Michael van Gerwen Faces Premier League Darts Selection Battle After Falling Outside World’s Top 10
For Michael van Gerwen, the days when his place in the Premier League Darts line-up seemed untouchable may finally be coming to an end. The Dutchman remains one of the greatest players ever to pick up a set of darts, but his recent results have raised serious questions about whether he deserves another invitation for 2027.
Van Gerwen has built a remarkable career around winning major titles, intimidating opponents and delivering his best performances when the pressure is highest. However, his latest struggles have put him in an unfamiliar position, with younger stars and resurgent rivals making increasingly convincing arguments for selection.
The biggest talking point is not simply his ranking decline. It is whether the PDC should continue selecting one of darts’ biggest names when several other players have produced stronger results throughout 2026.
The situation has become even more interesting following the European Championship, where Van Gerwen suffered another early exit. The debate surrounding his future has intensified as the 2027 Premier League selection approaches.
Michael van Gerwen’s Ranking Slide Raises Fresh Questions
Van Gerwen’s defeat at the European Championship was another disappointing moment in what has been a difficult season.
The three-time world champion lost to fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets in the opening round in Dortmund. The result contributed to Van Gerwen dropping to 13th in the PDC Order of Merit, his lowest position since 2012.
That is a remarkable fall for someone who spent years competing at the very top of the sport.
Van Gerwen has never been a player who needed much encouragement to show his quality. At his peak, he could overwhelm opponents with relentless scoring, clinical finishing and an intensity that made even experienced professionals look uncomfortable.
Those qualities have not disappeared overnight, though his recent performances have made them less consistent.
The problem is that professional darts is an unforgiving sport. Reputation can open doors, but it cannot indefinitely compensate for disappointing results when other players are winning tournaments and climbing the rankings.
For Van Gerwen, the remaining events of the season could therefore prove crucial. A strong run at a major tournament would give him an opportunity to silence critics and remind everyone why he remains such a dangerous opponent.
His Premier League Place Is No Longer Guaranteed
The Premier League Darts is different from a standard ranking tournament because selection is not determined entirely by the world rankings.
The established format gives automatic places to the top four players following the World Championship, with the PDC selecting the remaining four competitors. That system creates opportunities for players who have impressive records, strong public appeal or performances that justify an invitation.
Van Gerwen has benefited from his standing in the sport for years, and understandably so.
He has won the Premier League a record seven times, lifting the trophy in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. He has also competed in the competition for 14 consecutive seasons since making his debut in 2013.
Those achievements are difficult to overlook.
However, his recent Premier League record offers less reassurance. He finished seventh in the 2026 table and missed Finals Night for the second consecutive season.
That raises a fair question: should previous success carry enough weight to secure another invitation, or should the PDC prioritise what players are doing right now?
Personally, I believe Van Gerwen still has a strong case, but it should not be an automatic one. The Premier League needs elite competitors who can deliver consistently, not merely players whose best years came in the past.
Ross Smith Is Making the Decision More Difficult
One of the biggest challenges to Van Gerwen’s position comes from Ross Smith, who has enjoyed an outstanding 2026 campaign.
Smith won the European Championship in Dortmund, defeating Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final. The victory gave him his third career major title and followed his success at the World Series of Darts Finals earlier in September. He also won two European Tour titles and two Players Championship events this year.
His European Championship triumph lifted him to sixth in the world rankings, the highest position of his career.
Smith is no longer simply an outsider hoping to catch the selectors’ attention. He has built a serious argument through sustained performances and major victories.
That makes the comparison with Van Gerwen particularly interesting.
The Dutchman has the bigger reputation and a much longer Premier League history. Smith, meanwhile, has arguably offered more convincing evidence of his current form.
Darts journalist Samuel Gill summed up the appeal of Van Gerwen’s name during a discussion about the 2027 line-up.
“Van Gerwen could throw rocks all year and you’d still put him in, in my view, because he’s such a big name,” Gill argued.
It is a striking assessment, but it captures the dilemma facing the PDC. Van Gerwen remains a major attraction, yet players such as Smith are making it increasingly difficult to justify selecting him ahead of competitors who have achieved more recently.
James Wade Also Has a Strong Case
Smith is not the only player putting pressure on the established order.
James Wade has enjoyed a strong season and has emerged as another serious contender for a Premier League invitation. His experience, consistency and ability to compete deep into major tournaments make him an appealing option.
Wade has previously won the Premier League, claiming the title in 2009, and has demonstrated that he can compete with the best players in the sport.
Other names, including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, also strengthen the competition for places.
Littler and Humphries remain among the leading attractions in darts, while Van Veen has established himself as a significant force. Price and Clayton have the experience and quality to remain part of the conversation.
With only a limited number of invitations available, the PDC faces some difficult decisions.
Van Gerwen cannot reasonably expect every other contender to make way simply because he has been one of the sport’s defining figures.
What Must Van Gerwen Do Next?
The good news for Van Gerwen is that his situation is not beyond repair.
The season still offers opportunities to produce the sort of performances that can change the conversation. A deep run at the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals or the World Championship would strengthen his selection case.
More importantly, he needs to demonstrate consistency rather than rely on occasional flashes of his former brilliance.
The ranking situation also deserves attention. The Order of Merit is based on prize money earned over a rolling two-year period, meaning Van Gerwen’s position can deteriorate further as older earnings drop out of the calculation.
A disappointing World Championship could therefore leave him facing an even steeper climb.
It is also important to separate speculation from confirmed decisions. There has been growing debate about Van Gerwen’s selection prospects, but the available reporting does not establish that he has personally revealed a final decision about his 2027 Premier League participation.
For now, his place remains a subject of discussion rather than a confirmed exclusion.
The Verdict: Should the PDC Select Michael van Gerwen?
Van Gerwen has earned enormous respect through his achievements, and writing him off after a difficult season would be premature.
However, the Premier League cannot operate purely on nostalgia. If Smith, Wade and other contenders continue producing stronger results, the selectors will have legitimate reasons to consider them ahead of a struggling former champion.
There is also a strong argument for keeping Van Gerwen involved. His presence brings experience, recognition and the possibility of compelling matchups against the sport’s emerging stars.
Ultimately, though, he needs to give the PDC more than his name.
The coming tournaments could determine whether 2027 becomes another chapter in Van Gerwen’s extraordinary Premier League story or the first season in years without him.
What do you think? Should Michael van Gerwen receive another Premier League invitation because of his legendary record, or should the PDC reward players who have performed better in 2026?