Luke Humphries backs Wessel Nijman to make 2027 Premier League Darts field

The Premier League Darts always been played amongst darts' elite and Luke Humphries has rapidly established himself as one of the very best the sport has to offer in more recent years.

'Cool Hand' made the Premier League lineup for the first time in the 2024 campaign after winning his first two major titles in the form of the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts just 42 days apart in 2023.

If his place in the Premier League field of eight wasn't safe after an impressive calendar year, it certainly was when defeating Luke Littler 7-4 to win his maiden World Darts Championship on 3rd January 2024.

He clinched four nightly wins in his debut Premier League campaign to finish second in the league phase standings, and while he defeated Michael van Gerwen in convincing 10-5 fashion in the semi-finals on Finals Night, he failed to overcome 'The Nuke' in the final and went home with £125,000 as the runner-up.

A repeat of the 2024 final saw Humphries and Littler lock horns once again in the 2025 Premier League decider, and this time 'Cool Hand' came out on top to add to his growing list of accolades.

Making Finals Night for a third successive year in 2026, Humphries knows what it's like to play against the elite on a weekly basis and he's backed Dutchman Wessel Nijman to make the field of eight next year.

"From form, I think Wessel Nijman has got a great chance," Humphries exclusively told bet365 when questioned on who he thinks has the best chance to make the 2027 Premier League fold outside of the current eight.

He added: "It all depends on how he does on TV. It's always important because what you do on the floor, in a way, doesn't count really.

"He could win 30 Pro Tours but that doesn't get you into the Premier League.

"So I think for me, potential wise, Wessel Nijman is the one that could make that step up from from what I've seen."

The 25-year-old Dutchman has enjoyed his best calendar year to date in 2026, winning his first PDC European Tour title in the form of the European Darts Trophy in March, where he defeated Premier League duo Gian van Veen and Josh Rock on the way to an 8-3 final victory over Gerwyn Price, also a Premier League regular.

He also became the first player to win five Players Championship titles in a single year since Michael van Gerwen achieved the feat in 2016, doing so with an 8–1 win against Max Hopp in the final of Players Championship 14.

As emphasised by Humphries, however, TV form is key to earning a place in the Premier League, and he's yet to reach the heights needed to be in with a valid shout, failing to surpass the second round on three successive occasions at the World Darts Championship.

He ranks 16th in the PDC Order of Merit, and you'd suspect a strong second half of the calendar year would put him in the conversation for a Premier League spot, where he could join fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen.