Premier League Darts faces calls for a reserve player system after Gian van Veen's kidney stone surgery forced a bye for Michael van Gerwen in Dublin. Van Veen's withdrawal gave Van Gerwen two league points and a +1 leg difference, sparking debates about fairness. Former World Youth champion Van Veen, fatigued and low on energy, struggled in Berlin before losing 6-1 to Gerwyn Price.

The incident reignited discussions about reintroducing the 2019 'Contenders' and 'Challengers' format, which allowed local players to compete but drew criticism for unequal matchups.