In the evenings second fixture Raymond van Barneveld found the competitor within as he held off an Aussie assault from Simon Whitlock, coming back from 5-7 down to force the draw. With many questioning his Premier League inclusion and recent form, the Dutchman was under pressure, a 13 darter in the ultimate leg secured him a point, and possibly proved a few doubters wrong?

Reigning champion Gary Anderson clawed his way back from a 5-0 deficit, as Kevin Painter, despite taking early control went off the boil to let the Scotsman back into the match. However, at 7-6 in front and with the finishing line in sight Painter again found his range, opening as he did in the first leg with a 180, he then went on to checkout 50 with 2 darts to join Hamilton as winning Premier League debutant.

With a 109 average, and 100% checkout success PDC World Champion Adrian Lewis raced to what appeared to be an unassailable 5-0 lead in the ‘battle of the potteries’ and last match of the night against Phil Taylor. He denied 15 times World Champion a shot at a double until the sixth leg, which Taylor then went on to win. The Power then proceeded to take 7 of the next 9 legs as he peaked at a 114 average hitting 8 180′s to achieve a remarkable draw, in what transpired to be a high quality tungsten encounter played in the best of spirits.

Week One

February 9 – Manchester Arena

Andy Hamilton 8 v 5 James Wade

Simon Whitlock 7 v 7 Raymond van Barneveld

Kevin Painter 8 v 6 Gary Anderson

Adrian Lewis 7 v 7 Phil Taylor

Table Standings

PDC Report, Photograph -Lawrence Lustig

ADRIAN LEWIS and Phil Taylor kicked off the McCoy’s Premier League Darts season with a thrilling draw at the Manchester Arena on Thursday night, as Andy Hamilton and Kevin Painter made winning debuts in the tournament.

The opening night of the 2012 Premier League season featured one of the greatest ever games in the tournament’s history as Taylor came from 6-1 down to snatch a point.

Lewis had been superb in taking a 5-0 lead without missing a double – or allowing Taylor a dart at one – but the world number one produced a thrilling second half of the game, averaging 119 for the final eight legs as he hit back to share the spoils.

“It was a great game,” said Taylor, whose end average of 112.79 was the second-highest in Premier League history. “Adrian was brilliant under pressure and it was a fantastic advert for the sport.

“Early on I was scoring well but not getting chances because his finishing was superb. I started scoring a bit heavier and took my doubles out, and when I got back to six-each he held his nerve.

“This result shows that everything I’m doing, with my preparation and practice, is doing me good.”

Lewis said: “Phil’s comeback was amazing and I couldn’t have done much there against that. For him to hit a 112 average against me and not win shows that I played well.

“It’s one of the best games I’ve played in, and to share the stage with Phil for a game like that is a great honour.”

Earlier in the night, debutants Hamilton and Painter defeated 2009 winner James Wade and reigning champion Gary Anderson respectively to make ideal starts to their first season.

Hamilton was an 8-5 winner against Wade, who hit finishes of 121 and 126 on the bullseye in taking a 4-3 lead before the World Championship finalist won five of the next six to take both points.

“I loved every minute of it,” said Hamilton. “This is what I play darts for and it’s like playing a World Championship final every week.

“To beat James is a great achievement for me because he’s a top-class player, and I hope I can push on from here now and do the same to the other players.”

Painter, meanwhile, enjoyed a dream debut against Anderson, hitting a 180 with his first three darts in the tournament and winning the opening five legs without reply.

Anderson showed glimpses of the class which took him to the title last May by hitting back to level at six-all, but Painter hit a crucial 128 checkout to win the 13th leg before posting double 16 for the win.

“It was a strange game but all that matter is that I got the win,” said Painter. “I raced into a 5-0 lead but it didn’t feel like I was that far ahead, and I probably relaxed a little bit when I shouldn’t have a let him back into it.

“The evening went very quickly and I’m just happy to get the two points against a player of Gary’s quality.”

The night’s other game featured another high-quality draw, as Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld shared the points from their season opener.

Van Barneveld made a confident start to lead 4-2 before Whitlock took a 7-5 advantage, but he would never be given the chance to throw for the match as the Dutchman finished strongly to claim a draw with a 13-darter.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts

Week One
February 9 – Manchester Arena
Andy Hamilton 8-5 James Wade
Simon Whitlock 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter 8-6 Gary Anderson
Adrian Lewis 7-7 Phil Taylor

ANDY HAMILTON 8-5 JAMES WADE

ANDY HAMILTON made a brilliant debut in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts with an 8-5 win over former champion James Wade at the Manchester Arena.

Hamilton continued the form which took him to the World Championship final just over a month ago with a brilliant performance, hitting five 180s and over half of his chances at a double.

The game turned in a brilliant four-leg run from Hamilton in the middle of the match as he moved from 4-3 down to lead 7-4 before going on to close out victory.

The early legs were cagey as the pair shared the first six to be tied three-all at the break, with Wade superbly taking out both 121 and 126 on the bullseye.

The left-hander returned from the break to break for the first time with a 14-darter as he followed up a 180 with a 61 finish.

Hamilton, though, hit straight back to break in 13 darts, tok out 77 and 93 to move into the lead and traded 180s with Wade before punishing a missed double top from the world number three to finish double eight and take a 7-4 cushion.

Wade finished 41 on tops to take the next, but Hamilton landed his fifth 180 of the night and took out double top to secure two points on his first Premier League outing.

“I loved every minute of it,” said Hamilton. “This is what I play darts for and it’s like playing a World Championship final every week.

“To beat James is a great achievement for me because he’s a top-class player, and I hope I can push on from here now and do the same to the other players.

“I’m excited and enjoying the Premier League so far, and I can’t wait for the next 14 weeks. I’m not getting carried away but it’s a very good start for me.”

Leg-By-Leg

1-0 – Hamilton wins his first leg in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, hitting double 16 for a 15-dart finish.
1-1 – Hamilton hits a 180 to leave a 65 finish alongside Wade, who takes out the combination to get off the mark.
2-1 – Hamilton misses double 12 for a 144 finish, but returns to land double six for the third leg.
2-2 – Wade levels in style, hitting a 180 and taking out 121 on the bullseye.
3-2 – Hamilton posts double 16 at the first time of asking to win the fifth.
3-3 – Wade takes out another ton-plus finish to square the game at the break, checking out 126 on the bull.
3-4 – Wade hits a 180 to leave 61, and although Hamilton fires back in with a maximum it’s the left-hander who breaks by finishing double 18 to lead for the first time.
4-4 – Hamilton kicks off the eighth leg with third 180 of the game, and hits tops to square the contest by breaking back.
5-4 – Hamilton finishes 77 on double five to move back in front, maintaining his average at almost 100 on his Premier League debut.
6-4 – The Stoke star finishes 93 on double seven for a second break as he moves two legs clear.
7-4 – Wade opens with a 180, but Hamilton replies with one of his own and, after the world number three narrowly misses tops, he lands double eight to secure at least a point.
7-5 – Hamilton wires double 16 for a 112 finish for the match, and Wade hits double top to keep the game alive and win his first leg in five.
8-5 – Hamilton hits a fifth 180, and lands double top to secure a brilliant debut win.

SIMON WHITLOCK 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit back from 7-5 down to snatch a draw with Simon Whitlock in their McCoy’s Premier League Darts opener at the Manchester Arena.

Australian star Whitlock looked set to claim both points when he won five legs out of six in the middle of an enthralling contest, but was denied the chance to seal victory as the Dutchman took the last two legs to share the spoils.

“Raymond played some fantastic darts and I’m happy to get away with a draw there,” said Whitlock.

“When I was 4-2 down I’d have taken a draw, but when I was 7-5 up I started thinking about the win and Raymond came up with some massive darts in the last two legs.

“I’m really happy with my darts at the moment and it’s a good start to the season. I think it’s going to be a very close McCoy’s Premier League.”

Although Whitlock started well, finishing 82 on tops for a 15-darter, before van Barneveld took the next three to move 3-1 up in kicking off with an average well over 100.

Whitlock finished 96 on double nine to take the fifth before van Barneveld produced a sparkling 12-darter which featured a 180 and an 81 checkout to lead 4-2.

Whitlock returned from the break to hit double four and hit back, before hitting two 180s in a brilliant 12-dart leg to level, with even a maximum from van Barneveld unable to prevent the Australian breaking throw.

He then took out 58 to lead for the first time since the opening leg, although van Barneveld landed a pressure double 12 to win the tenth and square the game.

A miss from van Barneveld on double 16 allowed Whitlock to follow an earlier 180 with double four to lead 6-5, and he secured at least a point in the next by taking out double 16 following two more misses from the Dutchman at the same bed.

Van Barneveld kept the game alive brilliantly with another 12-darter, featuring a 180, before landing another maximum in the decider and hitting double eight for a 13-darter to grab a share of the points.

“I thought I’d lost the game at 7-5 down but I fought back well to get the draw,” said van Barneveld, who has started 2012 in strong form since his first round loss to James Richardson at the World Championship.

“I was devastated after the World Championship but since the start of January I’ve been working hard and I’m playing well. I’m feeling great and I was comfortable on stage.

“At 4-2 up I was over the moon during the break, and if I’d held my throw I’d have won but Simon showed what a class player he is.”

