Stars such as Phil Taylor, James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Mervyn King are used to battling in front of thousands of fans around the UK in major PDC tournaments, but will be playing behind closed doors across the nine days of Championship League Darts.

The internet-streamed event sees eight eight-player groups contested during September and October, with each of the group winners then competing for the £10,000 first prize in the Winners Group.

However, prize money per leg won is also awarded throughout the event, starting at £50 per leg in the groups as the players compete in a round-robin format.

The top four players from each group contest the play-offs, where they won £100 per leg, and each day’s winner progresses to the Winners Group on October 14.

Each day also sees the bottom two players after the round-robin stage eliminated, with the players finishing from second-sixth progressing to the next group and joined by three more stars.

Tuesday’s Group One will kick off with the clash between 2008 Championship League Darts winner Phil Taylor – who was also the 2009 runner-up – and world number three James Wade, who took victory on the opening day of last year’s event, which was won by Colin Osborne.

Three other group winners from 2009, Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis and Mark Walsh, are also in action on day one, with Colin Lloyd, Robert Thornton and debutant Simon Whitlock completing the field.

“I love Championship League Darts and as a concept it’s fantastic for us as players,” said Taylor, who has won £37,500 in the two previous years of the tournament.

“You’re getting loads of match practice, because you play at least seven times in each group, and the money is brilliant.

“It’s a big tournament and there’s the extra incentive of £10,000 to the overall champion as well as places in the Grand Slam of Darts, so I know all the players will be trying doubly hard.”

While Osborne took victory in last year’s tournament, defeating Taylor in the final and taking home a total of £24,800, Adrian Lewis was the event’s second-highest money earner on £19,500.

Lewis incredibly competed in every day of the event, having progressed through each group without elimination but also seeing victory elude him until Group Eight, with that win earning him a Winners Group spot the following day.

Lewis and Colin Lloyd enter Tuesday’s Group One in top form, having taken victory on Saturday and Sunday respectively in Players Championship events in Crawley, while Whitlock reached one final at the K2 Centre in building up to his Championship League Darts debut.

Invitations to compete are based on players’ ranking after the StanJames.com World Matchplay and their availability to compete in the respective days of the tournament.

The composition of the groups is as follows:
Group One
Tuesday September 7
Phil Taylor
James Wade
Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock
Mark Walsh
Colin Lloyd
Robert Thornton

Group Two
Wednesday September 8
Ronnie Baxter
Gary Anderson
Paul Nicholson

Group Three
Thursday September 9
Andy Hamilton
Colin Osborne
Co Stompe

Group Four
Tuesday September 21
Raymond van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins
Kevin Painter

Group Five
Wednesday September 22
Dennis Priestley
Alan Tabern
Vincent van der Voort

Group Six
Thursday September 23
Wayne Jones
Wes Newton
Steve Beaton

Group Seven
Tuesday October 12
Denis Ovens
Jelle Klaasen
Jamie Caven

Group Eight
Wednesday October 13
Mark Dudbridge
Andy Smith
Mark Webster

Winner Group
Thursday October 14

Play on each day commences at 10.30am, with all matches the best of 11 legs as players battle for places in the evening’s semi-finals and final.

Groups One-Three compete from September 7-9, Groups Four-Six play off from September 21-23 and the final three days, from October 12-14, sees Groups Seven and Eight followed by the Winners Group.

The Winners Group has prize money of £100 per leg in the group stage and £200 per leg in the play-offs, plus £10,000 for the champion, £5,000 for the runner-up and £2,500 for the losing semi-finalists. The finalists will also be invited to compete in the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts in November.

Championship League Darts is streamed exclusively live around the world through 16 bookmakers’ websites, as well as to PDCtv subscribers at the PDC’s official website, www.pdc.tv.

The bookmakers streaming Championship League Darts are:
Bet365 – www.bet365.com
188bet – www.188bet.com
IBC Bet – www.ibcbet.com
Unibet – www.unibet.com
Sportingbet – www.sportingbet.com
Ladbrokes – www.ladbrokes.com
Paddy Power – www.paddypower.com
Betfair – www.betfair.com
Betclic – www.betclic.com
Betathome – www.betathome.com
Expekt – www.expekt.com
Digibet – www.digibet.com
Titanbet – www.titanbet.com
Hititbet – www.hititbet.com
Stan James – www.stanjames.com
Betboo – www.betboo.com

Taylor has lifted the European Championship trophy in each of the past two years since the tournament was launched in 2008.

