PDC Darts Premier League - Wildcard bracket for finals night?

Judgement Night has passed, and the stars of the PDC Darts Premier League now focus on reaching the play-offs night (AKA "finals night") at the O2 on 19th May 2016. Robert Thornton's three-points haul in Liverpool in week 8 proved enough to save him, with Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall being eliminated after failing to take points from Phil Taylor and Peter Wright respectively on Judgement Night. Eight combatants will now do battle over the next six-weeks to make the O2.

A look at the way the table is developing (found here) and we see Taylor, van Gerwen, Anderson and Lewis in the play-off positions. This leaves the other four players battling to squeeze in and remove one of 'the big three' or two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, who to this point has proven to be the best of the rest, only losing to 'the big three'.

Lewis' 4th spot is the most likely to be in jeopardy, and as the marathon runs further, it is likely that Taylor, MVG and Anderson will open a gap. This means realistically five players are battling for one spot and quite possibly we could see some 'dead rubber' games as 8th, then 7th, then 6th get cut adrift. I have an idea, similar to the NFL play-offs 'Wildcard Weekend' which could keep more players in the hunt for the O2 for longer.

The Wildcard Bracket

The NFL 'Wildcard Weekend' keeps the underdogs in the hunt for the biggest prize for longer. Although those who have sat in the best positions at the back end of the season are favoured in the post-season, six wildcards have actually gone on to win the Superbowl. This a true underdog story, one that captures the imagination and also rewards teams that hit form late. The Premier League play-offs will see four players compete for the Premier League trophy on 19th May, but what if the PDC extended this to six players instead?

Looking at the table at present we would see James Wade and Peter Wright join Taylor, MVG, Anderson and Lewis at the O2, but also some enhanced hope for Raymond van Barneveld and Robert Thornton who currently sit 3pts and 6pts adrift of 'Snakebite' Peter Wright in sixth spot. At the top of the table there could also be three or four players battling for the top 2 spots and safe passage to the semi finals potentially all in play in weeks 13 and 14.

New look play-offs night

How do four players and a regular semi final bracket instead change to a six-player finals night? Looking at the NFL bracket for example, some teams are protected and actually sit in wait, taking on the winner of the wildcard weekend.

The PDC would not have to extend the Premier League to another week - instead we would see more matches on finals night. Again, looking at the current top six, the finals night would play out as below:

Mock-up of a PL Finals night wildcard bracket (as at week 9)

• Match 1: Six in League (Peter Wright) vs Third in League (Gary Anderson)
• Match 2: Fifth in League (James Wade) vs Fourth in League (Adrian Lewis)
• Semi Final 1: First in League (Phil Taylor) vs Lowest PL ranked qualifier from Match 1 & 2
• Semi Final 2: Second in League (MVG) vs Highest PL ranked qualifier from Match 1& 2
• Final

There could be a question as to whether it is fair for players 3 and 4 to play extra games, but this could also put more onus on finishing 1st or 2nd in the league. The prize-fund split is also in place meaning that there is still incentive to finish 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th even if 7th and 8th get cut adrift - but the positive there is that week 14 could feature many more players battling for the top 2, or wildcard positions.

Would do you think - is the current PL format fine, or would an extended wildcard bracket bring more spice after Judgement Night in the hunt for the O2?