Leg-By-Leg

1-0 – The Dutchman misses the bull for a 121 finish, and Whitlock takes out 82 on tops for the opening leg.
1-1 – van Barneveld posts double ten to level.
1-2 – The five-time World Champion dominates from the off and hits double two to break throw.
1-3 – Whitlock misses three darts to break back, allowing van Barneveld to move two legs clear on double 15.
2-3 – Whitlock lands double nine for a 96 finish.
2-4 – van Barneveld hits a 180 to leave 81, and takes the finish out on double 16 for a 12-darter.
3-4 – Double four from Whitlock sees him hit back following the break.
4-4 – Whitlock breaks back to level with a brilliant 12-darter which features two 180s, with van Barneveld replying with a maximum but unable to prevent the Australian levelling.
5-4 – Whitlock takes out 58 to lead for the first time since the opening leg of the game.
5-5 – van Barneveld levels in 15 darts, hitting double 12 at the third time of asking.
6-5 – Whitlock hits his third 180s of the game, but misses six darts to win the leg before van Barneveld is just off-target on double 16 to break and allows the Australian back to land double four.
7-5 – van Barneveld misses two darts at double 16 and Whitlock hits the same bed to guarantee at least a point.
7-6 – van Barneveld hits a fourth 180, and finishes 61 on double 16 to send the match into a decider.
7-7 – The Dutchman grabs a draw with a superb 13-dart finish, hitting a 180 and sealing a point on double eight.

KEVIN PAINTER 8-6 GARY ANDERSON

KEVIN PAINTER held off reigning champion Gary Anderson’s fightback from 5-0 down to take an 8-6 victory on his McCoy’s Premier League Darts debut at the Manchester Arena.

December’s Players Championship winner Painter enjoyed a dream start to his career in the Premier League, hitting a 180 with his first three darts and taking out finishes of 134 and 114 in moving five legs clear.

Anderson would win six of the next seven to level the contest, but was denied the chance to complete a remarkable comeback when Painter won the game’s final two legs to take the win.

“I’ve had a win and I can’t ask for any more from that from my first game,” said Painter. “My first two legs and last two legs were probably my best, and I had three ton-plus finishes in there to nick legs from Gary.”

After kicking off his first Premier League Darts game with a 180, Painter went on to win the first leg with a 74 two-dart checkout.

He then broke on double eight to lead 2-0, and after finishing double ten to win the third leg he then broke with a superb 134 checkout after Anderson misses two darts at tops to get off the mark.

The Scot finally won a leg in the sixth, missing eight darts at a double before finally pinning double one to get off the mark.

Anderson finished 56 and 40 to win the next two legs in pulling back to 5-3 before missing two darts to win the ninth, as Painter took out double 16 for his sixth leg of the game.

Painter, though, missed a total of seven darts to win the next two legs as Anderson finished double two and double one to pull back to 6-5, before levelling on double two.

Painter responded in style by kicking off the 13th with his second maximum of the game, and he won the leg with a superb 128 checkout to ensure at least a draw.

However, he pulled away in the decider to be first to a finish before landing double 16 for a maiden Premier League win.

“It was a strange game but all that matters is that I got the win,” said Painter.

“I raced into a 5-0 lead but it didn’t feel like I was that far ahead, and I probably relaxed a little bit when I shouldn’t have a let him back into it.

“The evening went very quickly and I’m just happy to get the two points against a player of Gary’s quality.”

Leg-By-Leg

1-0 – Painter opens his McCoy’s Premier League Darts career with a 180, and finishes 74 in two darts in a confident opening.
2-0 – The Players Championship winner finishes double eight to break.
3-0 – Painter misses double top but has enough cushion to return to the oche and move 3-0 up.
4-0 – Painter takes out 134 on double 16 to continue his dream opening.
5-0 – Anderson hits a 180 and then reaches a double for the first time in the game, but misses two darts at tops and Painter takes out 114 for a five leg lead.
5-1 – Anderson is first to a finish, but misses six darts before – after Painter is just off-target on the bull for a 126 checkout – he finally lands double one to get onto the scoreboard.
5-2 – Anderson breaks for the first time to win his second leg.
5-3 – The Scot now pulls back to within two legs.
6-3 – Anderson misses darts at double top and ten and Painter posts double 16 to win his first leg in four.
6-4 – Painter misses double top for a 117 checkout and then three further darts at doubles to punish Anderson, who returns to hit double two to win a fourth leg.
6-5 – Anderson is first to a finish, and after missing four darts at a double takes out double one to break and pull back to within a leg.
6-6 – Anderson amazingly levels by landing double two.
7-6 – Painter opens with a 180 and takes out 128 on double ten to secure a point from his Premier League debut.
8-6 – Double 16 gives Painter the victory as he celebrates his first Premier League in style.

ADRIAN LEWIS 7-7 PHIL TAYLOR

PHIL TAYLOR produced a stunning comeback to grab a draw with World Champion Adrian Lewis in a sensational McCoy’s Premier League Darts opener at the Manchester Arena.

The pair produced arguably the highest-quality game in the tournament’s history as they brought over 8,000 fans to their feet with a thrilling contest.

Lewis made all the early running, winning the opening five legs without missing a double – and also without allowing Taylor a shot at one – before moving 6-1 up.

Taylor then won five successive legs, hitting six 180s and three 11-dart finishes, to level the contest, before the pair shared the final two to earn a point each from their opener.

“It was a great game,” said Taylor. “Adrian was brilliant under pressure and it was a fantastic advert for the sport.

“Early on I was scoring well but not getting chances because his finishing was superb. I started scoring a bit heavier and took my doubles out, and when I got back to six-each he held his nerve.

“This result shows that everything I’m doing, with my preparation and practice, is doing me good.”

Lewis opened the game with a 14-dart finish before doubling his lead with a barnstorming 138 checkout on double nine to break Taylor’s throw.

Taylor was then left waiting on 40 in the next three legs as Lewis produced a 73 finish and back-to-back 13-dart legs to show the quality of a World Champion.

Taylor finished 54 for a 12-darter to get off the mark in the sixth, before Lewis posted a 180 and double eight to lead 6-1 after his Stoke rival missed a dart at double 16.

Taylor, though, turned the game on its head with a sensational run of five legs, which began with a 13-darter which he finished on double four.

He then took out double eight to win his third leg of the game, and landed a 180 for the third successive leg as he produced an 11-darter to reduce the gap to 6-4.

That was bettered in scoring terms with two maximums in another 11-dart finish before he hit a seventh 180 of the game in a third successive 11-darter as he levelled the contest with an 86 checkout.

Taylor also had a dart to move ahead in the 13th, wiring the bullseye for a 130 finish, as Lewis held his nerve to hit double ten to secure at least a draw at 7-6.

The pair then traded 180s in the deciding leg, but Taylor was first to a finish to land double 16 to complete a remarkable comeback, which saw him average 119 for the final eight legs.

“Phil’s comeback was amazing and I couldn’t have done much there against that,” said Lewis. “For him to hit a 112 average against me and not win shows that I played well.

“It’s one of the best games I’ve played in, and to share the stage with Phil for a game like that is a great honour.”

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 – Lewis takes out 76 in two darts to lead with a 14-dart leg.
2-0 – Taylor leaves himself 49 but is denied a chance at the finish when Lewis brilliantly takes out 138 on double nine to break.
3-0 – Lewis’ confident start continues as, with Taylor waiting on 40, he takes out 73 in two darts to move three legs up.
4-0 – Taylor is again sat on 40 as Lewis hits tops to break again.
5-0 – Lewis continues his brilliant display, with both players opening with 180s before he hits tops to maintain his perfect record in finishing – and denying Taylor a dart at a double for a fifth successive leg.
5-1 – Taylor hits a 177 to leave 54 as he guarantees himself a dart at a double for the first time in the game, and he takes out double ten to get off the mark.
6-1 – Lewis hits another 180, and when Taylor misses double 16 for a 102 finish he steps in to land double eight for a sixth leg.
6-2 – Taylor kicks off with a maximum and posts double four to win his second leg of the game.
6-3 – Taylor breaks to continue his fightback, opening with another 180 and finishing double eight at the third time of asking.
6-4 – Taylor posts a 180 for a third successive leg, and finishes double 16 to move within touching distance of the World Champion.
6-5 – Taylor hits back-to-back maximums to leave 48 after nine darts, and takes out double 16 to win a fourth successive leg, lifting his average to 111 in the process.
6-6 – Lewis opens with a 180, but Taylor replies in kind as the pair bring the 8,000 crowd to their feet, with Taylor finishing 86 in two darts to level the contest.
7-6 – The pair both miss the bull to win the 13th, but Lewis holds his nerve to hit double ten with his third dart to ensure at least a point.
7-7 – Both players open with scores of 100 and 180, with Taylor leaving 32 after 12 darts and – when Lewis fails to take out 140 – he returns to land double 16 at the third attempt to grab a draw and complete a brilliant comeback.

Alongside title sponsors McCoy’s, the PDC are delighted to welcome William Hill as the official betting partner and Speedy Hire, Dulux Decorator Centres and Swan as official partners of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts promises to be one of the most exciting darts tournaments ever staged, with eight top players competing across 15 nights for the £150,000 title.

