Rumours had been building ahead of Night 3 of the Premier League Darts that Michael van Gerwen was not going to be healthy enough to take part in Glasgow and those were confirmed early on Thursday.
He had made a really good start to the tournament having reached two Finals and winning one of the Nights played so it is perhaps not a massive blow to miss out if he has not been feeling well. At the time of writing, Michael van Gerwen is set to play in the Poland Masters this week in the first of the European Tour events that take place across the year, but his withdrawal on Thursday means Luke Littler is straight through to the Semi Final.
Fans have been critical of the Premier League current format, but there will be some excitement around the tournament even at this early stage after neither of the Lukes made it through to the Final. Both are sitting outside of the top four right now, although it would take a brave person to predict that either will miss out on the Play Offs with another fourteen nights to complete.
However, in saying that, they will both be very keen to get the Premier League up and running on Night 3 in what has proven to be a hostile environment in Glasgow where neither Littler nor Humphries are expected to get a lot of support.
Early pressure is already building on Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock to get off the mark, but the likes of van Gerwn and Gerwyn Price will be very happy with the points they have already accrued.
It was a little disappointing in failing to back Price to win Night 2 having identified him with Luke Littler as the most likely winners.
After the Bye into the Semi Final, Luke Littler is odds on to win this week, but it was Luke Humphries who won a Players Championship event and who looks in strong form right now. He is going to have to move through the tougher top half of the draw, but Humphries can make the Final and he will not be 11/2 to beat anyone in that showdown.
Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen: After having a nightmare in the Premier League in 2025 and then having his inclusion questioned massively ahead of the tournament in 2026, the last thing Stephen Bunting needed was to have played two and lost two.
He, along with Josh Rock, is still searching for the first points in 2026, but Stephen Bunting continues to produce some solid performances in the floor event.
In Players Championship 3 he was beaten in the Final, albeit very convincingly, but Bunting averaged above 96 for the day.
The following day it needed a three dart average from eventual Winner Luke Humphries to beat Stephen Bunting in Players Championship 4 and the latter averaged over 100 in that defeat too.
Last week another three dart average was needed to beat him in the Quarter Final on Night 2, but Stephen Bunting may feel he can work more chances against Gian van Veen.
The Dutchman is still figuring out the now increasingly busy schedule in his debut season in the Premier League and Gian van Veen has not opened 2026 in great form. Early losses at all four Players Championship events and a Quarter Final defeat in Antwerp last week will have just dented some of the confidence, even if van Veen remains very dangerous with his impressive finishing.
Stephen Bunting edged him out twice in three matches last year and he looks a big price on current form to get the better of Gian van Veen in the opening match in Glasgow.
Luke Humphries to win & over 2.5 180s: Winning the Players Championship on Tuesday will have just given Luke Humphries another boost having lost in the Quarter Final to Luke Littler last week on Night 2 of the Premier League.
Like the Masters, Humphries had his chances to beat the World Number 1 and his change in stem length on the darts looks to have worked for him.
The maximum hitting is still a huge part of his game and Luke Humphries is rightly favoured in this Quarter Final.
You do have to expect a lot more from Josh Rock who was in awful form in Antwerp and later blamed the soap at the event for making it impossible to grip his darts. Credit has to be given to the Northern Irishman for stronger numbers at the two Players Championship events played earlier in the week, but relatively early losses will have stung and the pressure is building to get off the mark in the Premier League having suffered two defeats in two matches played.
He has lost his last three against Luke Humphries, but should play a part in an entertaining Quarter Final.
Josh Rock hits big enough scores to keep the World Number 2 focused and it is the Englishman who may outlast this opponent in a 6-3 kind of win.
Jonny Clayton over 2.5 180s & over 8.5 total Legs: Another tight loss to his good mate Gerwyn Price will have hurt Jonny Clayton who has not beaten his compatriot ten tries.
The last win was back in 2023 when both were competing in the Premier League, but Clayton may feel he has played well enough to beat Gezzy in both the Masters and on Night 2 of the 2026 Premier League.
He is still hitting plenty of big scores and that will give Jonny Clayton a chance as he takes aim at Gerwyn Price again.
Last week Jonny Clayton had three maximums in the loss to Price in Antwerp and he was in good form when it comes to those maximums at Players Championship 3 earlier this week.
On that day Jonny Clayton reached the Quarter Final, but Gerwyn Price went one better in Players Championship 4 as he reached the Semi Final to continue what has been a fine start to 2026.
It does feel like the layers have got this right with Price a favourite, but Jonny Clayton can give his mate something to think about and win at least three Legs in any losing effort thanks to some big maximum hitting.
MY PICKS: Stephen Bunting @ 2.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Luke Humphries to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Jonny Clayton Over 2.5 180s & Over 8.5 Total Legs @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Darts 2026: 7-12, - 3.05 Units (18 Units Staked, - 16.94% Yield)
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