Michael van Gerwen survived an incredible six match darts as he edged out Peter Wright to retain his Premier League title in an absolutely absorbing final. Snakebite stormed into a 7-2 advantage, but Van Gerwen fought back supremely to seal a dramatic victory in a nail-biting deciding leg, to seal the third Premier League triumph of his career at the O2 Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Finals Night Report!”
The 2017 Premier League saw an incredible standard of darts produced across fifteen weeks of top tungsten action. As Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson prepare to battle it out for the Premier League crown at the O2 Arena on Thursday night, here’s a look at some of the key statistics from this year’s competition. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Tournament Statistics!”
Phil Taylor secured his Premier League play-off spot with a fine comeback victory over Adrian Lewis, as Michael van Gerwen defied a partisan Scottish crowd to defeat Gary Anderson and seal top spot in the table, as the league phase concluded on a dramatic night of darts at the GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen on Thursday. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week 15 Report!”
Gary Anderson secured his Premier League play-off place with victory over James Wade, whilst Phil Taylor took a huge step to sealing his qualification with a magnificent victory over Michael van Gerwen, on a dramatic night of action at the Sheffield Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week 14 Report!”
Peter Wright has insisted that he’s determined to challenge world number one Michael van Gerwen for top spot in world darts, after claiming that other top players are scared of ‘The Green Machine’. Continue reading “Wright: ‘They’re scared of him. They’re just happy with runner up money’”
Adrian Lewis’ play-off hopes were dealt a real blow as he suffered a whitewash defeat at the hands of Michael van Gerwen in a miserable double-header in Birmingham, as Peter Wright secured a place in the play-offs for the first time, on a dramatic night of action at the Barclaycard Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “Premier League Darts: Week 13 Report!”
Dave Chisnall put himself back in play-off contention with stunning victories over Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor on a dramatic night of darts in Belfast, as Michael van Gerwen extended his lead at the top of the table with victory over birthday-boy Raymond van Barneveld at the SSE Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Twelve Report!”
Raymond van Barneveld is hoping to celebrate his 50th birthday in style, by completing an unprecedented Premier League double over world number one Michael van Gerwen when the tournament heads to Belfast’s SSE Arena on Thursday night. Continue reading “Birthday-boy Barney hoping for brilliant bash in Belfast!”
Adrian Lewis landed a spectacular nine-dart finish to secure his fifth victory in six Premier League matches, whilst Gary Anderson produced a sensational display to defeat Peter Wright on an electric night of darts at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Eleven Report!”
Peter Wright has backed Dave Chisnall to return to top form and challenge for a Premier League play-off place, as the St Helen’s star prepares to face Gary Anderson at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “Wright: Chizzy’s got more talent than I have!”
Michael van Gerwen defeated James Wade in an all-time Premier League classic to remain top of the table, as Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis all secured wins on a dramatic night of action at Dublin’s 3Arena on Thursday evening, whilst Wade suffered double-Dutch heartbreak on his birthday. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Ten Report!”
The 2017 Premier League reached its halfway point in Cardiff last week, as Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen suffered elimination. As a result, Josh’s Dartistry takes this opportunity to assess the statistics from this year’s event, to determine whether or not they reflect the current league standings. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: The statistics so far!”
The fixtures for the last six weeks of Premier League action have been confirmed, as the remaining eight players fight it out to secure a coveted play-off spot. Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts were both eliminated after nine weeks, therefore the top eight will now compete across six further nights in a bid to secure a spot at the O2 Arena in May.
Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Final Fixtures Confirmed!”
Michael van Gerwen returned to winning ways with a thumping victory over Dave Chisnall to cement top spot in the Premier League table, as Gary Anderson, Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor also claimed important victories at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Judgement Night Report!”
Kim Huybrechts has pulled out of tonight’s Premier League action at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. The Belgian was set to face Peter Wright in his final game before being eliminated, but he has been forced to withdraw due to family reasons. Continue reading “Huybrechts to miss Judgement Night due to family reasons”
Phil Taylor has admitted that playing world number one Michael van Gerwen in front of 10,000 Dutch fans at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena last week was ‘impossible’. ‘The Power’ returned to winning ways in the Premier League with an impressive 7-5 victory over UK Open champion Peter Wright on Thursday, having lost out to MvG seven days prior. Continue reading “Taylor: ‘Never in a million years could I have ever won against Michael in Rotterdam!’”