Week One 

February 9 – Manchester Arena

Andy Hamilton v James WadeSimon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld

Kevin Painter v Gary Anderson

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

Tickets: 0844 847 8000 or www.mcr-arena.com

Played in the UK & Ireland’s leading Arenas, the McCoy’s Premier League Darts features the following eight stars:
Phil “The Power” Taylor                                 15-time World Champion & five time Premier League Darts champion
Adrian “Jackpot” Lewis                                  Reigning World Champion & 2011 Premier League Darts finalist
James “The Machine” Wade                          2009 Premier League Darts champion & seven-time major winner
Gary “The Flying Scotsman” Anderson   Reigning Premier League Darts champion
Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock                     2010 World Championship finalist
Andy “The Hammer” Hamilton                   2012 World Championship finalist
Raymond “Barney” van Barneveld           Five-time World Champion
Kevin “The Artist” Painter                            2011 Players Championship winner

Stoke pair Taylor and Lewis, respectively the 15-time World Champion and current World Champion, will meet in the highest profile of four games to be played on the first of 14 league nights in the 2012 Premier League Darts.

The duo teamed up last weekend to win the World Cup of Darts for England, but will put aside their friendship when they take to the oche in front of 8,000 fans in Manchester.

“I’m very determined now to win the McCoy’s Premier League Darts title back and I’ll be very focused on Thursday,” said Taylor, who has won five previous Premier Leagues.

“Playing with Adrian last weekend and winning the World Cup was great, but that means nothing on Thursday night when we get on stage because I’ve only got one goal in mind – winning the two points.

“The World Cup was brilliant match practice and I’m happy with my form so it should be a fantastic game with Adrian.”

Lewis took an 8-2 victory when the pair met in the opening week of the 2011 Premier League Darts season, and also knocked out Taylor 8-3 in the semi-finals before losing to Gary Anderson in the decider.

“They were special moments to defeat Phil but it was disappointing in the end that I didn’t go on to win the tournament,” said Lewis, who retained his World Championship title just over a month ago.

“I’m feeling confident coming into this year’s McCoy’s Premier League Darts and my form’s good. Winning the World Cup with Phil shows that I’m playing well, although we had a few rocky moments along the way, but I’m working hard to make sure I’m at my best this season.”

Reigning champion Anderson begins his title defence against debutant Kevin Painter, who was handed a Wildcard to compete in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts for the first time after winning his first major title at December’s Players Championship.

“Last year’s Premier League was a great memory for me,” said Anderson. “I had a fantastic first season and to win the title capped it off.

“I know it’s going to be hard to defend it because this field of players is really strong, but I’m looking forward to it. Kevin’s going to be a tough player to play first on Thursday but I’ll give it my best shot.”

Painter has been eagerly awaiting his Premier League debut since being announced, alongside World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton, as a Wildcard at the start of January.

“Everyone wants to be in the Premier League and it’s something I think I will thrive on,” said Painter, 44. “The big stage and big atmosphere will suit me and hopefully I can do it justice and play well.

“The other lads are the ones who are under pressure because they’ve been in it for years and they know what it’s all about.

“The likes of Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Gary Anderson will be the favourites to be in the top four, but it would be great to make the Play-Offs.”

Painter added: “I’ve played Gary quite a lot of times in the last four years and the last time we played on TV I won in the Players Championship, and went on to win the tournament.

“My opening two games are Gary and Phil Taylor so they couldn’t be much harder than that. I just want to enjoy it, play as well as I can and see where that takes me.”

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld begins his challenge against Australian Simon Whitlock, and the Dutchman is determined to finally reach the Premier League final in 2012 after suffering his fifth semi-final defeat in six season against Anderson last May.

“I’ve had five semi-finals but I’m aiming for the final this year,” he said. “I don’t know why I keep losing in the semi-finals, but you have to remember that you’re playing against the greatest players in the world.

“I must admit that in the last couple of years I was going to tournaments thinking ‘am I still good enough to lift trophies?’ but that came from the time that I wasn’t practising enough.

“This year I’m working hard again and I want to prove a lot of people wrong – I’m not finished.”

Australian star Whitlock suffered a broken ankle last October, but has returned in brilliant form by reaching the World Championship semi-finals and the World Cup of Darts final.

“I’m really happy with my form at the moment,” said Whitlock. “I’m scoring well and finishing really well, so it’s a boost for me coming into the Premier League.

“I was disappointed not to reach the Play-Offs last year so that’s my first target.”

The night’s opening game sees 2009 champion James Wade take on the tournament’s other debutant Andy Hamilton, who won through to the World Championship final in January before losing to Stoke rival Lewis.

“I’ve been practising hard and I can’t wait to get on the stage and in front of the crowds,” said Hamilton. “I’ll take some shocks and I know that I’ll make sure whoever I play has a tough game.

“I’m looking forward to it and I’m not scared of anyone. I’ve proved that I’m good enough to be there and I’ve beaten them all before.

“I’m going to concentrate on getting into the top four first and whatever happens after that is a bonus – I could even win it!”

Wade was the winner of Premier League Darts in 2009, and although he missed out on the Play-Offs by a point last season bounced back to win his second UK Open title and reach the World Championship semi-finals.

“It’s a new season and I’m looking forward to it,” said Wade. “I’ve done well in the Premier League before and enjoy the tournament, and I badly want to win back this title.

“I was disappointed to lose in the World Championship semi-finals, but that was just a blip and this is a great chance to get the Premier League off to a winning start.”

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will be played over 14 league nights from February-May in the UK & Ireland’s top arenas, with the players facing each other twice in best of 14 leg matches.

The top four players from the final league table will then proceed to compete for the £150,000 first prize in the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 17.

Over 70,000 tickets have already been sold for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, with the tournament set to visit Ireland for the first time on March 22 when the players compete at The O2 in Dublin.

The event also travels to Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff as well as ten venues across England, giving fans throughout the UK and Ireland the chance to see the sport’s best players in the flesh.

“The McCoy’s Premier League Darts has grown in stature every year since being introduced in 2005 and I believe that we have assembled the strongest ever field this season,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

“We welcome Kevin Painter and Andy Hamilton to make their debuts in 2012, and they fully deserve their places for their achievements last year, notably Kevin’s Players Championship win and Andy’s brilliant run to the World Championship final.

“The World Cup showed that Raymond van Barneveld and Simon Whitlock are back to their best, and the achievements in winning majors over the past 12 months by Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Gary Anderson makes them the obvious players to beat.

“It promises to be 15 weeks packed full of drama, excitement and high-quality darts. Bring it on!”

Over 8,000 tickets have already been sold for Thursday’s opening McCoy’s Premier League Darts event at the Manchester Arena, but the remaining tickets can be purchased on 0844 847 8000, via www.mcr-arena.com or at the venue’s Box Office on the night.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will be screened in its entirety by Sky Sports, with their High Definition coverage of every league night accompanied by a 3D broadcast of Thursday’s opening night.

Phil Taylor is the 13/8 pre-tournament favourite with William Hill, the official betting partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, with Adrian Lewis 4/1 and Gary Anderson 9/2 to retain his title.

James Wade and Simon Whitlock are 7/1, with Raymond van Barneveld 20/1 to win his first Premier League title and newcomers Kevin Painter and Andy Hamilton rated as 25/1 chances to lift the trophy in May.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week One – Manchester Arena
Thursday February 9
Andy Hamilton v James Wade
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Gary Anderson
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Live on Sky Sports HD1 and Sky 3D from 7pm.

The deal continues the leading bookmaker’s association with the Professional Darts Corporation, following their successful sponsorship of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton in November.

As part of the deal, William Hill will provide on-site betting facilities at the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, as well as seeing their branding display both on the stage and players’ shirts during the £450,000 tournament.

“We thank William Hill for their continued backing,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. “The William Hill Grand Slam of Darts was a huge success and it’s great to welcome them as the official betting partners of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts.

“The tournament is building into the most exciting yet since this concept was introduced in 2005 and we’re delighted to have their support.”

David Lynn, Head of Sponsorship and Partnerships at William Hill, added: “We’re proud to become the official betting partners of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts.

“The sport has enjoyed a real purple patch of late and we’re really excited about being associated with this 15-night darting extravaganza.”

William Hill make Phil Taylor, the five-time Premier League Darts champion, their 13/8 favourite, with World Champion Adrian Lewis the 4/1 second favourite.

Gary Anderson is 9/2 to retain the title he won last may, while 2009 champion James Wade and Australian ace Simon Whitlock are both 7/1, with Raymond van Barneveld 20/1 and newcomers Kevin Painter and Andy Hamilton both 25/1.

For the latest McCoy’s Premier League Darts odds, visit www.williamhill.com.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Outright Odds:
13/8 Phil Taylor
4/1 Adrian Lewis
9/2 Gary Anderson
7/1 James Wade
7/1 Simon Whitlock
20/1 Raymond van Barneveld
25/1 Kevin Painter
25/1 Andy Hamilton
1/3 Odds Place 1,2
Odds supplied by William Hill, the official betting partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts

Premier League Darts Tickets 2012

TICKETS for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts are still available but selling fast.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday February 9 at the Manchester Arena, and will progress on a tour of the UK & Ireland for the next 14 weeks as the players compete twice in the league phase before the top four contest the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 17.

The eight competing players are:
Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis
James Wade
Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter

Following the opening night in Manchester, which is on course for a record crowd for the event at the venue, the players proceed to Aberdeen for week two, with all tickets for the AECC already sold out.

