MICHAEL VAN GERWEN punished six missed match darts from Peter Wright as he retained the Betway Premier League title on a remarkable finale to the 2017 season at The O2 in London on Thursday.
World number three Wright had looked set to mark his first appearance in the Premier League's Play-offs by going all the way to glory when he followed up an amazing semi-final win over Phil Taylor by leading Van Gerwen 10-9. However, six missed darts at double 16 and eight allowed Van Gerwen to level and force a deciding leg, which he began with a ninth 180 of the final and ended with an 88 finish for a 12-dart winning leg. The triumph earned Van Gerwen a tournament record £250,000 first prize - plus a £25,000 league leader's bonus after topping the regular season's league table for a fifth straight year - and saw him win a third Premier League title. Van Gerwen had begun the night with a 10-7 win over Gary Anderson as the world's top two ranked players clashed at the semi-final stage. Van Gerwen had pulled clear from seven-all to claim his spot in the decider, despite Anderson firing in seven 180s and a 160 checkout, before then seeing Wright and Taylor fight out a tension-filled 19-leg semi-final. Wright led 4-0 and took out 120 for a 6-3 cushion before Taylor reeled off four straight legs to move himself ahead. Taylor also led 9-8, but was left to rue a missed match dart at tops as Wright levelled before winning the decider to end the 56-year-old legend's hopes of winning a seventh Premier League title in his farewell to the event. Wright carried that momentum into the final as he took leads of 3-0 and 5-1 with the aid of two key breaks of throw, and after Van Gerwen hit back in leg seven the Scot fired in legs of 11 and 14 darts to open up a 7-2 cushion. Van Gerwen took the next two to kick-start his challenge, before an 11-darter featured the first of six 180s in as many legs as the reigning champion fought back to level at eight-all. Wright took the 17th as he replied to a Van Gerwen maximum with one of his own before taking out 84 to lead 9-8, and a 96 finish then moved him 10-9 up and within touching distance of the title. Wright then opened the 20th leg with scores of 140, 180 and 149 to leave 32 after nine darts, only to miss a dart at double 16 and five darts at double eight for glory. Van Gerwen hit double ten to force a deciding leg, opening up with a huge 180 against the throw before taking out 88 for a 12-darter as double four completed a brilliant fightback. "It's a fantastic moment for me," said Van Gerwen. "I think that was a great final and I'm really glad I can walk away with this trophy again. "I missed a few chances and Peter finished well, he did what he had to do but after the break I played really well and I had a great comeback. "Peter started playing well again and I don't know how he missed six darts for the match. A player of his quality normally hits the double, but for some reason he missed them. This was a really crazy game. "Peter was really close today but I kept myself relaxed and stepped in at the right moment. It's been great, absolutely fantastic." Wright takes home £120,000 as the runner-up, having fallen agonisingly short of winning his second televised title, following March's success in the UK Open which is one of seven tournament wins so far in 2017. "Well done to the champion, fair play to Michael," said Wright. "It's been a good season, the top two players finished one and two. "By the end of tonight that's gone, and Michael will know I've let him off. "I can't believe I missed so many darts at a double. You can't have five darts at a double to beat the number one in the world and double World Champion, and it's something I've got to learn. "I'll go back to the practice board and then get him next time. At the moment I think I should have won, but that's gone and I'll start to think about the next tournament. "You've got to learn to lose before you win, and I'm not going to lose any more - the wins are coming." Taylor's semi-final defeat was his last of 207 Premier League appearances since he led the inception of the event in 2005, with his wins in the first four years followed by further titles in 2010 and 2012. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a final title, Taylor said: "I'm fine - I had my chances and didn't take them. "The crowd gave me so much inspiration, and it was just a couple of shots that I missed, that's all. "I went in front and then went nervous - I could feel my heart beating - maybe because it's my last one. Peter was the better player, I can't fault him; he held his bottle and hit the right shot at the right time." Betway Premier League Play-Offs Thursday May 18, The O2, London Semi-Finals Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Gary Anderson Peter Wright 10-9 Phil Taylor Final Michael van Gerwen 11-10 Peter Wright
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PHIL TAYLOR is targeting the perfect ending to his final Betway Premier League season by claiming his seventh title in Thursday's Play-Offs, with Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright also chasing the £250,000 first prize at The O2 in London.
Taylor, 56, will compete in his final night of Premier League action at The O2 as he heads towards retirement at the start of 2018, bringing the curtain down on the most successful career in the event's history. The champion for the first four years of the Premier League from 2005-2008, Taylor also won the 2010 and 2012 titles to take his tally of victories to six. Despite those years of dominance, Taylor has lost out to Van Gerwen in two finals since - most recently last year at The O2 - and enters this year's Play-Offs as the 11/1 outsider with sponsors Betway. He faces world number three Wright in their semi-final, but is in relaxed mood as he chases a seventh Premier League title. "Getting into the top four has been the aim all year so I'm delighted to have got through and I'd love to go on and win this now, but there's no pressure on me," said Taylor. "Peter's been in brilliant form all year so I know what to expect, but this is his first time in the