The world number one travels to the Stadthalle in Dinslaken on a high after winning his 11th World Matchplay last Sunday, as he seeks to win a fourth major title inside three months.

“Winning the World Matchplay was great and I’d love to go on and win the European Championship this weekend,” said Taylor. “I’m feeling great and playing well, and winning this would round off a perfect summer.”

Taylor takes on Co Stompe in the first round, with the Dutchman having defeated him in the 2008 German Darts Championship final.

“Co has done brilliantly in the last couple of years and he played superbly when he won the German Darts Championship, but that was a different day,” added Taylor.

“I put it behind me and so has Co, and we’ve played a few times since. He did well in the World Matchplay last week and I know he’ll want that to continue in Germany.”

Stompe followed that German Darts Championship victory with two World Championship quarter-final appearances, as well as winning a Players Championship a month ago and reaching the last eight in Blackpool.

“The win over Phil is in the past and you can’t dwell on that because it’s history,” said Stompe. “It’s a new game on Thursday and I’ve got a hard game against Phil.

“I’ve turned my game around, because I’ve been practising on my doubles and they went alright in Blackpool but my scoring let me down.

“I know I can play better than I did in Blackpool, and I’ll go up there on Thursday and hopefully give Phil a big fight.”

The tournament’s opening night will also feature the eagerly-awaited clash between two of the sport’s fastest throwers, Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort.

The Dutch pair have both enjoyed strong form in 2010, while Klaasen – a European Championship semi-finalist last year – reached the quarter-finals of last week’s World Matchplay with a slightly slower throwing style.

“I tried to slow down and it felt good,” he said. “I’m always trying to improve my game and I’ve tried something new on stage now, and I played well.

“I think I’ll try to play slower now in every tournament. It will be a hard match to play against Vincent because we travel all the time and are good friends, but when we get on stage we’re enemies and want to beat each other 6-0.”

The players ranked fourth and fifth in the world, Mervyn King and Terry Jenkins, have an opportunity to bounce back from first round exits in the World Matchplay when they face Barrie Bates and Germany’s Andree Welge respectively.

Simon Whitlock, the Australian who has jumped to eighth in the PDC Order of Merit following his run to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, takes on two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley on his European Championship debut.

The tournament will open when Paul Nicholson, January’s Players Championship Finals winner, faces Andy Smith – who had minor surgery on a leg injury a week ago but has previously won a Players Championship on the Dinslaken stage.

Gary Anderson, the UK Open finalist who has been troubled by a shoulder injury in recent weeks and lost to Klaasen in Blackpool, meets Jamie Caven, and number eight seed Mark Walsh faces Spanish debutant Antonio Alcinas.

World number two Raymond van Barneveld – who hit a nine-darter in the World Matchplay before losing to Taylor in the final – takes on Andy Hamilton on the second night of play on Friday, while number three seed James Wade faces Colin Lloyd.

German pair Tomas Seyler and Bernd Roith are in action on home soil, with Roith taking on Denis Ovens on his televised debut while Seyler meets Michael van Gerwen – the Dutch youngster who has been sidelined for the past month with a broken collarbone.

The PartyPoker.net European Championship is being shown live on Sport1 in Germany and on Bravo in the UK – Bravo can be found at channel 123 on Sky and 136 on Virgin Media.

Coverage on Bravo will be fronted by Dave Gorman and James Richardson throughout the tournament.

PartyPoker.net European Championship
Schedule of Play
Thursday July 29
First Round
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
8.00pm Paul Nicholson v Andy Smith
8.30pm Mark Walsh v Antonio Alcinas
9.00pm Terry Jenkins v Andree Welge
9.30pm Simon Whitlock v Dennis Priestley
10.00pm Gary Anderson v Jamie Caven
10.30pm Phil Taylor v Co Stompe
11.00pm Jelle Klaasen v Vincent van der Voort
11.30pm Mervyn King v Barrie Bates

Friday July 30
First Round
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
8.00pm Bernd Roith v Denis Ovens
8.30pm Mark Dudbridge v Robert Thornton
9.00pm Adrian Lewis v Wayne Jones
9.30pm Tomas Seyler v Michael van Gerwen
10.00pm James Wade v Colin Lloyd
10.30pm Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
11.00pm Colin Osborne v Wes Newton
11.30pm Ronnie Baxter v Alan Tabern

Saturday July 31
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Play commences 2pm German time (1pm UK time)
2.00pm Walsh/Alcinas v Klaasen/van der Voort
3.00pm Jenkins/Welge v Whitlock/Priestley
4.00pm Baxter/Tabern v Osborne/Newton
5.00pm Lewis/Jones v Dudbridge/Thornton