Play then crosses the Irish Sea to Belfast, before returning to England to be played at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter and The Brighton Centre on the first two Thursdays in March.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will visit Dublin for the first time on Thursday March 22 to be held at The O2 as the league phase reaches its halfway point.

The Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff will host the eighth league night – with all tickets for the Welsh leg of the event already snapped up – before Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena, Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena and the BIC in Bournemouth host further league nights.

The Echo Arena in Liverpool, Birmingham’s NIA and the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle will stage the remaining league nights, before the top four players head to The O2 in London on Thursday May 17 to contest the Play-Offs.

Tickets for the 2012 Premier League Darts cost £35 for floor table seats and £20 for tiered seating plus booking fee (€40/€25 plus booking fee in Dublin), and are still available from each individual venues’ Box Office.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts

All tickets are sold subject to PDC Terms & Conditions of Ticket Sales – click here to view T&Cs

The £450,000 tournament will see eight stars competing across 14 league nights for places in May’s Play-Offs at The O2 in London, meeting twice in the league phase.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will begin at the Manchester Arena on Thursday February 9, and feature the clash between world number one Taylor – the five-time Premier League winner – and reigning World Champion Lewis.

The Stoke pair also met on the opening night of last year’s Premier League, when Lewis won 8-2, and although the 15-time World Champion gained revenge in Birmingham it was the youngster who took a 8-3 win in their semi-final clash as he reached the final.

Gary Anderson, who won last year’s Premier League Darts in his debut season in the event, plays Cash Converters Players Championship winner Kevin Painter in Manchester, while another debutant, Andy Hamilton, opens the night when he meets world number three James Wade, the 2009 champion.

The opening night’s other match sees Holland’s five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld play Australian ace Simon Whitlock.

The sold-out second league night, in Aberdeen, will feature a rematch of the classic 2004 World Championship final as Taylor meets Painter, while Scottish favourite Anderson plays Hamilton, Lewis meets van Barneveld and Whitlock plays Wade.

Lewis and Hamilton meet in a rematch of their recent World Championship final on week three at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena, with van Barneveld playing Taylor in another high-profile clash.

Anderson and Lewis will face off in a repeat of the 2011 Premier League final on week four in Exeter, with Whitlock playing Taylor, Painter meeting Wade and van Barneveld facing Hamilton in the other games at the Westpoint Arena.

Taylor and Anderson will clash on week five in Brighton, while the Scot returns north of the border the following Thursday to play Simon Whitlock in front of a sell-out crowd at the SECC in Glasgow.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts’ first visit to Dublin on March 22 sees the first half of the league season come to a close at The O2, with the four matches including Taylor against Wade and van Barneveld playing Anderson, while Lewis meets Painter and Hamilton faces Whitlock.

The players will meet each other again in the second half of the league season, which begins at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on March 29 and travels to Nottingham, Sheffield, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle.

The top four players from the final league table will then progress to contest the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 17, when the semi-finals and final will be played to determine the champion, who takes home £150,000.

William Hill, the official betting partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, make Phil Taylor the 13/8 favourite to win the title for a sixth time in May.

Adrian Lewis is rated at 4/1, with reigning champion Gary Anderson 9/2, 2009 winner James Wade and Simon Whitlock 7/1, Raymond van Barneveld at 20/1 and Kevin Painter & Andy Hamilton 25/1.

Each-way betting is available at 1/3 odds for 1,2 place. For more information, visit www.williamhill.com.

Tickets are still available for most nights of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, costing £35 for floor table seats and £20 for tiered seating plus booking fee (€40/€25 plus booking fee in Dublin), and are still available from each individual venues’ Box Office as detailed below.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Fixtures
Week One
February 9 – Manchester Arena
Andy Hamilton v James Wade
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Gary Anderson
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 847 8000 or www.mcr-arena.com

Week Two
February 16 – AECC, Aberdeen
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson v Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor v Kevin Painter
Simon Whitlock v James Wade
Tickets: SOLD OUT

Week Three
February 23 – Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Kevin Painter v Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 277 4455 or www.ticketmaster.ie

Week Four
March 1 – Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Kevin Painter v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor
Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: 08444 99 99 55 or www.ticketzone.co.uk

Week Five
March 8 – The Brighton Centre
Kevin Painter v Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: 0844 847 1515 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Week Six
March 15 – SECC, Glasgow
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
Tickets: SOLD OUT

Week Seven
March 22 – The O2, Dublin
Andy Hamilton v Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis v Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Tickets: 00353 818 719 300 or www.ticketmaster.ie

Week Eight
March 29 – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton v Gary Anderson
Kevin Painter v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: SOLD OUT

Week Nine
April 5 – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
Kevin Painter v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v James Wade
Andy Hamilton v Phil Taylor
Simon Whitlock v Gary Anderson
Tickets: 08444 124 624 or www.capitalfmarena.com

Week Ten
April 12 – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
James Wade v Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock v Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Andy Hamilton
Tickets: 0114 256 56 56 or www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk

Week 11
April 19 – BIC, Bournemouth
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson v Kevin Painter
James Wade v Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: 0844 576 3000 or www.bhlivetickets.co.uk

Week 12
April 26 – Echo Arena, Liverpool
James Wade v Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Tickets: 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com

Week 13
May 3 – NIA, Birmingham
Simon Whitlock v Andy Hamilton
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Adrian Lewis
James Wade v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 388 0338 or www.theticketfactory.com

Week 14
May 10 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Andy Hamilton v Kevin Painter
Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock
Tickets: 0844 493 6666 or www.metroradioarena.co.uk

Play-Offs
May 17 – The O2, London
McCoy’s Premier League Darts Semi-Finals
PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship Final – Michael van Gerwen v James Hubbard
McCoy’s Premier League Darts Final
Tickets: 0844 856 0202 or www.theo2.co.uk

Tournament Information
Each player will play every other player twice. Matches to be billed home and away via the player to the left or right of the fixture above, indicating who will throw first in each match (player on the left).
Matches to be played over 14 legs of 501 in the league section of the event. The first player to win eight legs will be deemed to be the winner of the match and no further legs will be played after this point. Two points are awarded for a win and one point awarded for a draw.
The top four players in the league table after the completion of the 14 league nights will progress to the play-offs at The O2 in London.
Each night will begin at 7pm and be screened live on Sky Sports HD.

Prize Fund
Winner: £150,000
Runner-Up: £70,000
Semi-Finalists: £50,000
5th Place: £40,000
6th Place: £35,000
7th Place: £30,000
8th Place: £25,000
Total: £450,000

Premier League Darts Tickets

TICKETS for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts are still available but selling fast.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday February 9 at the Manchester Arena, and will progress on a tour of the UK & Ireland for the next 14 weeks as the players compete twice in the league phase before the top four contest the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 17.

The eight competing players are:
Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis
James Wade
Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter

Following the opening night in Manchester, which is on course for a record crowd for the event at the venue, the players proceed to Aberdeen for week two, with all tickets for the AECC already sold out.

Play then crosses the Irish Sea to Belfast, before returning to England to be played at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter and The Brighton Centre on the first two Thursdays in March.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will visit Dublin for the first time on Thursday March 22 to be held at The O2 as the league phase reaches its halfway point.

The Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff will host the eighth league night – with all tickets for the Welsh leg of the event already snapped up – before Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena, Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena and the BIC in Bournemouth host further league nights.

The Echo Arena in Liverpool, Birmingham’s NIA and the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle will stage the remaining league nights, before the top four players head to The O2 in London on Thursday May 17 to contest the Play-Offs.

Tickets for the 2012 Premier League Darts cost £35 for floor table seats and £20 for tiered seating plus booking fee (€40/€25 plus booking fee in Dublin), and are still available from each individual venues’ Box Office.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts

All tickets are sold subject to PDC Terms & Conditions of Ticket Sales – click here to view T&Cs

The eight-player, £450,000 event sees stars including 15-time World Champion Phil Taylor, reigning World Champion Adrian Lewis and current Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson battling across 15 weeks for the prestigious £150,000 title.

The trio are joined by reigning UK Open champion James Wade, World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton, Players Championship winner Kevin Painter, Australian star Simon Whitlock and Holland’s five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday February 9 at the Manchester Arena, and will progress on a tour of the UK & Ireland for the next 14 weeks as the players compete twice in the league phase before the top four contest the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 17.

Following the opening night in Manchester, which is on course for a record crowd for the event at the venue, the players proceed to Aberdeen for week two, with all tickets for the AECC already sold out.

Play then crosses the Irish Sea to Belfast, before returning to England to be played at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter and The Brighton Centre on the first two Thursdays in March.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will visit Dublin for the first time on Thursday March 22 to be held at The O2 as the league phase reaches its halfway point.

The Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff will host the eighth league night – with all tickets for the Welsh leg of the event already snapped up – before Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena, Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena and the BIC in Bournemouth host further league nights.

The Echo Arena in Liverpool, Birmingham’s NIA and the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle will stage the remaining league nights, before the top four players head to The O2 in London on Thursday May 17 to contest the Play-Offs.

“Following the hugely successful Ladbrokes World Championship and last week’s announcement of the eight competing players there has been another surge in interest in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

“The tournament is already set to welcome more fans than ever as we embark on our 15 nights across the UK and Ireland, and the interest from fans at all venues has been phenomenal, with over 70,000 tickets now bought for the event.

