Double 9-Darter For Premier League Master Taylor
Posted on May 29th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR smashed apart the record books with TWO nine-dart finishes in claiming glory in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, defeating James Wade 10-8 to reclaim the £125,000 title.
Taylor became the first player in darting history to hit two nine-dart finishes in one game with a scintillating performance in the final of the tournament, as he won back the Premier League trophy.
Having avenged last season’s semi-final loss to Mervyn King with a thumping 8-1 triumph, Taylor took to the stage in the final and hit his first Premier League nine-darter in the second leg against Wade.
He went on to achieve the feat again in the 15th leg of the final, halting Wade’s comeback in its tracks with his second nine-darter.
Taylor also hit seven perfect darts in the next leg, settling for a ten-darter which edged him to the brink of victory before eventually sealing a 10-8 triumph.
Tags: Final, Premier League Darts, Results, Review
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Power Cuts Premier League Darts Play-Offs
Posted on May 29th, 2010
THE Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs were cancelled at the Wembley Arena on Sunday night following a power cut in north London.
The £410,000 event was due to conclude on Sunday night with the semi-finals, third place play-off and final of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts in one session.
However, a power cut occurred two hours before the scheduled 7pm start, affecting not only the Wembley Arena but the local transport networks and several thousand homes in the north London borough.
Wembley Arena were informed that power would not be restored to the area in time to begin play on Sunday night.
The play-offs have now been rescheduled for 7pm on Monday May 24, with the order of play to remain the same as Phil Taylor, Simon Whitlock, James Wade and Mervyn King battle for the £125,000 first prize.
All tickets will be valid for Monday’s rescheduled event. Fans unable to attend will be entitled to a full refund and should contact their point of purchase from Monday morning onwards.
“This is the first time that this has happened during my career and it’s a real shame,” said Phil Taylor, the four-time Premier League champion.
“I feel sorry for the fans who travelled to Wembley but hopefully they will be able to come along on Monday and enjoy the night.”
Tickets for Monday’s Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts are available from the Wembley Arena Box Office on 0844 815 0 815 or from www.wembleyarena.co.uk
Tags: Premier League Darts
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Premier League Darts Play-Offs Preview
Posted on May 22nd, 2010
THE Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts season culminates on Sunday with the play-offs at Wembley Arena in London, with Phil Taylor bidding to claim the trophy for a fifth time as James Wade seeks to retain the £125,000 title.
Taylor and Wade are joined by Simon Whitlock and Mervyn King for the play-offs, which will see the semi-finals, third place play-off and final take place in one dramatic evening at Wembley.
Reigning champion Wade takes on Australian star Whitlock in the opening semi-final, before Taylor and King clash in the second last four contest.
Taylor lost to King 10-6 in last year’s semi-finals, but has stormed through the 14-game league season unbeaten since February and is the 1/3 favourite to take glory on Sunday night.
Tags: Premier League Darts, Preview
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Premier League Darts Night 14 Review
Posted on May 14th, 2010
REIGNING champion James Wade qualified for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs and denied Ronnie Baxter a tilt at the title as the league phase of the tournament ended in Nottingham on Thursday.
Wade had lost his first three games, but his 8-5 victory over Terry Jenkins at the Trent FM Arena saw him jump into the top four.
The final league night saw five players contesting for the three remaining play-off berths alongside unbeaten Phil Taylor, with an 8-2 defeat for Ronnie Baxter against Raymond van Barneveld in the second game costing him a top-four finish.
Simon Whitlock’s brilliant 8-2 defeat of Mervyn King ensured he finishes second place, having hit eight from nine attempts at a double in the match, while King will take on Taylor at the Wembley Arena in the semi-finals next Sunday after finishing fourth in the table.
Taylor, who lost to King in last year’s semi-finals, ensured he ended the 14-game league season unbeaten with an 8-1 rout of Adrian Lewis in the night’s other game.
Tags: Premier League Darts, Results, Review
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Premier League Darts Night 14 Preview
Posted on May 12th, 2010
THE battle for places in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs will be decided when the last of 14 league nights takes place at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham on Thursday.
The eight stars in the £400,000 tournament have competed over the past three months for places at the Wembley Arena on May 23, when the top four players will contest for the £125,000 first prize.