Evening Session
Play Commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
8.00pm King/Bates v Anderson/Caven
9.00pm van Barneveld/Hamilton v Roith/Ovens
10.00pm Taylor/Stompe v Nicholson/Smith
11.00pm Wade/Lloyd v Seyler/van Gerwen

Sunday August 1
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Play commences 2pm German time (1pm UK time)
2.00pm Jenkins/Welge/Whitlock/Priestley v King/Bates/Anderson/Caven
3.00pm Wade/Lloyd/Seyler/van Gerwen v Baxter/Tabern/Osborne/Newton
4.00pm Taylor/Stompe/Nicholson/Smith v Walsh/Alcinas/Klaasen/van der Voort
5.00pm van Barneveld/Hamilton/Roith/Ovens v Lewis/Jones/Dudbridge/Thornton

Evening Session
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
Semi-Finals
8.00pm
9.15pm
Final
11.00pm

Format

Prize Fund

THE StanJames.com World Matchplay begins on Saturday, as 32 players battle to take the £100,000 title at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The 17th staging of the World Matchplay sees arguably the strongest field in the event’s history battling for £400,000 prize money from July 17-25.

Reigning champion Phil Taylor, who won his tenth title last summer with a record margin of victory in defeating Terry Jenkins 18-4 in the final, enters the fray on Tuesday when he plays Barrie Bates in the first round.

However, world number two Raymond van Barneveld is in action in one of four games on the opening night of the event on Saturday, when he takes on in-form Denis Ovens, the 53-year-old who reached his first ever televised semi-final in last month’s Rileys Darts Zones UK Open.

Dutch star van Barneveld failed to qualify for the UK Open and returns to action in Blackpool having had a two-month break from darts since the end of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League – which included a trip to South Africa to cheer on the Netherlands in football’s World Cup.

“The break has been really good for me,” said van Barneveld. “The time off was nice for me and I had a relaxing time watching the World Cup, first at home but then last week in Cape Town and at the final in Johannesburg.

“I’ve practice a lot during my break and I’m full of confidence. I noticed too during the break that I missed the darts and I’m really looking forward to playing in the World Matchplay.

“I’ve known Denis for years and he is one of the most dangerous players in the floor tournaments but he is playing really well on TV now and has more self-confidence so I know what I’m going to face.”

The tournament will open when veteran Dennis Priestley, who turned 60 on Friday, faces Vincent van der Voort, the fast-throwing Dutchman who reached the quarter-finals in Blackpool last summer.

“Vincent is probably the fastest player on the circuit and I’m classed as very sedate,” said Priestley, wryly referring to his slow but deliberate action.

“He’s going to have to adapt and play at my pace, because it’s not going to bother me one bit. I won’t be rushing about because you can soon get into that rhythm and it’s no good to me – I’d be out of breath!”

He added: “It would be nice to be the oldest player to have a good run in one of these events and still play well.

“The problem I have now is that I’m not consistent. Obviously I can still play a bit because I’ve won a few tournaments in the last year, and to do that shows I can still play but it was on a good day.

“When it comes to the televised events you’ve got to be on a good day five times and it’s about achieving that consistency.”

Colin Osborne, the 2009 UK Open runner-up, faces Wayne Jones and Blackpool’s Ronnie Baxter takes on Jamie Caven in Saturday’s other games on the tournament’s opening night, which will be played in front of a sell-out 2,000-strong crowd.

World number three James Wade, the 2007 World Matchplay champion, begins his challenge for a second Winter Gardens title on Sunday night, when he takes on Andy Smith.

Wade has also reached two finals in the World Matchplay since 2006 and admitted: “It’s my favourite tournament, I’ve had Plenty of success in it and it’s a venue I love, but this is a new year.

“I’ve got to look ahead now and focus on facing Andy on Sunday. He’s a really good player who’s in form after winning an event recently, and it should be a very good game.”

Sunday’s play also features Andy Hamilton against Co Stompe, the PDC ProTour’s most recent Players Championship winner, while Adrian Lewis faces Mark Webster, the former Lakeside Champion who is making his World Matchplay debut, while the night concludes when local favourite Wes Newton meets Alan Tabern.

Monday’s play features World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock against Tony Eccles, two-time World Matchplay finalist Terry Jenkins facing debutant Steve Brown, the all-Scottish clash between Gary Anderson and Robert Thornton and Mervyn King’s contest with Jelle Klaasen.