“The arenas in Cardiff and Aberdeen have already sold-out but we’re delighted with the response from fans in Ireland, who are guaranteed to make our first visit to The O2 in Dublin a memorable one.

“The McCoy’s Premier League Darts promises to be the best-ever, with the line-up of players featuring the biggest names in darts, our in-form players and stars looking to join the elite group to have lifted this trophy.”

Tickets for the 2012 Premier League Darts cost £35 for floor table seats and £20 for tiered seating plus booking fee (€40/€25 plus booking fee in Dublin), and are still available from each individual venues’ Box Office.

Source – PDC/Lawrence Lustig

McCoy’s Premier League Darts

Wes Newton is another man missing from the list, who many had tipped given his rapid ascent in the PDC Order of Merit, however late runs from Painter and Hamilton in the Players Championship and World Championship were obviously enough to secure their places, with Whitlock and Barney completing the 4 wild card entries.

It’s difficult to argue with the picks, Painter has won a major, Hamilton reached the biggest final of all. Crowd favourite Barneveld,  notwithstanding recent form was a safe seat, and Whitlock is a consistent performer on the big stage which is reflected in his 5th place in the OOM, just one place shy of automatic inclusion.

The official PDC release is shown below:

THE McCoy’s Premier League Darts will feature debutants Andy Hamilton and Kevin Painter in 2012 after the line-up for the eight-man tournament was announced on Tuedsay 03 January.

Hamilton is rewarded for his run to the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship final and rise to seventh in the PDC Order of Merit with a place in the event, while Painter’s maiden major triumph at the Cash Converters Players Championship has seen him handed the second PDC Wildcard selection.

The duo join the PDC’s top four players – Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Gary Anderson – in competing in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, with Australian Simon Whitlock and Holland’s Raymond van Barneveld completing the line-up as the Sky Sports Wildcards.

The eight players were confirmed at the PDC Annual Awards Dinner on Monday night alongside the announcement of leading crisp brand McCoy’s as the title sponsors of Premier League Darts, which begins at the Manchester Arena on Thursday February 9.

In addition, prize money will increase to a total of £450,000, with £150,000 to the champion, £70,000 to the runner-up, £50,000 to the semi-finalists, £40,000 to fifth place, £35,000 to sixth place, £30,000 for the seventh place and £25,000 to the player who finishes eighth.

“I’m delighted to welcome McCoy’s as sponsors of what promises to be the best-ever Premier League Darts,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

“The form of Andy Hamilton and Kevin Painter recently has seen them earn deserved Wildcards to play in the McCoy’s Premier League, and I’m sure they will add great colour and quality to the tournament.

“Simon Whitlock was sensational in reaching the World Championship semi-finals and Raymond van Barneveld remains one of the most popular players throughout the darts world.

“With Gary Anderson defending his title, Adrian Lewis coming into the tournament as a two-time World Champion and Phil Taylor and James Wade looking to win back the Premier League trophy, we’re all hugely excited ahead of the tournament starting in Manchester next month.”

Hamilton’s run to the World Championship final followed his progression to the World Matchplay semi-finals last July, and he joins Stoke pair Taylor and Lewis in competing in the event.

Painter, the 2004 World Championship runner-up, claimed his first major title at the Cash Converters Players Championship in December and has moved back up to tenth in the PDC Order of Merit.

Taylor had won the first four Premier League Darts titles before Wade claimed victory in 2009 – only for the Stoke great to reclaim the trophy when he hit two nine-dart finishes in the 2010 final.

Scottish star Anderson took the 2011 Premier League Darts title, celebrating his debut season by defeating Lewis in the final.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts begins at the Manchester Arena on Thursday February 9, and runs for 14 consecutive weeks as the eight stars play each other twice in the league phase, before the top four players progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 17.

The tournament moves from Manchester to Aberdeen, Belfast, Exeter, Brighton and Glasgow before making its Dublin debut at The O2 on Thursday March 22.

Visits to Cardiff, Nottingham, Sheffield, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle follow before the Play-Offs are contested at The O2 in London.

William Hill, the Official Betting Partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts, make Phil Taylor the 6/4 favourite, with Adrian Lewis the 7/2 second favourite.

Their full outright odds are:
6/4 Phil Taylor
7/2 Adrian Lewis
9/2 Gary Anderson
6/1 James Wade
7/1 Simon Whitlock
14/1 Kevin Painter
16/1 Raymond van Barneveld
16/1 Andy Hamilton
E/W 1/3 1-2
Odds supplied by William hill, the Official Betting Partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts

Tickets for the 2012 Premier League Darts cost £35 for floor table seats and £20 for tiered seating plus booking fee (€40/€25 plus booking fee in Dublin), and are still available from each individual venues’ Box Office. Full details are available at www.pdc.tv.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts

PHIL TAYLOR, Raymond van Barneveld, Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis will do battle for the 888.com Premier League Darts title in Thursday’s Play-Offs at the Wembley Arena.

The quartet will compete for the £125,000 first prize and the prestigious trophy after finishing the 14-week league phase of the tournament as the top four.

Reigning Premier League Darts champion Phil Taylor – who hit two nine-darters at Wembley in last year’s final – will meet World Champion Adrian Lewis in an all-Stoke semi-final, before Holland’s Raymond van Barneveld takes on Scottish ace Gary Anderson.

Lewis inflicted Taylor’s only defeat in the regular season, taking an 8-2 win at The O2 on the opening night before the world number one picked up 13 straight wins to reach the Play-Offs in top form.

“I’m really excited about Thursday and it will be a brilliant night,” said Taylor. “We’ve been the four players who’ve been the best throughout the league season and there will be some great match-ups.

“I’m not looking any further than playing Adrian because I know I can’t. I’ve been preparing for this in my head for the last couple of weeks and building up to it.

“I’d like to go at Adrian as hard as I can, and that’s what I’m going to do. He’s a great player, a great kid and I love him – but there’s no love lost up there on stage.

“He’s the World Champion, I’m not, and it’s man against man on Thursday.”

Taylor admits he was inspired by his loss to Lewis on February 10 – and he has hit back from his heaviest ever Premier League defeat with 13 win.

“One thing about Adrian, when he beats you he never lets you forget about it, he keeps reminding you – and that’s good,” added Taylor. “He is inspiring me week-in and week-out.

“I do like him as a player and as a person, but there’s a massive rivalry, the same as me and Eric used to have, and I’m not going to let him take my mantle, simple as.

“It’s a brilliant thing and has given me a newness of life, and I’m probably playing as well as I’ve ever done at the moment.”

Taylor became the first player in darts’ history to hit two nine-dart finishes in one game as he defeated James Wade 10-8 in last year’s final.

“That was an incredible night, one of the greatest of my career, and it’s a brilliant feeling coming back to Wembley,” said Taylor.

“There’s no reason why we can’t see more nine-darters tomorrow, not just from me but also the other guys because Adrian, Gary and Raymond are all capable of it.”

Lewis is seeking to add the 888.com Premier League Darts title to the World Championship crown he won in January – when he hit a nine-dart finish in defeating Anderson.

“To leave Wembley with this trophy as well would be an incredible achievement,” said Lewis. “I think I’ve got a really good chance – even though I play Phil first.

“Phil has won 13 games out of 14 and his form’s obviously good, but I’m World Champion and I’m not World Champion for nothing.

“I can go up there and hit a 110-111 average and that’s what I’m expecting to do. If I do that, I think I’ll win, if I don’t I’ll try again next year.

“Since I won the World Championship title, I’ve been winning ugly, and if you can do that it’s a good thing to have on your side.

“I think I’ve still got a lot more in the locker yet and I haven’t shown anywhere near my best – if I can go up there and perform like I can do, I’ll win it.”

Van Barneveld missed out on last year’s Play-Offs for the first time in five Premier League seasons, but a strong finish this term saw him end the campaign second after being unbeaten in his final five matches.

“Last year I missed the Play-Offs but that was caused by some very sad times for me and my family, but you can see that if my mind is clear I’ve reached the semi-finals five times out of six,” said van Barneveld.

“I still believe in myself. Gary will bring the best out of me, I’m pretty sure of that.

Five-time World Champion Van Barneveld has defeated Anderson twice in the league season, but said: “Just because I finished second, you don’t have anything guaranteed.

“I beat Roland Scholten twice 8-3 in my first Premier League in 2006, then he beat me 11-3 in the Play-Offs.

“Terry Jenkins beat me in the Play-Offs, James Wade beat me twice, so you can’t take anything for granted.”

Anderson has impressed in his debut season, winning his first four matches and continuing the form which saw him reach the World Championship final in the New Year.

“I’ve got nothing to lose,” said Anderson. “I’m in the Play-Offs and it’s been a great season, but I’d love to top it off by winning the title on Thursday.

“Even though he won twice in the league I’ve got to be confident. If I thought Raymond van Barneveld was going to beat me every time I played him then I wouldn’t be playing the game.

“I won’t be sitting down to him. Barney’s got to play me now and he’d better have had a good week practising since last week because I’ll be ready for him!”

Taylor enters Thursday’s Play-Offs as the 4/11 favourite to win the title with 888sport.com, Anderson is the 9/2 second favourite, while van Barneveld is 11/1 and Lewis is the 12/1 outsider.

888sport.com are also offering 10/1 on a nine-dart finish in the Taylor-Lewis semi-final, and 12/1 on a perfect leg in the Anderson-van Barneveld contest.