semi-finals so I don't know how he's feeling. "I've approached the whole season in the same way and I'll go up there to enjoy myself. It would be fantastic if I could win this title again, the perfect way to finish in the Premier League.” In contrast, Wright will be making his Play-Offs debut, having finished in fifth position twice in his previous three Premier League challenges. However, the Scot is in confident mood after winning seven tournaments so far in 2017, including his first televised title at March's UK Open. "I've been close to the Play-Offs before but I've made it this time, and I want to go and win the Premier League now," said Wright. "I've seen these great guys win it in recent years and I want to be one of those great guys too. "To be in the top four alongside Phil, Michael and Gary is immense and I'm really happy with how the season has gone. "I'm still learning and there are times this year that I've changed things to improve too. I've learned a lot over the years and I know how to beat people now, especially Michael because he's the man we all want to beat. "You have to believe in your own ability and that what you do on the practice board you can do on the stage against him and anyone else in the world." The other semi-final sees a repeat of January's World Championship final - and two other TV deciders in the past year - between the world's top two ranked players, Van Gerwen and Anderson. Reigning Premier League champion Van Gerwen topped the league table for a fifth successive regular season with his 7-4 win over Anderson in Aberdeen last week, and is now aiming to claim his third title at The O2. "It's time for business now," said Van Gerwen, the 4/7 odds-on favourite with Betway. "I feel good and I know I'm playing well - I had a good game when I had to play well last against Gary and I have to do the same tomorrow night. "They know what they have to do to beat me if they want to win the tournament, but I need to make sure I hold them off by playing some good darts and putting them under pressure. "It's four good players and you can't let them have a sniff of the trophy, because if you give them a finger they will take your hand. I want to win the trophy again and it would be really special if I can." Anderson, meanwhile, is aiming to follow up his 2011 and 2015 Premier League triumphs by completing his own hat-trick. "It would be nice to win it again and if I play well I've got a good chance," said Anderson, who finished fourth in the league table but had the second-highest tournament average, behind Van Gerwen. "You've got to beat everyone that's in front of you and whoever turns up on the night is going to walk away with the trophy. "It's always going to be hard anyway but it's going to be interesting because it's Phil's last, it's Peter's first time here and both me and Michael have won it twice, so it's all to play for." With Van Gerwen as the 4/7 title favourite with Betway, Wright is the 9/2 second favourite, with Anderson 5/1 and Taylor 11/1. Van Gerwen is 1/3 to win his semi-final against Anderson (9/4), while Wright is odds-on at 1/2 to defeat Taylor (13/8). Tickets for the Betway Premier League Play-Offs at The O2 can be purchased by calling 0844 856 0202 or via www.axs.com. Betway Premier League Play-Offs Thursday May 18, The O2, London Semi-Finals Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson Peter Wright v Phil Taylor Best of 19 legs Final Van Gerwen/Anderson v Wright/Taylor Best of 21 legs Tickets: 0844 856 0202 or via www.axs.com Betway Odds Tournament Winner 4/7 Michael van Gerwen 9/2 Peter Wright 5/1 Gary Anderson 11/1 Phil Taylor Semi-Final Match Odds 1/3 Michael van Gerwen v 9/4 Gary Anderson 8/15 Peter Wright v 6/4 Phil Taylor Odds correct at time of writing and courtesy www.betway.com. Subject to fluctuation. MICHAEL VAN GERWEN defeated Gary Anderson 7-4 to top the Betway Premier League table for a fifth successive season, as Phil Taylor claimed the final Play-Off place on Thursday in Aberdeen. Peter Wright's 7-1 win over Raymond van Barneveld at the GE Oil & Gas Arena had left Van Gerwen needing to defeat Anderson if the Dutchman was to claim the £25,000 League Winner's Bonus. The world number one rose to the challenge in a scintillating game with Anderson, taking command early on by moving into a 3-1 lead before holding off the Scot's fightback, which included a 145 checkout. Taylor had earlier come from 5-3 down to defeat Adrian Lewis 7-5 as he claimed the final spot in the league table ahead of Dave Chisnall, whose Play-Off hopes were ended with a six-all draw against James Wade. Those results mean that Van Gerwen and Anderson will clash again at the semi-final stage in next Thursday's Play-Offs, as the pair continue their search for a third Premier League title. Van Gerwen, though, leaves Aberdeen celebrating his achievement in topping the regular season's league table for a fifth successive year since he entered the tournament. "It was really tough this year," said the Dutchman. "Peter was in my shadow all the way through and fair play to him but I came here for two points and I got them, so I'm really glad. "I think my scoring was good but I still missed too many chances in my opinion - but I did the job I needed to tonight. It was really important for me and I'm happy with this win so I can look forward to next week at The O2. "It's the top four darts players in the world and I can't wait. It's always a good game against Gary and I feel good." Wright produced another clinical display as he prepared for his first-ever Premier League Play-Offs challenge with a superb 7-1 defeat of Van Barneveld. The Scot landed 180s in each of the first two legs, with the latter being a 14-dart break, before an 80 checkout moved him 3-0 up. Van Barneveld replied on double ten, but Wright posted another 180 as he regained his edge, punished misses from the Dutchman to break again, took out a 14-darter to move 6-1 up and then sealed the win with a 116 finish. "I've qualified for the top four for the first time and I'm happy with that," said Wright, who has finished in fifth place in two of his previous three Premier