Swift response from Chris Dobey.

He gets back level, double nine clinches a 14-dart hold.

Brilliant from Gerwyn Price under pressure.

He has left himself 124 but a fantastic 174 set-up from Chris Dobey leaves him waiting on 16.

Price misses the treble 20 but it's no bother: treble 18 and then the bull for the first hold of throw in a while.

He enjoyed that one!

Make that four breaks of throw in a row!

Gerwyn Price hits another 180 and then finishes on double top for a 13-darter.

Great stuff from the 2021 world champion.

Image source, PA Media

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

Dobey pounces. We've seen three consecutive breaks of throw.

Chris Dobey breaks again!

His first 180 helped set it up but when he missed bullseye to complete an 81 out, Gerwyn Price has a chance.

However, the Welshman misses double 5 for a 90 checkout and Dobey returns, hits the double eight and retakes the lead.

Superb response from Gerwyn Price.

A 14-dart break of throw to make it 2-2. Sealed with a double 12.

Chris Dobey was still a little way back.

Big cheers as Gerwyn Price hits first 180 of the night.

That gives him a chance in the leg but Chris Dobey has raced ahead against the darts and needs just two darts to take out 64.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

I think the game is gradually coming back for Gerwyn Price. The question is whether he can maintain that for 16 weeks.

Chris Dobey holds throw to level it up.

Gerwyn Price put the pressure on with a 140 to leave 49 but Dobey, needing 50, hits the big 18 before getting double 16 at the second attempt.

Gerwyn Price has the darts for the opening leg and hits double four to secure the hold.

A 15-darter. Steady stuff to get us going in the Premier League.

Jude McCann
BBC Sport NI at SSE Arena

The stage is set as we get under way here in Belfast!

Image source, BBC Sport

Here come the players.

First out is Chris Dobey to 'Let's Get Ready to Rhumble' by PJ and Duncan - that's Ant and Dec to the youngsters among you.

Boos for Gerwyn Price as he is announced but they soon die down as the Belfast crowd sing along to his walk-on song, Vanilla Ice's 'Ice, Ice Baby'.

Image source, Reuters

First up tonight, Chris Dobey takes on former world champion Gerwyn Price.

The pair met in the World Championship quarter-final with world number 11 Dobey winning 5-3 to reach the semis at Ally Pally for the first time.

It is the man from Northumberland's second full year in the Premier League, with his last appearance coming in 2023.

Meanwhile, Welshman Price is in his seventh Premier League and will be hoping to go one better than his previous best showing - runner-up to Michael van Gerwen in 2023.

The 2021 world champion has started the year well, reaching the final of Bahrain Masters and the last four at the Dutch Masters.

We're almost ready for the off in the 2025 Premier League, here's a quick reminder of how it all panned out last year.

Luke Littler topped the table after 16 nights and won the play-off final against Luke Humphries.

There are two of last year's line-up missing this time - Michael Smith and Peter Wright.

So much to talk about....

Who are you cheering on in this year's Premier League? Are you predicting an upset? Who was unlucky to miss out? And what do you make of Michael van Gerwen's criticism of Luke Littler's timekeeping.

Thumbs up if you agree with what MVG said, thumbs down if not.

Get Involved using #bbcdarts, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

Please leave your name on text messages.

Image source, PA Media

There is a bit of added spice to an already much-anticipated match after Michael van Gerwen has criticised Luke Littler for his poor timekeeping after the 18-year-old arrived 45 minutes late for a media day in Belfast.

The teenager from Warrington, who became the youngest world champion when he defeated the Dutchman last month, said he had overslept after taking a morning nap, which did not impress his colleagues.

"They need to stop treating him like a baby. He's not a baby any more, he's 18 years old now," Van Gerwen told reporters.

"It happens. He has to learn. You have to learn the hard way. It's a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions. Simple as that.

"If he turns up late for an interview, I don't mind. But seven other people are waiting for him. That's not very nice, is it?"

Everybody happy with how things work? Excellent, let's have a look at what we have to look forward to tonight...

• Chris Dobey v Gerwyn Price
• Stephen Bunting v Rob Cross
• Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen
• Nathan Aspinall v Luke Humphries

Every Thursday, the eight players go head-to-head in a straight knockout tournament. So, each player will be entered at the quarter-final stage, before moving to the semi-finals and then a final.

These matches are all played over the best of 11 legs (or games of darts).

Players take home points from each of these rounds. The winner of the night gets five points, the runner-up three points, and each semi-finalist wins two points.

All eight players are re-entered into the tournament for the next round on the following Thursday.

The players will meet each other once at the quarter-final stage from weeks one to seven, and then again in weeks nine to 15. The matches in weeks eight and 16 will be played based on position in the league at that point.

The four players at the top of the table by the end of night 16 qualify for the final play-offs, which take place on Thursday, 29 May.

The semi-finals of the play-offs are played over 19 legs, while the winner is crowned in a final match played across the best of 21 legs.

Former world champions Peter Wright and Michael Smith are not included in the line-up despite featuring in the 2024 league.

Dave Chisnall, world number six when the line-up was announced, is the highest-ranked player in the PDC Order of Merit not to feature.

Jonny Clayton and Damon Heta also missed out despite being rabked above three selected players - Gerwyn Price, Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall.

World Grand Prix champion Mike de Decker also misses out and is the first player to do so despite winning a major tournament.

"My first feeling immediately after the announcement was one of disbelief," said De Decker, speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, external last month. "The past 20 years, the Grand Prix winner was there every time.

"Of course, I can't change anything about it, the PDC is boss. But I think their decision, to be honest, is a bit scandalous."

Image source, Michael Cooper/PDC

After Belfast, the action moves to Glasgow next week. Here's all the remaining fixtures:

• Night two - Thursday, 13 February, Glasgow
• Night three - Thursday, 20 February, Dublin
• Night four - Thursday, 27 February, Exeter
• Night five - Thursday, 6 March, Brighton
• Night six - Thursday, 13 March, Nottingham
• Night seven - Thursday, 20 March, Cardiff
• Night eight - Thursday, 27 March, Newcastle
• Night nine - Thursday, 3 April, Berlin
• Night 10 - Thursday, 10 April, Manchester
• Night 11 - Thursday, 17 April, Rotterdam
• Night 12 - Thursday, 24 April, Liverpool
• Night 13 - Thursday, 1 May, Birmingham
• Night 14 - Thursday, 8 May, Leeds
• Night 15 - Thursday, 15 May, Aberdeen
• Night 16 - Thursday, 22 May, Sheffield
• Play-offs - Thursday, 29 May, London