Thursday’s semi-finals will be followed by a Third-Place Play-Off and the Final at Wembley Arena, with over 6,000 fans already snapping up tickets for the event.

The remaining tickets are still on sale on 0844 815 0 815 or via www.wembleyarena.co.uk, and can be purchased from the Box Office at Wembley on Thursday in person.

The event will be screened live on Sky Sports HD and also on the Sky 3D channel from 7pm (UK time).

888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs
May 19 – Wembley Arena, London (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson
Best of 15 legs – first to eight

Third-Place Play-Off
Best of 15 legs – first to eight

Final
Best of 19 legs – first to ten
Tickets: 0844 815 0 815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk

888sport.com Match Odds
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 1/7, Adrian Lewis 4/1
Raymond van Barneveld 11/8, Gary Anderson 8/15

There will be a bull-off in the practice room before each game to determine which player throws first in each match.

Source – PDC/Lawrence Lustig

In the second non-event matchup of the evening, Mark Webster was unable to build on last week’s 7-7 draw in Bournemouth which effectively removed Whitlock from this year’s competition, as he lost  8-4 to Raymond van Barneveld. The Dutchman only requiring a 90 average to take the victory, admitted in the post match interview that he needs the pressure of something to play for to get the best out of himself.

A lack of success on the doubles from Gary Anderson allowed Adrian Lewis to take an early 3-1 lead in the nights first (and only as it turned out) decisive game, with the World Champion going into the break 4-2 up. Needing 83 in the 7^th leg, Anderson missed the twenty bed hitting a fat 1, and followed it up with a single 20, allowing jackpot to take out his double and go 5-2 up after the break. Fast heavy scoring ensued from Anderson, including a 10 dart leg to bring the Scott level, who then took out double top to go 5 legs without answer and 7-5 in front.

Double misery returned for Anderson though, and a gutsy performance from Lewis which saw him trade 180′s and hit an 11 dart leg secured the 7-7 draw. The pair could meet again in a final showdown if they beat Barney and Taylor respectively in their semi finals next week at Wembley.

In the final game which in essence was no more than an exhibition match in front of several thousand fans, Taylor opened with a 180, and maintained his 100+ competition average to beat Simon Wizard 8-3 in a one sided game.

LEWIS TAKES FOURTH PLACE AS TAYLOR & BARNEY PREPARE FOR PLAY-OFFS WITH WINS

ADRIAN LEWIS secured a spot in the 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs in dramatic fashion, snatching a draw against Gary Anderson in his final league match at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Lewis looked set to coast into the semi-finals when he took a 5-2 lead against the Scot – who hit back brilliantly with five straight legs to move 7-5 up.

The World Champion seemed on course to suffer the defeat which would have opened the door for Simon Whitlock – who would have needed to win against Phil Taylor in the night’s final match – but Lewis showed his class to win the final two legs and claim the point he needed to seal fourth.

“I made it hard work for myself,” said Lewis. “When I went 5-2 up I should have got the job done but I took my foot off the gas when I shouldn’t.

“I dug out the result and one thing I am doing now is winning ugly. If you can do that, it’s a good thing to have on your side, and I have a lot more in the locker yet.”

Lewis inflicted Taylor’s only defeat of the league season on the opening night in February, and is confident he will raise his game when they meet again in the semi-finals at Wembley Arena next Thursday.

“I’m World Champion and I can go up there and hit a 110 average, and that’s what I’m expecting to do next week against Phil,” added Lewis. “If I perform like I can do next week, I’ll win it.”

Taylor completed the league phase of the event with an 8-3 win over Simon Whitlock in Newcastle, with the Australian unable to qualify for the top four after Lewis’ draw.

“I thought Simon was going to push me harder but it was hard for him early on because he didn’t have the semis to play for any more,” said Taylor. “He played well in the second half of the match though and I enjoyed it.

“I was thinking about playing well to get ready for the semi-finals because I’m after Adrian, big-style. I’d like to go at Adrian as hard as I can next week – he’s a great player and a lovely lad but there’s no love lost when we get up there next week.”

Raymond van Barneveld, meanwhile, jumped above Anderson to finish the season in second place after an 8-4 victory over Mark Webster, who ended his debut Premier League campaign bottom of the table.

Van Barneveld meets Anderson in the other semi-final next week, and said: “Mark gave me a lot of chances and all that mattered was that I got the win.

“If I’d known I had to win it may have been different but I will prepare myself for the semi-finals now. I’ll do everything that I can to win this tournament next week, and I still believe in myself and what I can do.”

The night’s other game saw 2009 champion James Wade end the season on a high, defeating Terry Jenkins 8-4 as the pair sought to seek consolation for missing out on the Play-Offs.

“Unfortunately the win tonight doesn’t change anything in the league table. It’s been a poor Premier League season to miss out on the Play-Offs, but basically I wasn’t good enough at the beginning of the season.

“The darts are starting to come back and I’m going to prepare well for the UK Open now and go to Bolton in confident mood.”

The 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs next Thursday will see the two semi-finals followed by a Third-Fourth Place Play-Off and the Final, with the eventual champion taking home £125,000.

Tickets for the Play-Offs remain on sale on 0844 815 0 815 or via www.wembleyarena.co.uk.

888.com Premier League Darts
Week 14 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
James Wade 8-4 Terry Jenkins
Mark Webster 4-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis 7-7 Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor 8-3 Simon Whitlock

Play-Offs
May 19 – Wembley Arena, London
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson
Best of 15 legs – first to eight

Third-Place Play-Off
Best of 15 legs – first to eight

Final
Best of 19 legs – first to ten
Tickets: 0844 815 0 815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk

Final League Table

JAMES WADE 8-4 TERRY JENKINS
JAMES WADE rounded off his 888.com Premier League Darts campaign with an 8-4 win over Terry Jenkins at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

The 2009 champion entered the final week unable to qualify for the semi-finals, despite a run of four games unbeaten in the second half of the season, but produced a polished display in front of 7,000 Newcastle fans.

He began the game brilliantly, hitting two 180s in winning the opening leg before taking out the maximum 170 finish to break throw in the second.

After checking out double top to win the third, he missed one dart at the same bed in leg four as Jenkins posted double ten to get off the mark.

Wade added further checkouts of 142 and 104 in winning two of the next three legs as he moved 5-2 up – Jenkins finishing double top in between – before he also won the eighth leg to establish a four-leg cushion.

Wade opened the ninth with a 180, but Jenkins replied with a 177 and two 140s before winning the leg on double two, and double eight saw him pull back to 6-4 in the next.

Wade, though, regained top gear to hit his fourth 180 of the game in the next, finishing double ten to move a leg away from victory, which he sealed on double eight.

“After the start I made to the game, I think I was always going to win and it was just a matter of how long it took me to win,” said Wade.

“Unfortunately the win tonight doesn’t change anything in the league table. It’s been a poor Premier League season to miss out on the Play-Offs, but basically I wasn’t good enough at the beginning of the season.

“The darts are starting to come back and I’m going to prepare well for the UK Open now and go to Bolton in confident mood.”

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-4 MARK WEBSTER
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD ended the 888.com Premier League Darts regular season with an 8-4 win over Mark Webster – but admits he needs to improve if he is to triumph in next Thursday’s Play-Offs.

Van Barneveld will enter next week’s semi-final against Gary Anderson on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, after inflicting Webster’s 11th defeat of his debut Premier League Darts campaign.

The Welshman hit two ton-plus finishes against van Barneveld, who proved too strong in the final outcome.

Van Barneveld hit a 180 in the opening leg, but paid for two missed doubles as Webster finished 109 to lead.

The Dutch star hit back with a 107 finish, and broke on double top in the third following two misses from Webster, before hitting double 16 for a 3-1 cushion.

Webster hit back with a 14-darter and also won leg seven with a 108 finish, but that was his only answer as van Barneveld took four legs from five in moving 7-3 up.

Webster finished his second 14-darter of the game to win a fourth leg, but missed three darts to keep the game alive in the next as van Barneveld sealed victory on double five.

“Averaging 90 is now how I can play but I had already qualified and knew I’d be playing Gary in the semi-finals so it was a hard game,” said van Barneveld.

“If I’d known I had to win it may have been different but I will prepare myself for the semi-finals now. Mark gave me a lot of chances and all that mattered was that I got the win.

“I’ll do everything that I can to win this tournament next week, and I still believe in myself and what I can do.”

ADRIAN LEWIS 7-7 GARY ANDERSON
ADRIAN LEWIS secured a spot in the 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs in dramatic fashion, snatching a draw against Gary Anderson in his final league match at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Lewis looked set to coast into the semi-finals when he took a 5-2 lead against the Scot – who hit back brilliantly with five straight legs.

The World Champion seemed on course to suffer the defeat which would have opened the door for Simon Whitlock – who would have needed to win against Phil Taylor in the night’s final match – but Lewis showed his class to win the final two legs and claim the point he needed to seal fourth.

Lewis opened the game well, winning the opening leg in 13 darts and responding to Anderson finishing 70 for the second by winning the next three without reply to lead 4-1, twice punishing misses from the Scot.

Anderson posted his second maximum of the match in the sixth leg, which he won in 13 darts on double three, before Lewis posted double 16 to move 5-2 up.

Anderson, though, began his fightback by landing double eight in the eighth, before finishing a brilliant ten-dart finish, double one for a 15-darter and an 11-dart leg as his spectacular scoring hit top gear as he snatched the lead.

