Phil Taylor Slams Premier League Format as ‘Very Tiring’ After Luke Littler’s 2025 Disappointment
Darts legend Phil Taylor has called for a major overhaul of the Premier League Darts format, labeling it “very tiring” and claiming players are not enjoying it, following Luke Littler’s defeat in the 2025 play-off final. Taylor’s comments came after world No. 1 Luke Humphries defeated Littler 11-8 on May 29, 2025, at London’s O2 Arena, denying the 18-year-old PDC World Champion a second consecutive Premier League title, per Express.co.uk. Littler, who dominated the 17-week league phase with an 11-point lead over Humphries, was left disappointed as his rival clinched the £275,000 prize, per Sky Sports.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/2065798/phil-taylor-darts-premier-league-luke-littler)
Taylor, a six-time Premier League champion, criticized the format’s repetitive mini-tournament structure, which sees eight players compete in quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals every Thursday, leading to frequent high-profile matchups like Littler vs. Humphries. “It’s very tiring… It needs revamping. A lot of the players are not enjoying it, and you can tell,” Taylor told Online Darts, as reported by The Irish Sun. Fans and darts veteran Steve Beaton echoed the sentiment, calling the format “boring” due to its repetitive nature, per The Sun. Taylor also expressed concern about Littler’s grueling schedule, telling YO1 Radio, “The only thing bothering Luke right now is the traveling. It’s very tiring, and he’s not used to it,” highlighting the toll of global events in Bahrain, Poland, and Australia.
Despite the loss, Littler’s 2025 season remains stellar, with 10 titles, including the World Championship, and a record-breaking 140.91 set average, per BBC Sport. Humphries, however, defended the format, stating, “Why would I want to change it when I won it?” per Express.co.uk. As Littler prepares for the World Cup of Darts with Humphries in Frankfurt on June 12, Taylor’s call for change underscores broader concerns about player burnout, with posts on X like @Oche180 noting fears of Littler being “burnt out” before his peak.[]
