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!”
Michael van Gerwen returned to the top of the Premier League table with a thumping 7-1 victory over James Wade, after Phil Taylor suffered a surprise defeat to Peter Wright, at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on Thursday evening.
Van Gerwen averaged 108.33 and hit 7/9 on the doubles, to avenge his opening week defeat suffered against Wade in February. Profligate doubling cost MvG on that occasion, but he was in imperious form in Birmingham, as he aims to top the Premier League table for the fourth year in succession.
Wade did very little wrong, averaging 102.4, but he was only afforded two darts at double in the entire contest. Van Gerwen’s combination finishing was majestic; the world number one recorded checkouts of 87, 99, 124 and 81, to move above Phil Taylor on legs difference.
Taylor suffered only his second defeat of the season at the hands of Peter Wright, who produced an incredible display of finishing to extend his unbeaten Premier League run against ‘The Power’ to five matches.
World champion Gary Anderson and fellow Scot Peter Wright face a defining double-header in the hunt for a Premier League play-off place at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena on Thursday night. Wright faces Phil Taylor whilst Anderson meets Raymond van Barneveld, before the Scots reconvene to face off in the evening’s curtain-raiser.
Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen will aim to keep up the pressure on Phil Taylor when he faces James Wade, whilst Adrian Lewis meets Robert Thornton, who is five points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Peter Wright v Phil Taylor
Peter Wright’s play-off hopes will surely hinge on this week’s double-header against Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson. In many ways, this year has mirrored Wright’s debut Premier League campaign. Two years ago, Wright sat top of the tree after week eight, but fell away in the second half of the season.