Michael van Gerwen set a new world-record of 44 televised games unbeaten last night, on a dramatic evening of Premier League action at the Manchester Arena. ‘The Green Machine’ defeated James Wade to usurp Phil Taylor’s previous record, before his incredible run was ended by his fellow countryman Raymond van Barneveld later in the evening. Continue reading “Michael van Gerwen sets incredible new world-record!”
Raymond van Barneveld produced a brilliant performance to end Michael van Gerwen’s extraordinary 44-match televised unbeaten run and move up to third in the Premier League table, as Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts were eliminated on a dramatic night of action at the Manchester Arena on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Eight Report!”
World number one Michael van Gerwen can return to the top of the Premier League table when he doubles up at the Manchester Arena on Thursday evening, as Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts face a battle to preserve their survival hopes. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Eight Preview!”
Raymond van Barneveld is targeting a Premier League play-off spot after his sensational victory over world number two Gary Anderson on an unforgettable night of darts at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena last Thursday. Continue reading “Van Barneveld targeting play-off push after ‘massive’ night in Rotterdam!”
Michael van Gerwen maintained that Phil Taylor deserved to be booed by the Rotterdam crowd, after coming from behind to defeat the six-time Premier League champion in a feisty encounter at the Ahoy Arena last night. Continue reading “Van Gerwen claims ‘childish’ Taylor deserved to be booed!”
Raymond van Barneveld thrilled the vociferous ‘Barney Army’ in Rotterdam after storming to an emphatic win over world number two Gary Anderson. Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen also delighted the Dutch crowd with victory over Phil Taylor, on a thrilling night of action at the Ahoy Arena in Holland on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Seven Report!”
Gary Anderson and Peter Wright delighted the partisan Scottish crowd with memorable victories on night six of the 2017 Premier League, as Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis also triumphed on a cracking night of action at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Thursday evening. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Six Report!”
Peter Wright recorded the second highest televised average in history to join Phil Taylor at the top of the Premier League table, whilst Dave Chisnall eased his relegation fears as he defeated both Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade, as he doubled up in the absence of an injured Michael van Gerwen on a dramatic night at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Five Report!”
World number one Michael van Gerwen will miss the fifth night of Premier League action at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena on Thursday evening with a back injury and is a major doubt for this weekend’s Coral UK Open Finals. Continue reading “Injured Van Gerwen to miss Premier League in Exeter and is doubtful for the UK Open!”
Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and James Wade remain joint top of the Premier League table after four of the five matches were drawn at the Brighton Centre on Thursday evening, as Jelle Klaasen was the solitary player to secure victory as he moved off the foot of the table.
Michael van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis shared the spoils in one of the most entertaining tussles of the season so far. Van Gerwen averaged 104.67, landed four maximums and converted 38% of his double attempts, whilst Lewis produced his best performance of the year so far; averaging 101.2 to get his campaign back on track.
‘The Green Machine’ kicked off proceedings with a majestic 11-darter, before Lewis assumed control. ‘Jackpot’ levelled on D4 after MvG missed four darts to extend his lead, before following up a fabulous visit of 174 with a 13-dart leg to break.
MvG was plagued by missed doubles once again in the fourth leg, as Lewis followed up a magnificent 177 by pinning D12 for another 13-darter to record his third leg in succession. Van Gerwen stopped the rot with a classy 116 checkout, but Lewis was undeterred and re-established his two-leg cushion after nailing a spectacular 170 checkout on the bull. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Four Report!”
Phil Taylor has fuelled the fire ahead of his Premier League clash with Kim Huybrechts at the Brighton Centre on Thursday evening, by claiming that whenever Huybrechts ‘jumps about’; he loses.
‘The Hurricane’ is well-renowned for his over-zealous celebrations, but ahead of their latest showdown, ‘The Power’ appeared to suggest that Kim’s antics are to the detriment of his game. “Kim’s a feisty player and he’s going to do his jumping around, but I’ve noticed that every time he jumps about, he gets beaten,” Taylor quipped.
The pair have been embroiled in an interesting rivalry since they met in the last 16 of the 2015 World Championship. Ahead of that clash, Taylor warned that there would be ‘trouble’ if the Belgian started jumping around, but the 16-time world champion survived a match dart to prevail 4-3 in a fiery affair.
The pair’s last meeting came in round-three of the 2017 World Championship. Ahead of the contest, Huybrechts insisted that he wasn’t deterred by Taylor’s criticism and reaffirmed that he would continue to show emotion on stage. Continue reading “Taylor: “Every time Kim jumps about; he gets beaten!””