He added a fifth 180 in a 14-dart finish to move 7-5 up, ensuring he would gain a point and raising Lewis’ nerves.

Anderson also hit a 180 in the next leg, but missed three darts for the match as Lewis posted double five to force a decider.

The pair traded 180s, but it was Lewis who was first to a finish as he broke throw with double top for an 11-darter, sealing the point which ensured a semi-final with reigning champion Phil Taylor at the Wembley Arena next week.

“I made it hard work for myself,” said Lewis. “When I went 5-2 up I should have got the job done but I took my foot off the gas when I shouldn’t.

“I dug out the result and one thing I am doing now is winning ugly. If you can do that, it’s a good thing to have on your side, and I have a lot more in the locker yet.

“I’m World Champion and I can go up there and hit a 110 average, and that’s what I’m expecting to do next week against Phil. If I perform like I can do next week, I’ll win it.”

Anderson said: “I had nothing to lose and I went out to enjoy the game, and I did that. I gave myself a chance to win the game but I missed and Adrian didn’t, and he did well in the last two legs.

“I’m feeling good going into the Play-Offs and I’ll enjoy playing Raymond next week. I’m confident and looking forward to it.”

PHIL TAYLOR 8-3 SIMON WHITLOCK
PHIL TAYLOR ensured that he will enter next week’s 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs on a high following an 8-3 victory over Simon Whitlock at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.

Taylor will return to the Wembley Arena – the scene of his famous two nine-dart finishes a year ago as he regained the title – in top form following a 13th successive victory in the league phase.

He will now take on World Champion Adrian Lewis in the opening semi-final next Thursday, having seen off Whitlock – whose chances of finishing in fourth were ended on the night in Newcastle.

Taylor landed a 180 in taking the opening leg of the clash with Whitlock, who had posted a maximum of his own and added a second in levelling the game.

Taylor edged the third, and broke in 13 darts to lead 3-1 before finishing 95 on the bullseye and double top for a 5-1 advantage at the break.

Taylor then posted two 180s in winning his sixth leg of the game in 13 darts, and landed double top in the next to move one away from victory at 7-1.

Whitlock – who had seen his feint Play-Off hopes ended when Lewis drew with Anderson earlier in the night – hit back with a 94 checkout and double ten to win the next two legs, but Taylor sealed victory with a 13-darter on double 14.

“I thought Simon was going to push me harder but it was hard for him early on because he didn’t have the semis to play for any more,” said Taylor. “He played well in the second half of the match though and I enjoyed it.

“I was thinking about playing well to get ready for the semi-finals because I’m after Adrian, big-style. I’d like to go at Adrian as hard as I can next week – he’s a great player and a lovely lad but there’s no love lost when we get up there next week.”

Source PDC/Lawrence Lustig

Stoke ace Lewis needs only to avoid defeat in his World Championship final rematch with Gary Anderson to join the Scot, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in next week’s semi-finals at the Wembley Arena.

Lewis sits two points clear of Whitlock in the league table, with the Australian facing reigning champion Taylor in Newcastle as the players complete the 14-week league season.

Whitlock would need Lewis to lose against Anderson and then to defeat Taylor – who is unbeaten since the opening league night back in February – by enough legs to overcome his leg difference with the World Champion.

“It’s mine to lose and I’m confident of getting a result against Gary,” said Lewis. “I enjoy playing him and we’ve had some great games recently.

“I think I’ve done enough to reach the top four, especially with Simon playing Phil, but I want to win against Gary to make sure I’m in the semi-finals.”

Whitlock ended a run of three straight defeats with a draw against Mark Webster last week to keep alive his slim Play-Off hopes, but admitted: “It’s out of my hands.

“All I can do is try my hardest against Phil and if I beat him then the rest takes care of itself. Its hard to prepare for the game knowing Adrian could have won before me to finish off the top four but I’ll just concentrate on myself.

“I’ve enjoyed the season but am disappointed that some missed doubles at crucial times are coming back to haunt me now where the top four is concerned, because I feel at times I’ve been good enough to reach the semis.”

Taylor goes into the game having won his last 12 matches since losing to Lewis on the opening night of the season, and produced a 109 average – his best in this year’s Premier League – in a victory over James Wade last week.

“Even though I’ve qualified for the Play-Offs it’s still an important game and I’ll be giving everything against Simon,” said Taylor.

“I’ve got to keep winning to keep that mental attitude of winning going into Wembley, and also to keep the other players under pressure.

“I’m preparing for the semi-finals and expect to be playing Adrian, but I have to beat Simon to make sure of that.”

Anderson lost a week ago to Raymond van Barneveld, who he will face in the semi-finals at Wembley, and is looking to enter the Play-Offs on a high with victory over Lewis.

“I’m disappointed with how I’ve played against Phil Taylor and Raymond in the last fortnight but I want to put it right on Thursday,” said Anderson, who also saw Lewis come from 3-0 down to win 8-3 when they met in Glasgow in March.

The night in Newcastle also gives the three players out of the running for the Play-Offs, James Wade, Terry Jenkins and Mark Webster, the chance to finish the campaign on a high.

Webster faces van Barneveld in Newcastle having ended an eight-game losing run last week with a draw against Whitlock, and said: “I’m looking forward to playing Raymond.

“I want to build on how I played against Simon last week and hopefully I can get a positive result. I haven’t done myself justice at times but I’m building for the future and want to have a good rest of the year.”

Wade takes on Jenkins in the night’s opening game, having seen his hopes of claiming a Play-Off place for the fourth successive year ended last week when he went down 8-4 to Taylor.

Thursday’s 888.com Premier League Darts will be watched by almost 7,000 fans at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, with a small number of tickets remaining for sale on 0844 493 6666 or through www.metroradioarena.co.uk.

888.com Premier League Darts
Week 14 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Mark Webster v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock

888sport.com Match Odds
James Wade 8/11, Draw 4/1, Terry Jenkins 21/10
Mark Webster 10/3, Draw 4/1, Raymond van Barneveld 1/2
Adrian Lewis 7/4, Draw 15/4, Gary Anderson 10/11
Phil Taylor 1/4, Draw 11/2, Simon Whitlock 6/1

888.com Premier League Darts
The Battle For Fourth Place
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Lewis only needs to avoid defeat to secure fourth place.

Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
A defeat for Lewis means a Whitlock win would see him move onto 13 points alongside Lewis. The Australian, though, currently trails Lewis by eight legs in leg difference, so would need to overhaul this to take fourth.

What if Lewis & Whitlock finish on 13 points with the same Leg Difference?
The deciding factor in this case would be Legs Won Against Throw (LWAT).
This currently stands at Lewis 26, Whitlock 29.
If LWAT was also equal, then the Overall League Average for each player would be the deciding factor.

Source PDC/Lawrence Lustig

Going into the break at 3 legs each, it remained close and at 5-5 Webster took out 127 to break and move 6-5 ahead. Hungry for his opportunity to toe the oche in the finals the Wizard levelled the match, however a timely 180 enabled Webster to go on and take the 13^th leg. Although Whitlock hit back to secure the 7-7 draw, his Premier League campaign is effectively over.

Raymond Van Barneveld defeated Gary Anderson 8-4, in a game that Anderson will no doubt want to forget. However, the pair will meet again in the semi finals where Anderson is sure to want to exact revenge over his Premier League ‘bogey’ opponent.

Despite a slow start World Champion Adrian Lewis kept his finals hopes alive with second half surge in an 8-3 win over Terry Jenkins that comprised of 3 ton plus finishes including a 144 (T18 T18 D18), however he faces Phil Taylor in a must win match next week.

The Power secured his top spot and ended James Wades Premier League aspirations at the BIC in an 8-4 victory that included a 157 outshot and an average of around 109.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD secured a place in the 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs with an 8-4 win over Gary Anderson at the BIC in Bournemouth, as Adrian Lewis put one foot into the top four.

Dutch ace van Barneveld had missed out on a top-four finish in last year’s Premier League for the first time since he joined the PDC in 2006, but a seventh win of this season means he will compete for the £125,000 title at the Wembley Arena.

The result means that he will face Anderson again in the semi-finals on May 19, after van Barneveld completed a Premier League Darts double over the Scot.

“I’m really happy to be in the Play-Offs at Wembley and I’ll be excited about playing Gary again,” said van Barneveld. “We all know what Gary can do and this was a bit of revenge for him winning 5-1 in the World Championship to beat him twice in the league.

“I’ll play him in two weeks time but I remember beating Roland Scholten twice in the league and he beat me in 2006 so I can’t take it for granted. It’s a new game at Wembley.”

The battle for fourth place will go to the final league night at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena next week, with Adrian Lewis needing to avoid defeat when he meets Anderson to secure fourth spot ahead of Simon Whitlock.

Lewis moved onto 13 points in the table – two ahead of both Whitlock and James Wade – with a superb second-half showing to come from 3-2 down and defeat Terry Jenkins 8-3.

Lewis hit finishes of 100, 112 and 144 in successive legs as he reeled off six in a row to take the win, and said: “There was a lot of pressure on us both early on and that showed.

“I gave myself a talking-to at the break and played like a World Champion after that.”

Whitlock would need Lewis to lose in Newcastle and to then defeat Taylor by enough legs to overhaul his negative leg difference with the World Champion if he is to sneak fourth place.