While World Champion Phil Taylor has already ensured a semi-final berth, having progressed through 13 weeks unbeaten, five players enter the final league night able to finish in the top four.
Simon Whitlock sits second in the league table with 14 points, a point ahead of Mervyn King and Ronnie Baxter, with James Wade on 12 points and Adrian Lewis on 11 points.
But even Australian star Whitlock, the World Championship runner-up, could still miss out on a play-off spot should he lose to King and other results go against him.
Tags: Premier League Darts, Preview
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Premier League Darts Night 13 Review
Posted on May 8th, 2010
THE three remaining places alongside Phil Taylor in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs will be decided on the final league night after a dramatic 13th round in Newcastle saw five players remain in the hunt.
The Trent FM Arena in Nottingham will host the decisive league night next Thursday, with Simon Whitlock, Mervyn King, Ronnie Baxter, James Wade and Adrian Lewis all able to secure top-four finishes.
Whitlock picked up a key 8-4 win over reigning champion Wade with a scintillating display of finishing at the Metro Radio Arena.
The Australian hit three ton-plus checkouts amongst landing eight of 13 attempts at a double during the win, and now sits on 14 points, one ahead of King and Baxter.
“I knew I needed a good result and I’ve got a win so I’m very happy with that,” said Whitlock. “I’ve been working hard on my finishing again recently and it paid off for me.”
King suffered a second successive loss for the first time this season with an 8-5 reverse at the hands of Raymond van Barneveld, who followed up last week’s nine-darter with another improved showing to move off the foot of the table.
Tags: Premier League Darts, Results, Review
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Premier League Darts Night 13 Preview
Posted on May 5th, 2010
NEWCASTLE’S Metro Radio Arena hosts the penultimate league night of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts on Thursday, as the battle to qualify for the play-offs reaches boiling point.
With two league nights remaining before the top four players progress to compete for the £125,000 title at Wembley Arena on May 23, five players are fighting to join league leader Phil Taylor in the semi-finals later this month.
The visit to Newcastle sees two pivotal games feature four of the rivals, while second placed Mervyn King comes up against resurgent Raymond van Barneveld, who cannot qualify for the play-offs but hit a nine-dart finish in Aberdeen last week.
The night opens when Ronnie Baxter, one of three players locked on 12 points, takes on Adrian Lewis – who has to avoid defeat in his bid to reach the semi-finals after slipping to two points adrift of the top four.
Lewis has picked up only one point from his last three matches and takes on Phil Taylor in Nottingham next week, and said: “There’s no reason why I can’t qualify – but I’ve got to win both games.
“My point snapped when one fell out of the board recently and I had to use heavier darts for a couple of weeks, and my darts were dropping lower. Now I’ve got a set which are a replica of the other ones, I’m confident again with the darts and I think I can beat both Ronnie and Phil.”
Baxter drew with James Wade in Aberdeen last week, but was defeated 8-6 in a dramatic finale when he last faced Lewis, who took out 118 in the deciding leg to claim both points.
“I love playing Adrian because he’s the same pace as me and we have a good game together,” said Baxter. “He’s got a lovely throw and he knows he can hit the big scores, but it’s about who performs on the night.
“I missed my doubles last time for a draw and he took out 118 to get the win. He did very well against me and he’s played pretty well throughout the league.”
The night’s third game may also prove key in the play-off race, as the other two players who join Baxter on 12 points, reigning champion James Wade and World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock, lock horns.
“It’s obviously a huge game and to win and get the two points would be massive for me,” said Wade. “I had my chances to win last week and was disappointed only to draw against Ronnie but this is a new match.
“Simon’s had a good first season in the Premier League and is a lethal finisher, but if I play like I can there’s no reason I can’t win.”
Whitlock admitted that it was his biggest game since reaching the final of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in January, as he bids to celebrate his debut Premier League campaign with a play-off berth.
“It’s a huge game,” said Whitlock. “It’s massive for me and the following week against Mervyn will be massive too because it’s all on the next two games.
“I love playing every player and all the matches are tough but I’ll be prepared for James. I think he brings the best out of me and I’ve got to perform on the night.”
The night’s other clash sees unbeaten league leader Taylor take on Terry Jenkins, whose feint play-off hopes were ended by a loss to van Barneveld last week.