League campaigns. "I'm pinching myself thinking that I'm in that top four alongside Phil, Gary and Michael - it's crazy. My form's coming and I've got another week to get it right for The O2. "It's always hard to beat Barney. He's a tough customer and isn't a five-time World Champion for nothing, but to have that amazing support behind you in Aberdeen makes you want to play. "The fans were fantastic, it makes you tingle when you're on stage." Taylor secured qualification for the Play-Offs in his final Premier League season with a 7-5 win over Stoke rival Lewis . Lewis missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish early in the game but led 4-2 with the aid of a 122 bull checkout, only to see Taylor win five of the next six legs - despite a 114 finsh from his rival - for victory. "I'm over the moon to get to The O2," said Taylor. "It's an extra bonus for me, I didn't expect to get there to be honest, so it's massive. "There's no pressure on me but I'm going to be trying to win it and I've done it six times before. "I'll have a massive smile on my face because I've been dedicated for 30 years and it's time for me to move on, but I'm in it to win it next week and I'm looking forward to it. "If I can go out there and win my seventh Premier League title it will be brilliant." Earlier, Chisnall's draw with Wade ended the 2015 semi-finalist's bid to snatch a top-four finish, despite finishing the season with a seven-game unbeaten run. Chisnall had to secure a big win to put the pressure on Taylor, but saw Wade capitalise on his missed doubles to move 3-1 up, with the aid of a clinical 71 finish. Wade then hit his fourth 180 as he moved into a 6-2 lead to secure at least a point from the contest. Chisnall, though, took leg nine to keep his hopes in the match alive, before finishing a brilliant 129 and a 13-darter to force a deciding leg, in which he hit two 180s in an 11-dart finish to snatch a share of the spoils. Chisnall ended the game with seven 180s, but admitted that a slow start against Wade cost him. "I couldn't hit a double in the early stages and didn’t really play in the first six or seven legs," said Chisnall. "At 6-2 down, I had nothing to lose and I managed to fight back and get the draw. "The season has been good in the end. I've been playing well for eight weeks and wish I'd started like that, but it gives me great encouragement for the remainder of the season." Van Gerwen's clash with Anderson - which is also a repeat of the World Grand Prix, World Championship and Masters finals of the past year - will open next Thursday's Play-Offs, before Wright takes on six-time Premier League champion Taylor. The tournament will then conclude with the final at The O2, with a £250,000 prize on offer for the eventual champion. Tickets for the Betway Premier League Play-Offs can be purchased by calling 0844 856 0202 or online via www.axs.com. Van Gerwen is the 4/7 favourite with sponsors Betway to win the Premier League title next Thursday, with Wright 9/2, Anderson 5/1 and Taylor rated at 11/1. Betway Premier League Night 15 Thursday May 11, GE Oil & Gas Arena, Aberdeen Dave Chisnall 6-6 James Wade Phil Taylor 7-5 Adrian Lewis Peter Wright 7-1 Raymond van Barneveld Michael van Gerwen 7-4 Gary Anderson Play-Offs Thursday May 18, The O2, London Semi-Finals Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson Peter Wright v Phil Taylor Best of 19 legs Final Van Gerwen/Anderson v Wright/Taylor Best of 21 legs Tickets: 0844 856 0202 or via www.axs.com Betway Odds Tournament Winner 4/7 Michael van Gerwen 9/2 Peter Wright 5/1 Gary Anderson 11/1 Phil Taylor ANDERSON SEALS BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SPOT AS TAYLOR OVERCOMES VAN GERWEN GARY ANDERSON secured a Betway Premier League Play-Off place with a 7-3 win over James Wade on Thursday, as Phil Taylor overcame Michael van Gerwen with a memorable victory at The Sheffield Arena. Two-time Premier League champion Anderson will join Van Gerwen and Peter Wright in the semi-finals at The O2 in a fortnight, after a third win in his last four matches sealed a top-four finish. Anderson took five of the game's first six legs, hitting two 180s and a key 90 finish in the process, before holding off a Wade revival to finish 78 and double two for the crucial victory. "I knew that I just needed one more win and I was really nervous tonight and it was a bit of a struggle, but I got there in the end," admitted Anderson. "Getting into the top four is everyone's aim at the start of the season so that's the main bit done. "I'm through now and that takes the pressure off next week when I play Michael in Aberdeen - but we don't want to lose to each other and it should be special." The visit to Sheffield saw Taylor deny Van Gerwen the chance to secure top spot in the league table with a 7-3 win which also sees the six-time champion maintain his fourth place in the race for Play-Off spots. After missing three doubles to win the opening leg, Van Gerwen hit back to lead 2-1 only for Taylor to seize the initiative with a superb 96 finish of single 20, double 18 and double top to level. Taylor then took the next four in a run which included an 11-darter and a 90 finish following three further misses from Van Gerwen, who rallied briefly with an 11-dart finish of his own before the Stoke legend completed the win. Taylor now sits in fourth place, two points clear of Dave Chisnall going into next week's final league night in Aberdeen - meaning that he needs just a point from his game with Adrian Lewis to secure qualification for the Play-Offs in his farewell season. "Michael's a tough opponent but it was a strange game," said Taylor. "A couple of times Michael went for the bull when he should have left a finish with three darts, which I think put him under pressure. "I think the 90 finish won me the game in the end and it's another two points. To play Michael and beat him is a massive buzz. "It's in my own hands and it will be fantastic if I make it into the Play-Offs. I went up there to enjoy it tonight because I've not got as much pressure on me, and when you're more relaxed you can enjoy it a bit more. "I'm