The Australian was denied a win in Bournemouth by the league’s bottom player Mark Webster, who picked up his first point since week four by ending an eight-match losing run with a draw against Whitlock.

Taylor, meanwhile, ended Wade’s Play-Off hopes with a brilliant 8-4 win over the 2009 champion, hitting the second-highest average of the season at 109.36 and landing a 157 finish against the left-hander.

“James played really well and it was a brilliant game,” said Taylor. “I’m delighted to have won because he pushed me hard and I had to produce some good finishes there to beat him.

“I’m building up to the Play-Offs now and I’m looking forward to it, but I want to win against Simon Whitlock next week and keep winning.”

Wade has reached the final in his previous three Premier League Darts seasons, winning the event in 2009, but will miss out on the Play-Offs this time after jumping from bottom at the half-way stage to fifth going into the clash with Taylor.

“I shouldn’t have left it so late in the season to play so well and it’s my fault I’ve missed out on the top four,” said Wade.

“I played pretty well against Phil but you can’t miss as many doubles against someone as good as Phil. I honestly believe he plays his best darts against me and I hope I’ve earned that with how I play against him.”

The order of play for next week’s final league night has been amended to see Lewis face Anderson in the third game of the evening, before Whitlock meets Taylor in the other potentially decisive clash.

888.com Premier League Darts
Week 13 – B.I.C., Bournemouth
Simon Whitlock 7-7 Mark Webster
Gary Anderson 4-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins 3-8 Adrian Lewis
James Wade 4-8 Phil Taylor

Week 14 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Revised order of play
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Raymond van Barneveld v Mark Webster
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 493 6666 or www.metroradioarena.co.uk

Latest League Table

SIMON WHITLOCK 7-7 MARK WEBSTER
MARK WEBSTER claimed his first point since week four of the 888.com Premier League Darts as he drew with Simon Whitlock at the BIC in Bournemouth on Thursday.

The Welshman had lost eight successive matches ahead of the visit to Bournemouth in sliding to the foot of the table in his debut season, but showed his quality in sharing the spoils.

Webster actually led 7-6 before Whitlock claimed the deciding leg to snatch a point, keeping alive his own Play-Off chances ahead of the night’s other games.

Left-hander Webster opened well, breaking throw on double 11 in the opening leg and hitting a 180 in the second, but Whitlock hit double top to level and landed a maximum and double six in leading 2-1.

Webster hit double ten to level in the fourth, and tops to take the sixth and square the match after Whitlock had posted a 14-darter in between.

The Welshman broke in leg seven to lead 4-3 on double top, only for Whitlock to reply in the same fashion to take the eighth, before finishing 90 with a bullseye, double top combination.

Webster levelled once more by finishing double top in the tenth, and took out a superb 127 on double eight to lead for third time in the game at 6-5.

Whitlock hit a 180 and double seven to level, but when Webster posted a maximum to set up a double 12 finish he ensured he could not lose by leading 7-6 – punching the air in delight at claiming his first point in nine weeks.

Whitlock, though, was determined to deny him both points, and hit a 180 against the throw in the deciding leg before posting double 16 to grab the draw.

“It wasn’t brilliant but I needed a result,” said Webster. “To be throwing for the match [in the final leg] and not to win is a bit disappointing, but if someone had said before the match that I’d get a point I’d have taken that.

“It’s been tough, it’s been disheartening and I’ve got upset. You get down with yourself and start to doubt yourself but I believe I belong here and I’ve earned my spot.

“I haven’t done myself justice at times but it’s a big result for me and I can build on it. I wasn’t content with a draw but it’s a point and it means a lot for me.”

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-4 GARY ANDERSON
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD secured a place in the 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs with an 8-4 win over Gary Anderson at the BIC in Bournemouth – setting up a semi-final between the pair at Wembley in a fortnight.

The Dutch ace had missed out on a top-four finish in last year’s Premier League for the first time since he joined the PDC in 2006, but a seventh win of this season means he will compete for the £125,000 title at the Wembley Arena.

The result means that the pair will meet again in the semi-finals on May 19, after van Barneveld completed a Premier League Darts double over the Scot.

The pair made electric starts, sharing five 180s in the opening four legs to bring a sell-out BIC crowd to its feet, with van Barneveld posting the first in the opening leg only to see Anderson take the lead with a 14-dart finish.

The Scot hit two maximums in the second, but missed two darts to break throw as van Barneveld posted a 62 finish to level.

Anderson landed another 180, and a 140, on his way to the third, although van Barneveld missed the bull for a 164 finish before the Scot posted double top to lead 2-1.

Van Barneveld opened the fourth with a 180 to raise hopes of repeating his 2006 nine-darter in Bournemouth, and hit two more treble 20s before his sixth dart fell short of a second maximum, although he went on to win the leg on double four with his eighth dart at a double.

The next two legs were shared with 14-dart finishes, before two misses from van Barneveld allowed Anderson to sneak in and take the seventh on tops.

Van Barneveld levelled in the next, and took a key break in leg nine after Anderson followed up a 180 with a bounce-out of the bullseye for a 161 finish and seventh further missed doubles.

Double four gave the Dutchman a break and a 5-4 lead, and when he hit a 180 to leave 76 in the next, double 18 put daylight between the pair for the first time.

Van Barneveld posted a fourth maximum of the game in the next, landing double top to ensure a point at 7-4, and sealed victory by hitting the same bed in the next after Anderson saw two darts at double 16 to stay in the game miss their target.

“I’m really happy to be in the Play-Offs at Wembley and I’ll be excited about playing Gary again,” said van Barneveld. “We all know what Gary can do and this was a bit of revenge for him winning 5-1 in the World Championship to beat him twice in the league.

“I’ll play him in two weeks time but I remember beating Roland Scholten twice in the league and he beat me in 2006 so I can’t take it for granted. It’s a new game at Wembley.”

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-3 TERRY JENKINS
ADRIAN LEWIS produced a second half super-show to defeat Terry Jenkins 8-3 and put one foot into the 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Offs.

The World Champion showed his quality by winning six straight legs to come from 3-2 down to streak to victory – moving himself two points clear of fifth-placed Simon Whitlock ahead of the final league night next Thursday.

The pair had slugged out the opening four legs, which each went with throw, before Jenkins produced a 14-dart leg to lift the quality in taking a 3-2 lead.

Lewis, though, replied in kind before making a classy return from the break, finishing 100 for an 11-darter and then taking out 112 and 144 in the next two legs to surge 6-3 up.

Jenkins battled to hit back in the next, but Lewis posted tops to win the tenth before securing victory on double 14.

“There was a lot of pressure on us both early on and that showed,” said Lewis. “I gave myself a talking-to at the break and played like a World Champion after that.

“My scoring wasn’t fantastic but I was hitting doubles and the 144 was a killer. I think I played really well in the second half of the match and I’m confident that I’ll finish fourth now.”

PHIL TAYLOR 8-4 JAMES WADE
PHIL TAYLOR produced the second highest average of the 888.com Premier League Darts season of 109.36 as he ended James Wade’s Play-Off challenge with an 8-4 victory at the BIC in Bournemouth.

Taylor won his 12th successive match since a loss to Adrian Lewis on the opening night with a classy display to see off Wade.

Wade had won three and drawn one of his last four matches to move into fifth place in the league table, but the loss ends his hopes of claiming a top-four finish.

Wade, the 2009 champion, began well by winning the opening leg in 14 darts, finishing 80 clinically, before Taylor hit back with a brilliant 157 checkout – earning himself a £1,000 bonus as the night’s highest finish.

Taylor then punished two misses from Wade to break with a 13-darter in the third and traded 180s from Wade before winning the fourth on double four for a 3-1 cushion.

Taylor also hit two 180s in the fifth to leave 56 in the next, but Wade hit a maximum of his own in between and took out a pressure 98 on double 12 to pull back to 3-2.

The left-hander was sat on a double in the next as Taylor finished 72 to enter the break with a two-leg lead, which he extended after the restart by hitting a maximum and an 88 finish for a 12-darter to break.

Wade won the next two, finishing a 13-dart leg on tops before posting double 18 for the ninth in pulling back to 5-4 down, but saw his chance to level slip away in the tenth leg.

Taylor hit three ton-plus scores to leave 40 after 12 darts, and posted double top to restore a cushion at 6-4 before hitting a fifth 180 in a 12-darter to break throw for a 7-4 advantage.

He also opened the next with a 177 to take command, although Wade hit a 180 and missed the bull for a 121 finish to stay in the game before Taylor closed out victory on double eight.

“James played really well and it was a brilliant game,” said Taylor. “I’m delighted to have won because he pushed me hard and I had to produce some good finishes there to beat him.

“I’m building up to the Play-Offs now and I’m looking forward to it, but I want to win against Simon Whitlock next week and keep winning.”

Wade has reached the final in his previous three Premier League Darts seasons, winning the event in 2009, but will miss out on the Play-Offs this time after jumping from bottom at the half-way stage to fifth going into the clash with Taylor.

“I shouldn’t have left it so late in the season to play so well and it’s my fault I’ve missed out on the top four,” said Wade.

“I played pretty well against Phil but you can’t miss as many doubles against someone as good as Phil. I honestly believe he plays his best darts against me and I hope I’ve earned that with how I play against him.”

Source PDC/Lawrence Lustig