jonny Clayton get things started for the season.
Either Rock or Clayton faces the winner of the other tie in that half, which features the small matter of a World Championship final rematch between Luke Littler and Gian Van Veen – proof, if it were ever needed, that there are no half measures when it comes to the BetMGM Premier League.
In the bottom half of the draw defending champion Luke Humphries meets Gerwyn Price – he of five previous Premier League nine-darters, lest we forget – and Stephen Bunting has the unenviable task of taming seven-time league winner Michael van Gerwen.
𝙒𝙀’𝙍𝙀 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 👊🏻
— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) February 3, 2026
🏴 Don’t underestimate Clayton
🚀 Maximums galore in Littler-Van Veen
👀 Wounded Humphries poised to strike?
BetMGM Premier League Darts Night 1 analysis & 24/5 Acca ⤵️
#BetMGMDarts #PLDarts
NIGHT 1 BETTING ODDS
But what do the odds say is likely to happen?
NIGHT 1 WINNER BETTING
Unsurprisingly Littler leads the night winner market at 13/8 – he did win a record six of them last season after all.
Humphries sits as 5/1 second favourite with Price and Van Veen both 7s and Rock 8/1 alongside Van Gerwen.
The market suggests the draw has not been kind to Bunting (12/1) or Clayton (16/1) as they bring up the rear in the betting.
NIGHT 1 180s MARKET
Likewise, double world champion Littler heads the betting to hit the most 180s on Night 1. The 19-year-old is currently bang on even money to do so.
Humphries (9/2) is followed by Rock at 8/1 while both Van Veen and Price are at 9/1. Van Gerwen (11/1), Clayton (12/1) and Bunting (14/1) round off the 180s market.
NIGHT 1 HIGHEST CHECKOUT ODDS
It is a similar story for highest checkout on the night.
Littler is 7/2 to register the highest finish in Newcastle, something he did four times last season.
Humphries follows at 5/1, Dutch duo Van Veen and Van Gerwen are a point further out at 6/1 with the rest of the field all 13/2.
It is also 11/8 for the big fish – a 170 checkout – to be hit at the Utilita Arena on Night 1.
Explore all our Night 1 markets here
☢️ Littler to avenge the 2025 final?
— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) February 4, 2026
🥶 Humphries to go back-to-back?
🇳🇱 MVG to win his eighth Premier League?
A look at the outright odds ahead of the season starting tomorrow 👀
🔗 https://t.co/2SCbHu1Joy#BetMGMDarts pic.twitter.com/AJQxgaKBAe
BETMGM VS LAURA WOODS: NIGHT 1 PICKS
| Market | BetMGM | Laura Woods |
|---|---|---|
| Night Winner | Humphries | Littler |
| Most 180s | Humphries | Littler |
| Highest Checkout | Van Veen | Van Gerwen |
NIGHT WINNER
BETMGM: LUKE HUMPHRIES
Stat attack: Humphries won Night 1 last season, made eight finals overall and did not finish any week outside the top two in the league table
LAURA WOODS: LUKE LITTLER
Stat attack: Littler registered a BetMGM Premier League-record six nightly wins last term, accumulating 45 points in the regular season (another record)
MOST 180s
BETMGM: LUKE HUMPHRIES
Stat attack: Humphries has enhanced his 180 hitting lately and racked up 42 maximums in five games at the World Masters
LAURA WOODS: LUKE LITTLER
Stat attack: Littler’s 185 180s (including Finals Night) set a new BetMGM Premier League high mark last season and no player on tour hit more than the Nuke’s 853 180s in 2025
HIGHEST CHECKOUT
BETMGM: GIAN VAN VEEN
Stat attack: Van Veen has hit 19 100+ checkouts in his last 14 games
LAURA WOODS: MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
Stat attack: Van Gerwen has hit the night’s highest checkout more times than any other Premier League Darts player in history
ALSO SHOWING ON THE BETMGM PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS HUB
- Early entry: All you need to know about Night 1 in Newcastle, packed with facts, promos & practical info & more here
- Game on! Read our full Night 1 preview, including exclusive tips, key stats & more here
- It’s showtime! Browse our full repertoire of pre-match options or track our in-play odds as the action unfolds in Newcastle. Explore it all here
*At BetMGM, there’s always something going on… so as well as our comprehensive darts coverage be sure to keep your eyes peeled on our other offerings, not least this weekend’s Premier League action, racing at Newbury, the Six Nations and of course the Big Game between New England and Seattle.
For every 180, every goal and every touchdown, we've got you covered.
So why bet anywhere else?
BetMGM, proud sponsors of the 2026 Premier League Darts
Odds and statistics cited in this article correct at time of publication but subject to change
