2014 Betway Premier League Darts: Curing the dead rubber game

The 2014 installment of PDC Premier League Darts is the second time the PDC has opted to use a 10-man line-up seeing elimination at the end of week nine. Early in the tournament this works. In fact up to week 9, I found that I was checking what was happening on a weekly basis or tuning in to watch (work , & family permitting). From weeks 4, 5, 6 the trend is often there and it is obvious who will be fighting elimination. The show then focuses on those players more than at the top. That is because the serious business is at the bottom of the table during the first 9 weeks.

From week  10 though, the Premier League can fall into a predictable routine as the focus switches to the top 4. Two players with no chance of making the play-offs have been eliminated, packed their bags and headed home, but despite this there will also be a no-hoper or two on the card with regards to the play-off picture. Now these are excellent players in their own right, players winning on the Pro Tour (and doing doubles too) but players who after 9, 10, 11 weeks are just making up the card and need something to play for.

I wonder whether to shake it up a bit more the PDC needs to introduce a second cull. How fair this would be in the current format is another thing though, as weeks 10, 11 and 12 vs. MVG, Barney and Taylor, might be a little tougher than Thornton, Wright and Anderson. It then wouldn't be correct to cut the player losing to the top 3 players. I don't have an absolute answer to this, but what we are seeing is a return to the pre-2013 format for the last 7 weeks and I think this needs changing up.

Maybe an option is splitting the remaining 8 players into two groups for the next three fixtures. 1-4 and 5-8 play one another, with then the top 6 moving on to the final fixtures. Six weeks of seeing the crowd not into Dave Chisnall walk-ons, or his matches can become a little monotonous for example and in an ideal world it would be cured - maybe such an idea would help. When the bottom two are battling, with little atmosphere, the match really becomes one for the purists, and the time to make a cuppa, or get the beers in (if you're in attendance).

The Premier League has never really been about matches for the purists but more of an advert for the top end and exciting stars of darts. I'll sit there with my beer on the table and snack in hand - but is everyone enjoying it, and still tuning in? (Does anyone have ratings?)

In 2013 the PDC realised the Premier League needed a change up. Elimination after 9 weeks has been a welcomed change, and something that should without doubt stay for 2015 and beyond. Early interest is definitely there. The number of wildcards has also been extended, I'd say just in case a couple of consistent but dull players make up the automatic qualification spots (but I'd still question some of the wildcard "characters" chosen when Nicholson has never been in, and Bunting has switched from the BDO). But my main question is how to deal with some dead rubber matches from weeks 10-15. 

It just feels like there must continue to be something to play for at the bottom and top so we don't lose 45-60mins of TV to dead rubber contests. If the format stays exactly the same for 2015 will the fans still watch (probably more apt for the TV audience). Also, do we think the PDC will continue to choose Wes Newton, Dave Chisnall, and possibly even Robert Thornton, whilst putting multiple major winner and always a play-off contender, James Wade, on the bench, or over-looking entertainers like Nicholson, AND BDO World Champions? Wildcards need to be playing out of this world darts, or have something about them to attract fans and warrant a spot . When they're not, they're eliminated after 9 weeks, have little hope of the play-offs, or end up in unexciting contests. 

So, something for the PDC to think about after 22nd May. How do they help to make weeks 10-15 of the Premier League more compelling viewing throughout the card? 

And for consideration - is the PDC picking the right wildcards for the current format & picking them at the right time?

However, there are definitely a few interesting games coming up this week and next to decide the Play-Off spots. It's on tonight (Thursday 8th May), Sky Sports 2, between 7-10pm and well worth a watch.