not going to take anything for granted and I've got to get ready for Aberdeen because Adrian could play out of his skin." Chisnall's push for a semi-final spot continued as he extended his unbeaten run to six games by defeating Raymond van Barneveld 7-5, averaging over 109 in the process. Van Barneveld defied two 180s to win the game's opening leg, hitting a maximum of his own, and also led 2-1 before Chisnall took three in a row to push himself clear, with the burst including a superb 142 checkout. A pair of double eight finishes pulled Van Barneveld level, but Chisnall took the next two to move 6-4 up and secure a point, and though the Dutchman finished 70 to send the match into a decider, a 64 finish continued the St Helens ace's Play-Off challenge. "I'm happy to get the win," said Chisnall, who eliminated Van Barneveld in the process. "Raymond let me off by missing a few bulls but I missed a couple of doubles too. "I've been playing well lately and I could have had 12 points, but I had the three draws that I could have won. I'm in a very good position but I've still got to win next week. "I'm in with a chance and it's exciting. I've been playing well for the last six or seven weeks and I could have had six wins, but that's darts. I know I can do it but I've got to win the last game against James and I want to keep playing like I am." Wright, meanwhile, sits just a point behind Van Gerwen in the battle to claim the £25,000 League Winner's Bonus after he ended Lewis' Play-Off hopes with a 7-2 victory. Legs of 13 and 14 darts gave Wright an early 2-0 lead, despite a pair of maximums from Lewis, before the 2011 runner-up hit back to level. Wright, though, landed a 180 of his own as he took the fifth and pounced on two missed doubles from Lewis to break and take a 4-2 lead, before reeling off the next three legs to complete his ninth win of the season. "The plan was to come and get the win and I've done that, and I wanted to keep the pressure on Michael," said Wright. "This wasn't my best performance and I couldn't settle into the match, but Adrian wasn't on form like he can be and any player in the Premier League would have punished him. "It's great to be going to The O2 but I also want to finish top too." The final league night at The GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen next week will see Chisnall face Wade before Taylor takes on Lewis in matches which will decide the fourth qualifier for the Play-Offs. Wright then takes on Van Barneveld, before reigning Premier League champion Van Gerwen meets Anderson in a repeat of January's World Championship final. Betway Premier League Night 14 - Thursday May 4 The Sheffield Arena Peter Wright 7-2 Adrian Lewis Raymond van Barneveld 5-7 Dave Chisnall James Wade 3-7 Gary Anderson Michael van Gerwen 3-7 Phil Taylor Night 15 - Thursday May 11 GE Oil & Gas Arena, Aberdeen Dave Chisnall v James Wade Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis Peter Wright v Raymond van Barneveld Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson Tickets: Sold Out ANDERSON CHASING TOP-FOUR SPOT AS BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE VISITS SHEFFIELD
GARY ANDERSON is aiming to cement his place in the Betway Premier League Play-Offs as he faces James Wade at The Sheffield Arena on Thursday, as Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor face off. Two-time Premier League champion Anderson is aiming to become the third player, behind Van Gerwen and Peter Wright, to secure his top four spot as Sheffield hosts the season's penultimate league night. Anderson sits on 16 points in the table, one ahead of fourth-placed Phil Taylor and two clear of Raymond van Barneveld, and knows that he can ensure his place at The O2 on May 18 when he meets Wade on Thursday. The Scot defeated Van Barneveld with a fine display in Birmingham last week, and is on a high after winning Sunday's Players Championship in Wigan. "I'm playing okay and I'm happy with where I am in the table but obviously I want to win on Thursday and make sure I get in the Play-Offs," said Anderson. "It's tight in the table and every point's crucial. I'm looking forward to the last couple of weeks because James is still fighting and he'll be up for it, but so will I." Wade still has an outside hope of reaching the Play-Offs, although he will need to defeat Anderson and Dave Chisnall in his final two matches and hope that other results work in his favour. Victory over Adrian Lewis a week ago kept Wade's hopes alive, but the 2009 Premier League champion admits he may have a tall order if he is to snatch a top-four finish following a four-game losing run in mid-season. "I am where I am in the table but it might be too late now," admitted the left-hander. "There's a chance but you should never leave it this late or put yourself in this position. "I started the season okay and it hasn't gone so well in the latter stages, but there are no excuses. "I want to be an inconvenience to the other players who need the points, and if I can get two wins then that's great. The standard has been spectacular this season and the lads are giving the crowds something special to watch." Taylor could also seal a Play-Off place for his farewell Premier League season should he defeat Van Gerwen and other results go his way. "Getting into the top four has been the target all season and it would be great if I can make it into the semi-finals," said Taylor. "Even though I'm fourth it's really tight, so I've just got to try and get the result against Michael. I love playing against him and it should be another good match." League leader and reigning champion Van Gerwen ended his double-header in Birmingham with a whitewash of Lewis, before hitting a nine-darter as he won a Players Championship on Saturday. "I'm feeling great and it's good that I qualified, but I want to make sure I finish top of the table so I want to keep my form going," said the World Champion. "I know if I win I will finish top so I'm aiming for that against Phil. It's never easy against him but I'm confident and playing well." Chisnall has boosted his Play-Off ambitions with two