“In a way I’m glad the pressure won’t be on me,” said Taylor. “The other players are fighting for their lives and even though Terry can’t qualify he’s wanting to finish the season on a high so it will be a cracking game.”
Over 6,000 fans will pack the Metro Radio Arena for the event, but a small number of tickets remain on sale on 0844 493 6666 or via www.metroradioarena.co.uk.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week 13 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Adrian Lewis v Ronnie Baxter
Mervyn King v Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Terry Jenkins v Phil Taylor
Live on Sky Sports HD3 from 7pm
Sky Bet Odds
Adrian Lewis 5/6, Draw 7/2, Ronnie Baxter 15/8
Mervyn King 6/5, Draw 7/2, Raymond van Barneveld 11/8
James Wade 6/5, Draw 7/2, Simon Whitlock 11/8
Terry Jenkins 12/1, Draw 7/1, Phil Taylor 1/8
Sky Bet are the official bookmakers of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts. Odds correct at 11.30am Tuesday May 4.
Current League Table
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
+/- |
LWAT |
Pts |
|
|
Phil Taylor |
12 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
+48 |
40 |
22 |
|
Mervyn King |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
+6 |
30 |
13 |
|
James Wade |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
25 |
12 |
|
Ronnie Baxter |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
-1 |
34 |
12 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
12 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
-1 |
30 |
12 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
12 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
-9 |
26 |
10 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
12 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-19 |
25 |
8 |
|
R v Barneveld |
12 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
-24 |
23 |
7 |
Tags: Premier League Darts, Preview
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Barney Hits 9 Darter – Premier League Night 12 Review
Posted on April 30th, 2010
.jpg "Barney hits 9 darted in Premier League")
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit a sensational nine-darter in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts during a win over Terry Jenkins in Aberdeen on Thursday night.
The Dutchman has endured a nightmare year in the Premier League, sinking to the foot of the table with eight defeats – including five in a row ahead of the visit to Scotland.
But he brought 4,000 Scottish fans to their feet with a brilliant nine-darter in the second leg of his clash with Jenkins.
Using a brand new set of darts, he hit back-to-back 180s and then finished 141 on double 12 to complete his fourth televised nine-darter and second in the Premier League.
He went on to lead 4-0 and 7-2 before Jenkins won four legs in a row to force a decider, but the English star missed one dart to claim a draw before van Barneveld finished double 16 to edge only his third win of the campaign.
Tags: Premier League Darts, Results, Review
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Premier League Darts Night 12 Betting Preview
Posted on April 29th, 2010
Week 12 premier league predictions from (Sometimes Psychic) Cleggy:
Two fat ladies for Lowebo
The great John Lowe advised me that Phil Taylor provided him with two fat ladies last week – and it only took Lowebo the time for Taylor to win his match against Whitlock to ‘Phil’ his boots. Now, that must have been something special…
Winning £88 on one match…now that’s something to get excited about…what did you think I was talking about?
If you’re willing to put on a fillet ‘stake’, punters, the rewards are obvious…as are the risks. Personally, I can only afford a bit of rump so here go the predictions:
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Betting Preview, Premier League Darts
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Premier League Darts Night 12 Preview
Posted on April 29th, 2010
THE top two players in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts clash at the AECC in Aberdeen on Thursday, as the battle for play-off places continues amongst their rivals.
Unbeaten four-time Premier League Darts champion Phil Taylor takes on second-placed Mervyn King in one of four games to be held in front of a sold-out 4,000 crowd in Aberdeen.
While they may be battling in the most high-profile game of the evening, the other three contests could hold greater significance in the race for places in the league’s top four.
With only two league nights remaining after the visit to Aberdeen, the games involving Ronnie Baxter and reigning champion James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld’s clash with Ronnie Baxter and Simon Whitlock’s meeting with Adrian Lewis all hold added significance.
Wade and Baxter sit alongside Simon Whitlock on 11 points – two behind King – in the table, while Lewis is two points adrift on nine points to mean the games between that quartet are key.
Tags: Premier League Darts, Preview
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Both poker and darts are highly popular pursuits. The games are available online, in fact, that there are organizations dedicated to making sure the rules of video poker and online darts are conformed. Similar to darts having the World Darts Federation, among others, and poker has the Tournament Directors Association. These rules are put into place in highly competitive tournaments, in which as many as hundreds or even thousands of people compete for cash prizes as well as prestige.
