Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Jonny Clayton won the Premier League in 2021 and was a beaten semi-finalist in 2022 and 2023
The Welshman, who is back in the tournament after a two-year hiatus, beat the world number three 6-2 to continue his impressive start to the year.
He started the night by ending a near three-year and 10-match losing run against compatriot Gerwyn Price, before demolishing world number one Luke Littler 6-1 in the semi-finals.
The 2021 winner averaged 99.88 and 101.33 in those two matches but it was his checkouts at 60% and 66.67% that really stood out.
While that dropped to 42.86% in the final, his average increased to 104.35 as he follows Price and Michael van Gerwen as night winners this season.
He broke Van Veen in the opening leg and in the seventh before sealing victory with a stunning 156 checkout.
The victory takes him to the top of the early standings, ahead of Van Gerwen, who missed the night through illness, and Van Veen, who has now been beaten in two finals.
Premier League Darts 2026 fixtures, results and table
Quarter-finals
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler (bye) - Van Gerwen withdraws because of medical issue
Semi-finals
Final
Premier League Darts is played across 16 initial weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.
Each of the eight players is guaranteed to face the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 fixtures done off the table. It means we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.
Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.
The top four players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and second against third in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.
If players are level on points after the 16 weeks then places are decided by nights won and then matches won.
Thursday, 26 February - SSE Arena, Belfast
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Littler/Clayton/Bunting/Humphries v Van Gerwen/Price/Van Veen/Rock