wins and three draws during a five-match unbeaten run, and he meets Van Barneveld in Sheffield. "I'm still in with a shout and I'll prepare myself like I have for the last few weeks," said Chisnall. "If I could have started the league like I'm ending it I'd probably be top, but I still think I can get through. Raymond's a great player so I'll just keep playing my own game and hopefully I can keep getting the results." The night's other game in Sheffield sees Lewis meet UK Open champion Wright, who has to win to keep up the pressure on Van Gerwen in the battle to claim the £25,000 League Winner's Bonus. "I've got two games to play and I want to take four points and push Michael for that top spot," said Wright. "I'm looking to finish top and I've been working hard on the practice board to get myself ready for this. "I'm looking forward to it because Adrian's a fantastic player and he showed with his nine-darter a few weeks ago how good he can be." The Betway Premier League will be live on Sky Sports from 7pm on Thursday. For tickets, call 0114 256 5656 or visit www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. Betway Premier League Night 14 - Thursday May 4 The Sheffield Arena Peter Wright v Adrian Lewis Raymond van Barneveld v Dave Chisnall James Wade v Gary Anderson Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor Tickets: 0114 256 5656 or via www.sheffieldarena.co.uk Betway Odds Tournament Winner – After Night 13 1/2 Michael van Gerwen 9/2 Peter Wright 11/2 Gary Anderson 20/1 Phil Taylor 33/1 Raymond van Barneveld 80/1 Adrian Lewis 100/1 Dave Chisnall 250/1 James Wade MICHAEL VAN GERWEN spoiled Raymond van Barneveld's 50th birthday celebrations with a 7-2 win in their Betway Premier League clash at The SSE Arena on Thursday night, as Dave Chisnall picked up two victories in Belfast. Van Barneveld reached the landmark anniversary on the same day as his all-Dutch clash with the World Champion, but saw Van Gerwen avenge his loss in Manchester last month with a dominant display. The pair shared the game's opening four legs - with Van Barneveld powering in a 140 checkout in leg two and Van Gerwen hitting back with an 11-darter in the third - before the world number one pulled clear. Double eight moved Van Gerwen back ahead before he broke throw for the first time on double ten, a 14-darter opened up a 5-2 lead, a 92 finish with two double 18s secured a minimum of a point and double eight completed the triumph. "It was a good win and I did the job tonight," said Van Gerwen. "I expected Raymond to play better on his birthday but there was only one winner tonight. "He was not himself, I think it had to do with his birthday and the game against me put a bit of pressure on him on this day and he wasn't as focused. "It had to be difficult for Raymond but I had a job to do; I want to be top of the table again and I have to do my duty. "I love to play well and that keeps me motivated. I've been top for the last three years and I want to do it again." Van Gerwen remains two points clear of Peter Wright, whose Play-Off challenge continued with a 7-3 win over James Wade. Wright - using a new set of darts on stage - also shared the opening four legs before three in a row moved him clear, and though Wade responded with an 81 finish, the UK Open champion took the next two for victory. "It wasn't the best performance but it's a win, two points and it keeps me in the top four," said Wright. "Getting the win was the aim tonight and I did that. "I did enough to get the win but neither of us were at our best. I've been practising with these darts for a couple of weeks and felt good with them, but they didn't go like I thought they would tonight." 2015 Premier League semi-finalist Chisnall moved two points behind the top four as he capitalised on his double-header in Belfast with wins over Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor. Chisnall opened the night by claiming his first win since Week Five in Exeter - when he also doubled up, in the absence of Van Gerwen - by seeing off Lewis 7-3. After Chisnall raced into a three-leg lead - including a 13-darter followed by an 11-darter - before Lewis took two of the next three, with a 99 finish and a 13-darter, to pull back to 4-2. Lewis then opened a fourth successive leg with a 180 in the seventh, only to see Chisnall fire in a maximum to set up double 16 as he claimed a crucial leg to lead 5-2. Three missed doubles allowed Chisnall to move 6-2 up with a 76 checkout, and though Lewis took out 70 to keep his hopes alive, the St Helens thrower held his nerve to close out victory on double one. He then returned to the stage to defeat Taylor 7-2 in the night's final fixture, averaging 104 as he won his fifth game of the season. A pair of 13-darters and a 14-dart leg helped Chisnall into a 4-1 lead, with Taylor replying with a 14-darter before Chisnall took the next three - including an 11-dart break of throw - to complete a memorable night. "It's been a great night," said Chisnall. "I'm very pleased with how it's gone and I'm happy to have got the four points tonight. "I've been playing well and hitting lots of 180s but in the last two weeks I've not hit the doubles at the crucial times and today I did. "I'm in with a shout and if I can keep playing like I have tonight then there's no reason I can't make it into the top four" Taylor had produced a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down in his opener to defeat Gary Anderson with seven straight legs. Anderson had seemed set to romp to victory when he finished double 18, 87 and a pair of 44 checkouts to race clear early on, only for Taylor's relentless scoring to drag him back into the contest. After landing double eight and double 16 to halve the deficit, Taylor then hit legs of 12 and 13 darts to draw level, double 16 to edge in front and a pair of double ten checkouts to complete a brilliant fightback. The Betway Premier League continues next week at The Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, with Van Gerwen and Lewis competing twice. For tickets, call 0844 338 8000 or visit www.theticketfactory.com. Betway Premier League Night 12 - Thursday April 20 The SSE Arena, Belfast Dave Chisnall 7-3 Adrian Lewis Phil Taylor 7-4 Gary Anderson Peter Wright 7-3 James Wade Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Raymond van Barneveld Dave Chisnall 7-2 Phil Taylor BRAZIL and Latvia are to make their debuts in the Betway World Cup of Darts in June following the confirmation of the 32 competing nations in the Sky Sports-televised event. The World Cup of Darts will see 32 two-player teams competing across four days from June 1-4 at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, where England claimed the title 12 months ago. Four-time champions England and two-time winners Netherlands will headline the 32 nations competing in this year's event, alongside former finalists Wales, Australia, Belgium and Scotland. However, the 2017 tournament will see two emerging nations given their first chance to compete on the World Cup stage. Brazil's team will include Diogo Portela, who made his European Tour debut last month and is the first South American competing on the PDC circuit, while Latvia will be represented by Madars Razma - who won a PDC Tour Card in January - and qualifier Nauris Gleglu. The final teams for many of the more established nations will be confirmed on May 22, but many other nations have already finalised their representatives in Germany. South African star Devon Petersen will be joined by newcomer Deon Oliver, who won through a "Last Man Standing" qualifier held in March in Cape Town. Canada's three-time World Champion John Part will be partnered by John Norman Jnr, who has successfully joined the PDC circuit this year, while Darin Young and 1994 World Matchplay winner Larry Butler team up again for America. Sweden will be represented by Magnus Caris and Daniel Larsson, current PDCNB Order of Merit leader Kim Viljanen will be joined by Marko Kantele in the Finland team. Japan's Yuki Yamada will make his World Cup of Darts debut alongside Haruki Muramatsu, while Paul Lim and Harith Lim team up again for Singapore and Thailand are represented by Thanawat Gaweenuntawong and Attapol Eupakaree. Rob Szabo returns to the New Zealand team alongside Cody Harris, while Greece's John Michael is partnered by Ioannis Selachoglou for their second successive World Cup of Darts appearance and Hong Kong will see Royden Lam paired with Kai Fan Leung. The 2017 Betway World Cup of Darts will be held from June 1-4 at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, live on Sky Sports. For tickets, visit www.pdc-europe.tv. Betway World Cup of Darts Competing Nations Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Czech Republic Denmark England Finland Germany Gibraltar Greece Hong Kong Hungary Italy Japan Latvia Netherlands New Zealand Northern Ireland Poland Republic of Ireland Russia Scotland Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Thailand United States of America Wales RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is aiming to celebrate his 50th birthday by completing a Betway Premier League double over Michael van Gerwen when the tournament visits The SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday.
2014 Premier League champion Van Barneveld hits the metaphorical bullseye as he competes on his birthday against Dutch rival Van Gerwen as the tournament returns to Northern Ireland. Table-topping Van Gerwen suffered his only defeat of the season when he went down 7-5 in the pair's most recent meeting in Manchester last month - with Van Barneveld eyeing a repeat result as an ideal birthday present. "It's a special birthday for me and I want to enjoy the day," said Van Barneveld, who sits in fourth place in the league table. "I'm playing Michael but nobody can ruin my birthday. "I'm sure I'll get lots of messages and phone calls but then at some point I'll try to prepare myself right and I'll be trying my best to win. "Hopefully I can stop him again - I've beaten Michael, beaten Gary and drawn with Peter Wright so I've taken five points so far from the top three in the world. "Everyone can beat each other and I'm looking forward to the remaining few weeks. I'm still in the top four and hopefully I can get into the Play-Offs. "I'm working hard but it's tough, it's not easy. James Wade lost twice on his birthday two weeks ago, and you don't want that!" Van Gerwen drew with Peter Wright in Liverpool last Thursday, but bounced back to win a European Tour event in Germany over the Easter weekend with some imperious darts - including a win over Van Barneveld. Reflecting on the Manchester game, Van Gerwen said: "Things like that happen in life. I should have won that game, but sometimes you make mistakes - people think I'm a robot but I'm human. "I want to perform every time and focus on myself. I have to keep practising and prepare myself as well as possible. "Raymond was fantastic in that game and I missed a few chances, but this is a new week. I played some phenomenal darts in Germany and I want to keep that going now. "I'm looking forward to playing Raymond on his birthday - hopefully I give him a nice birthday present!" The night in Belfast will see both Phil Taylor and Dave Chisnall playing twice as the competition for Play-Off places continues to intensify. Taylor will meet Gary Anderson in his first fixture, before returning to the stage to face Chisnall. "It's a big challenge because Gary and Dave are two of the biggest scorers in the game, but I'm looking forward to it," said Taylor, who saw a three-game winning run ended by Wade last week. "Every point is crucial at the moment because everyone's in with a shout. The crowd are always great in Belfast so it should be a good night." Chisnall, meanwhile, opens the night against Adrian Lewis before coming up against Taylor - with a pair of draws in the past fortnight meaning that he sits six points adrift of the top four but in confident mood after hitting 15 maximums in those two games. The St Helens ace has previously won twice on a night this season - when he doubled up to cover the absence of Van Gerwen in Exeter - and also claimed two wins on a night during the 2015 season. "I'm looking forward to it