By Robbie Herbison

Glasgow’s OVO Hydro is once again the stage for Night three of the BetMGM Premier League of Darts tonight. Eight of the world’s best players will descend on the Clydeside arena to battle it out for the third night win of the tournament.

Reigning champion Luke Humphries; world champion Luke Littler and the people’s champion Stephen Bunting are among the players taking the stage. Seven-time Premier League champion, Michael Van Gerwen (MVG) will not be taking part in tonight’s event after withdrawing due to illness.

Luke Littler with the Premier League trophy (Getty Images)

Littler, MVG’s scheduled quarter final opponent, will now receive a bye into the semi-final, where he will face either Johnny Clayton or Gerwyn Price. Littler also receives two extra league points and a plus one leg difference, while MVG receives no points and a minus six leg difference.

Going into the night, MVG is top of the table, but he will now likely be overtaken by his pursuers. With Price being only three points behind the Dutchman, he will be hoping he can capitalise and become the league leader. Clayton and Littler are both only four points behind and with five points up for grabs for the winner of the night, they’ll also be confident they can end the night top of the tree.

Michael Van Gerwen who misses tonight through illness (Getty Images)

Bunting is still chasing his first match win of the tournament, but he faces last year’s World Championship runner-up and current World Youth Champion, Gian Van Veen. It will be a very difficult game for the Bullet against the world number three, but the Glasgow crowd will be desperate for him to get over the start line.

Josh Rock is also looking to get his first match win, but the reigning Premier League champion, Luke Humphries, stands in his way. After his soapy hands-induced problems in Antwerp last week, where he blamed the soap, he used to wash his hands with for his poor performance, he will be looking to right his wrongs.

Rock, a Worlds semi-finalist, had a fantastic 2025; Reaching two semi-finals, two quarter finals and winning the World Cup alongside Daryl Gurney. However, Humphries is still ranked number two with Rock ranked at nine, so it is bound to be a tough match for the Northern Irishman.

The quarter finals to kick off the night are as follows: Bunting vs Van Veen, Humphries vs Rock, Clayton vs Price and a Luke Littler bye. The semi’s will be Bunting/Van Veen vs Humphries/Rock and Clayton/Price vs Luke Littler and will determine who makes it into final match of the night. All matches will be best of 11 legs.

Last year’s Glasgow edition of the Premier League saw Littler overcoming Rob Cross, MVG and finally Humphries in a last leg decider. It was a controversial evening as Littler slammed the Glasgow crowd for their “pretty bad” disruptions from boos and whistles. This was not the first time a Glasgow crowd had come under fire from a player. In 2011, Adrian Lewis was subjected to coins and pints of lager being thrown at him as he walked on stage.

Since then, the crowd’s behaviour has improved immensely, so let’s hope for a drama free, beer-filled, entertaining, high-quality night of arras. Drink responsibly though.

Arras, Ale, Absolute Scenes: Premier League Night hits Glasgow