Darts’ biggest party is back in 2023 as the Premier League roadshow heads to a venue near you! The SSE Arena in Belfast hosts the first of 17 individual events from Thursday, February 2 with the play-offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25
Last Updated: 31/01/23 12:01pm
Michael Smith celebrates with the Sid Waddell trophy after winning the final of the Cazoo World Darts Championship against Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace, London. Picture date: Tuesday January 3, 2023.
Michael Smith has been named PDC Player of the Year as part of the 2022 PDC Annual Awards, scooping a hat-trick of honours following his sensational success over the last 12 months.
The newly-crowned world champion, who also celebrated Grand Slam of Darts and US Darts Masters glory in 2022, pipped Michael van Gerwen to the prestigious award.
Smith received global acclaim following his Alexandra Palace exploits, which saw him land an astonishing nine-darter en route to victory over Van Gerwen in an epic final on January 3.
The 32-year-old also appeared in UK Open and European Championship finals in 2022, while celebrating three Players Championship wins and a European Tour success at the Dutch Darts Championship.
Smith’s treble success in the 2022 PDC Annual Awards also saw him crowned Selco Fans’ Player of the Year and PDPA Players’ Player of the Year.
PDC award winners
| Award | Winner | Nominated |
|---|---|---|
| PDC Player of the Year | Michael Smith | Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Joe Cullen |
| ProTour Player of the Year | Luke Humphries | Michael van Gerwen, Damon Heta, Rob Cross |
| Best Newcomer | Josh Rock | Rowby-John Rodriguez, Scott Williams, Jim Williams |
| Televised Performance of the Year | Ross Smith (Cazoo European Championship final) | Gerwyn Price (Cazoo Premier League Belfast semi-final), Michael Smith (Cazoo World Darts Championship final), Michael van Gerwen (Betfred World Matchplay final |
| Fans’ Player of the Year | Michael Smith | Second: Michael van Gerwen; Third: Gerwyn Price |
| Players’ Player of the Year | Michael Smith | Second: Josh Rock; Third: Michael van Gerwen |
| Young Player of the Year | Josh Rock | Nathan Rafferty, Keane Barry, Sebastian Bialecki |
The world No 1received almost 60 per cent of the vote from a record number of fans who took part in the Selco Fans’ Player of the Year poll, while he claimed 40 per cent of the votes from his fellow professionals.
“To pick up three awards shows I’m doing something right!” joked Smith, who joins the likes of Van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price in claiming multiple awards in one year.
“At the minute I’m on a massive rollercoaster and I’m loving every minute. I’ve put so much hard work in and I’m getting rewarded for it now.
“The fans’ award is one of the special ones, because they have lived it with me. They have felt the heartache I’ve felt, and they felt the joy when I won it. It feels really special.
“I won the Players’ Player of the Year in 2019, so to win my second one, I must be one of the players that people enjoy watching!
“I’m lost for words really. To win awards like this is amazing, but the hard work starts now. That was for 2022, and now I’ve got to work even harder in 2023.”
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Watch how Wayne Mardle and Stuart Pyke reacted to the sensational leg between Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith in the World Championship Final that culminated in a nine-darter for Bully Boy.
Elsewhere, Ross Smith, Luke Humphries and Josh Rock were also amongst the players recognised following their achievements over the last 12 months.
Ross Smith’s display in October’s European Championship final was judged the Toyo Tires Televised Performance of the Year, as the Kent star celebrated his first televised title in Dortmund.
The 34-year-old defeated his namesake Michael Smith in a thrilling final, averaging over 101, landing eight maximums and converting four ton-plus checkouts to close out a landmark 11-8 victory.
World No 5 Humphries was awarded ProTour Player of the Year after scooping five titles throughout 2022, which included four European Tour successes.
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Speaking on Love The Darts, Dan Dawson and Abi Davies give their early predictions on who will make the top four of this year’s Premier League.
The 27-year-old claimed a maiden Players Championship crown, before lifting European Tour titles in Munich, Prague, Stuttgart and Trier to cap off a superb ProTour campaign where he earned £187,750 in prize money.
Elsewhere, emerging star Rock received the Moneybarn Best Newcomer and Winmau Young Player of the Year awards following a sensational breakthrough season in 2022.
Rock, who claimed five Development Tour titles and a maiden ProTour crown last term, announced his big stage arrival at November’s Grand Slam of Darts, landing a nine-dart finish in a titanic tussle against Van Gerwen.
The 21-year-old then lifted the Winmau World Youth Championship title just weeks later, before he continued his remarkable rise with a run to the last 16 on his Cazoo World Darts Championship debut.
2023 Premier League Schedule
| Night 1 | The SSE Arena, Belfast | February 2 |
| Night 2 | Cardiff International Arena | February 9 |
| Night 3 | OVO Hydro, Glasgow | February 16 |
| Night 4 | 3Arena, Dublin | February 23 |
| Night 5 | Westpoint Exeter | March 2 |
| Night 6 | The Brighton Centre | March 9 |
| Night 7 | Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham | March 16 |
| Night 8 | Utilita Arena, Newcastle | March 23 |
| Night 9 | Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin | March 30 |
| Night 10 | Utilita Arena, Birmingham | April 6 |
| Night 11 | M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool | April 13 |
| Night 12 | Rotterdam Ahoy | April 20 |
| Night 13 | First Direct Arena, Leeds | April 27 |
| Night 14 | AO Arena, Manchester | May 4 |
| Night 15 | Utilita Arena, Sheffield | May 11 |
| Night 16 | P&J Live, Aberdeen | May 18 |
| Play-Offs | The O2, London | May 25 |
The new Premier League Darts season will begin at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, February 2, the first of 17 individual venues to host the 2023 Premier League, which will be staged on Thursday nights from February to May – live on Sky Sports!