because when I played twice before I won both, I've done that a few times," he said. "I feel confident, I’m playing alright at the moment. "My scoring is pretty decent, I've just got to hit the doubles with more consistency but they've been going in lately. "Every match is special when you're in the Premier League, but this is a massive week for me and I need to win both. "There are five games and if I win all of them and the other results go my way then you never know what might happen." Lewis travels to Belfast on the back of a nine-dart finish in Liverpool last Thursday, with their opener on Thursday expected to feature a raft of maximums. "Adie's playing well," he added. "I played him in a ProTour final a couple of weeks ago and and we were both smashing in the 180s, so the crowd in Belfast should be in for a treat "It's likely to be a big scoring match. It's down to who hits the doubles but hopefully the points go my way." Chisnall added: "It might be the last time I play Phil, so it'll be special. Phil has still got it, make no mistake - when he goes he'll be missed by a lot of people." Lewis has fond memories of The SSE Arena after hitting a nine-darter against Wade when the Premier League visited Belfast a year ago, and is on a high after winning five of his last six matches. "It's going to be a tough game," said Lewis. I think Dave played really well last week and he was unlucky not to get the win, but fair play to Gary because he dug in deep and got the point. "There might be a record for 180s if we both turn up hitting them! It could be a massive game. I hit a nine-darter in Belfast last year and why can't I do it again? I'm capable of hitting another one, and I'll try to do it again. "I'm playing really well at the minute. I've been putting a lot of work in and playing a lot of tournaments as well which helps my sharpness, and everything's going great." The night's other fixture sees second-placed Wright taking on 2009 Premier League champion Wade, who ended a four-game losing run with a victory against Taylor in Liverpool. A small number of tickets are still available for Thursday's Betway Premier League at The SSE Arena in Belfast, and can be purchase via 028 9073 9074 or 0844 277 4455 or via www.ssearenabelfast.com. Betway Premier League Night 12 - Thursday April 20 The SSE Arena, Belfast Dave Chisnall v Adrian Lewis Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson Peter Wright v James Wade Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld Dave Chisnall v Phil Taylor Tickets: 028 9073 9074 or 0844 277 4455 or via www.ssearenabelfast.com Betway Odds Tournament Winner – After Night 11 1/2 Michael van Gerwen 11/2 Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 18/1 Phil Taylor 20/1 Adrian Lewis , Raymond van Barneveld 150/1 James Wade 500/1 Dave Chisnall Night 12 Match Odds 5/2 Dave Chisnall 7/2 Draw 5/6 Adrian Lewis 3/1 Phil Taylor 7/2 Draw 8/11 Gary Anderson 8/15 Peter Wright 4/1 Draw 4/1 James Wade 4/11 Michael van Gerwen 5/1 Draw 11/2 Raymond van Barneveld 2/1 Dave Chisnall 7/2 Draw Evens Phil Taylor Odds correct at time of writing and courtesy of www.betway.com. Odds subject to fluctuation. RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD created the longest winning run of the 2017 Betway Premier League as he swept past James Wade in Cardiff on Thursday, where Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor also picked up two points. Dutch star Van Barneveld, the 2014 Premier League champion, has risen into the top four with his recent run of form to claim three straight wins, and continued that with a ruthless display against Wade. Van Barneveld limited Wade to just one dart at a double as he won the opening five legs without reply, before the left-hander finished 36 and 70 to take two of the next three. However, the Dutchman - who had claimed his sixth leg with a superb 12-darter - took the ninth on double seven to secure another two points in his bid to secure a Play-Off spot in May. "That's four wins on the trot so I'm very happy," said Van Barneveld. "It's so tight in the league table so I had to focus and you have to play well against everyone. "James didn't play as well as he could and I was surprised at that but I'm happy with the win." Reigning Premier League champion Van Gerwen returned to the top of the table with an impressive 7-1 win over Dave Chisnall, averaging 104.25 and hitting 50 percent of his darts at a double. The Dutchman had lost his first game of the season a week ago against Van Barneveld, but showed no mercy as he defied five 180s from Chisnall with a dominant display. "I had to play well tonight and I'm happy that I did," said Van Gerwen. "The pressure was on me because I want to be back on top of the table where I belong and where I've worked hard for. "When you lose a game, like last week, you're upset but tonight I enjoyed it again. I'm a happy man and I'm already looking forward to next week." Two-time Premier League winner Anderson hit finishes of 143 and 170 in a superb 7-3 win over Adrian Lewis, averaging 107 as he came from 2-1 down to claim his third win in four games. "I didn't think the performance was as good as the average, but I'll take it!" said Anderson. "There were some good scores and some bad scores - the 170 felt like it came from nowhere and I took out the 143 too. "We all want to get into the Play-Offs. When the tournament starts you don't want to be in the bottom two, and once you get past tonight it's a fight for the top four and everyone's trying for it." Six-time Premier League champion Taylor also had to come from behind before he saw off Jelle Klaasen 7-5 in a deciding leg. Klaasen - who had been eliminated before his ninth league match - raced into an early 4-1 lead before Taylor, aided by an 11-darter, turned the game around to claim his second successive win. "It's another two points for me and they could all prove crucial at the end of the season," said Taylor. "It could prove the difference for getting into the Play-Offs - if I'd lost I think I'd have struggled to qualify. "I think Jelle's injury affected him, at the beginning he was faring well but