Phil Taylor maintained his unbeaten start to his final Premier League campaign with an impressive triumph over his great rival Raymond van Barneveld, as Michael van Gerwen and James Wade kept pace at the top of the table on a cracking night of action at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on Thursday.
Taylor defeated his old adversary Van Barneveld in their 78th and potentially final meeting. ‘The Power’ prevailed 7-4 in an entertaining tussle with a 96.79 average, as Barney suffered his first defeat of the season despite averaging 97.32, landing three maximums and converting 50% of his double attempts.
Taylor kicked off proceedings with a commanding 14-dart hold, before Barney levelled the contest with a two-dart 60 kill. The third leg was an error-strewn affair. The 16-time world champion missed six darts at double but Barney couldn’t capitalise as Taylor eventually sank D1 to hold.
Van Barneveld responded majestically however. The Dutch legend began the leg with six perfect darts and although he was unable to record the perfect leg, he pinned D16 for a stunning 10-dart hold. The Stoke ace regained the lead with a clinical 76 kill, but Barney restored parity at three apiece after hitting D8 for the sixth successive hold of throw. Continue reading “Premier League Darts: Week Three Report!”
Phil Taylor has lauded the special rivalry he enjoys with Raymond van Barneveld ahead of their Premier League clash at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on Thursday evening. Taylor announced last month that 2017 will be his final year on the professional circuit, and this could potentially be the final meeting between arguably the two biggest legends in darts.
The pair have met an astonishing 77 times since their first competitive tussle back in 1990, and they have enjoyed arguably the greatest rivalry in the sport’s history, particularly since Van Barneveld’s switch to the PDC in 2006.
Their most memorable showdown came at the 2007 PDC World Championship final at the Circus Tavern. Van Barneveld fired in an incredible twenty-one maximums as he came from 3-0 down to defeat Taylor 7-6 in a sudden-death leg to clinch his fifth world title, in a contest labelled as ‘the greatest game ever played’.
If either man were to be eliminated on Judgement Night, this could be the final chapter of their magnificent rivalry spanning three decades, and Taylor admits that his clashes with the Dutchman always carry special meaning. Continue reading “Taylor lauds ‘special’ Barney!”
Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson secured their first wins of the season with victories over Peter Wright and Jelle Klaasen respectively, as Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade maintained their unbeaten starts on a cracking night of action in week two at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.
Van Gerwen registered the first win of his Premier League title defence with victory over Peter Wright. The world number one missed three darts for a whitewash, but eventually wrapped up a 7-3 triumph with an impressive 105.21 average, as Snakebite failed to replicate the form which saw him clinch two UK Open qualifiers last weekend.
Wright kicked off the contest with a maximum, but spurned four darts at double to hold and this proved pivotal. MvG opened his account via D10, before converting a clinical 86 kill for an 11-dart hold. ‘The Green Machine’ posted a 14-darter for a double-break, before following his first maximum with a stunning 170 finish for his fourth consecutive leg.
The Dutchman continued the procession with a 13-darter for his fifth straight leg, before pegging D4 to guarantee himself a point after Snakebite was unable to take out 120. Van Gerwen had the opportunity to complete a whitewash victory, but squandered three match darts as Wright gratefully completed a 64 checkout to avoid the indignity of a whitewash. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week Two Report!”
The 2017 Premier League kicks off at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Thursday night, as Michael van Gerwen begins the defence of his title against two-time winner Gary Anderson, in a repeat of last month’s thrilling World Championship Final. Josh’s Dartistry talks you through the opening set of fixtures and provides his predictions…
Kim Huybrechts v James Wade
The 2017 Premier League kicks off with a clash between Kim Huybrechts and James Wade, in what promises to be a very evenly matched contest. Huybrechts suffered elimination on his Premier League debut back in 2015, however the Belgian performed far better than his results and league position may have suggested.
Huybrechts’ inclusion was slightly controversial this year, but he’ll be hoping to silence the critics with an opening night victory. Wade is one of the most consistent players in world darts, but he hasn’t reached the play-offs since 2013, therefore he’ll have to find extra gears within his game to challenge for this year’s title.
Both players come into this match on the back of opening-round defeats at the Masters. Wade was edged out by Robert Thornton, whilst Huybrechts was beaten by an impressive Adrian Lewis. They will each be keen to return to winning ways, which makes the opening few legs even more pivotal. Continue reading “2017 Premier League Darts: Week One Preview!”