during the game he was struggling and he wasn't the same player. Fair play to him, it must be very frustrating but he's battled on." The night had seen just eight players in action, with Kim Huybrechts - who had already been eliminated - absent to remain in Belgium with his terminally ill mother, meaning that Peter Wright was awarded a 7-0 victory in his intended opponent's absence. "All our thoughts are with Kim and his family," said Wright, who made an appearance on stage in front of the sell-out Cardiff crowd before the event and signed autographs for fans. "You have a fantastic crowd in Cardiff, the atmosphere is amazing and I'm gutted that I'm not playing. I was looking forward to trying to win tonight but unfortunately I've got to get back on the practice board." The Betway Premier League continues with the visit to Dublin's 3Arena next Thursday, as the second phase of the season begins with five games. Betway Premier League Night Nine - Thursday March 30 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Phil Taylor 7-5 Jelle Klaasen Gary Anderson 7-3 Adrian Lewis Raymond van Barneveld 7-2 James Wade Michael van Gerwen 7-1 Dave Chisnall NB: Peter Wright awarded 7-0 win following Kim Huybrechts' withdrawal. KIM HUYBRECHTS and Jelle Klaasen were eliminated from the Betway Premier League on Thursday with defeats in Manchester, as Michael van Gerwen moved to the top of the league table before seeing his unbeaten run ended. With the bottom two players in the Premier League table eliminated following next week's night in Cardiff - when the players have each met once - defeats for Huybrechts and Klaasen left them three points adrift of Dave Chisnall. The pair will now exit the tournament as the remaining eight players begin their battle for the Play-Offs next month. Belgian ace Huybrechts was defeated 7-2 by Gary Anderson, as the Scot hit checkouts of 130, 104 and 132 to boost his own Premier League challenge with a third win of the season. "I needed the win and it's a good two points," said Anderson. "There was some good scoring and I hit a few good finishes there. "Kim has played very well and just not had that little bit of luck, he could have won against Michael and against Phil Taylor, so it could have been different for him." Klaasen, meanwhile, went down 7-5 to Adrian Lewis as the Stoke star won his third successive game, twice pulling clear after the Dutchman levelled before inflicting his opponent's sixth loss of the season. "I've had three wins on the trot and you can't argue with that," said Lewis. "It was a tough game and a vital two points. I'm trying my best at the minute and I'm playing well in patches." Reigning Premier League champion Van Gerwen doubled up in Manchester after missing the league night in Exeter three weeks ago with a back injury, and enjoyed a mixed evening. The Dutchman firstly moved to the top of the league table with a 7-4 win over James Wade in the night's opening match to extend his unbeaten run in televised matches to a new record of 44 games. A high-quality game saw the opening eight legs shared, but the 2009 champion crucially missed the bull to break in leg nine as Van Gerwen landed a third-dart double one, before breaking with the aid of six perfect darts and then taking out 120 for the win. Van Gerwen later returned to the stage but suffered defeat in a televised game for the first time since last September as an inspired Van Barneveld took a 7-5 triumph to move himself into the top three. Van Gerwen battled back from 3-0 down to lead 4-3 - taking out a key 108 in the process - but a slip in the eighth allowed van Barneveld to wrestle back the advantage with three straight legs. Double 14 saw Van Gerwen pull back to 6-5 and force a decider, but the 2014 champion took out 70 to claim his third successive win and a precious victory over his Dutch rival. "I'm top of the table and that's where I think I belong, but I'm disappointed because I wanted to be on 14 points and not 12," said Van Gerwen. "Raymond took his chances and hit some good finishes, but this was my worst game of the season. "When I was 3-0 down I got into my rhythm, but I missed some crucial shots - especially when I went 4-3 up - and you can't afford to make any mistakes." Van Barneveld had missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish as he moved 3-0 up in the win, and said: "Michael's the best player at the moment and if you can beat him that's fantastic. "I'm happy with the win, it's amazing. You can see how tight the league table is and I'm the first player to beat Michael in the Premier League this season - I showed that he is beatable. "Last week in Rotterdam I played the number two in the world, Gary Anderson, and tonight it was the world number one and I got four points." Six-time Premier League champion Taylor bounced back from two successive defeats by edging out Peter Wright 7-5, with the UK Open champion hitting a 156 checkout but paying the price for 12 other missed doubles. "It's a massive win for me," said Taylor. "It was a strange game - we've both missed plenty of doubles, but his 156 was incredible and I thought he was going to come back and get a draw. "He seems to do things under pressure like Michael van Gerwen does, he's a brilliant player and I think he's going to get stronger, but on the night he wasn't as good as he normally is. "I'm not going to worry and I won't put myself under pressure - I'd love to get in the top four but I'm going to keep pushing and I just want to keep enjoying it." The Betway Premier League continues at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff next Thursday, where Klaasen bows out against Taylor and Huybrechts meets Wright. Van Gerwen takes on Chisnall - who sat out the night in Manchester after doubling up in Exeter - while Van Barneveld plays Wade and Anderson faces Lewis. Betway Premier League Night Eight - Thursday March 23 The Manchester Arena Michael van Gerwen 7-4 James Wade Kim Huybrechts 2-7 Gary Anderson Peter Wright 5-7 Phil Taylor Jelle Klaasen 5-7 Adrian Lewis Raymond van Barneveld 7-5 Michael van Gerwen |
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