Essex-born pair Colin Lloyd – the 2005 World Matchplay champion – and Kevin Painter kick off Monday’s final night of first round action, with Mark Walsh meeting 2004 runner-up Mark Dudbridge, debutant Paul Nicholson facing Steve Beaton and reigning champion Taylor facing Wales’ Barrie Bates.

Taylor hit an historic two nine-darters on his way to winning the final of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts in May, an achievement he followed up with a world record televised average of 118.6 in defeating Kevin Painter on his way to the Riley’s Darts Zones UK Open last month.

“It will be a little bit wierd watching everyone else in action for three days before I play but I’ll enjoy watching everyone else,” said Taylor.

“It gives me a couple of extra days to prepare, although my game’s been in good shape in the last couple of months and the World Matchplay seems to bring the best out of me too.

“It’s a great tournament and a venue I love to play at, and I can’t wait to get on stage on Tuesday.

“I’ll have a hard game against Barrie. He’s a real battler of a player and it’s great to see him back in form after his injuries, but I’m determined to win this title again and will be focused on doing that.”

The StanJames.com World Matchplay will be screened in its entirety live on Sky Sports, with High Definition coverage throughout the event accompanied by coverage in 3D for the semi-finals and final – the first time darts has been covered in 3D.

The semi-finals on Saturday July 24 will also be followed by the final of the inaugural PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship, with America’s Stacy Bromberg facing England’s Tricia Wright to battle for the £10,000 first prize.

StanJames.com – Selected Tournament Odds
4/9 – Phil Taylor
12/1 – James Wade
14/1 – Simon Whitlock
14/1 – Gary Anderson
18/1 – Raymond van Barneveld
33/1 – Adrian Lewis
33/1 – Mervyn King
50/1 – Bar
For full odds visit www.stanjames.com

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Schedule of Play
Saturday July 17
First Round

Sunday July 18
First Round

Monday July 19
First Round

Tuesday July 20
First Round

Wednesday July 21
Second Round

Thursday July 22
Second Round

Friday July 23
Quarter-Finals

Saturday July 24
Semi-Finals
7.10pm
9.00pm
Followed by PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship Final: Stacy Bromberg v Tricia Wright

Sunday July 25
Final
7.00pm

Format

Each match must be won by two clear legs. There will be no tie break and the match will continue until one player achieves a two-leg lead.

Prize Fund

In addition, should a player receive a nine-dart finish, they would receive a £5,000 bonus. In the event of more than one player hitting a nine-darter, the bonus would be shared on a pro-rata basis.

THE Rileys Darts Zones UK Open begins on Thursday night, as amateur stars from around the country get their chance to take on the sport’s top names at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

The four-day tournament, screened live on Sky Sports HD, pits the leading 96 professional players against 42 amateur qualifiers, with play in the unique event being held on eight stages simultaneously in the early rounds.

While the likes of reigning champion Phil Taylor, James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Mervyn King enter in the third round, Thursday’s opening rounds see unknown amateurs pitted against nervous professionals at the Reebok Stadium.

The £200,000 event will kick off when Gary Mawson, the American who reached the UK Open final two years ago, takes on 26-year-old Ashley Whisker, a tractor driver from Essex who won through the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers to earn a spot in Bolton.

“I don’t know anything about him other than that he’s a friend of Steve Maish’s from Essex,” admitted Mawson, a fans favourite at the Reebok Stadium whose parents hail from Bolton.

“He’s obviously a good young player to have qualified but it doesn’t matter. It’s all about me and what I do when we get on stage.

“It’s a venue I love and one where I had success a couple of years ago, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The preliminary round also features former World Championship quarter-finalist Darren Webster up against Birmingham-based Andy Hutchings, a HGV driver for Royal Mail nicknamed “The Postman”.

Germany’s Jyhan Artut, who knocked Wayne Mardle out of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in December, takes on Coventry’s Kevin Dowling and Gibraltar’s Dylan Duo faces Dean Stewart, one of 32 the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers who won through knockouts held in Rileys Darts Zones across the UK.

The first round matches include former World Champion Richie Burnett up against Chorley’s Louis Blundell, a Las Vegas Desert Classic qualifier last year, while 20-year-old Joe Cullen takes on Lancashire’s Darren Latham.

Coventry-based muffin baker Steve Hine faces Ian Gleeson, one of ten BDO County Qualifiers for the event, while Irish debutant William O’Connor faces Rileys Qualifier Stuart Monaghan, a part-time rugby league referee who also competed in Bolton last year.

Thursday night also sees several top names enter at the second round stage, including Peter Manley, Wayne Mardle, Steve Beaton and Robert Thornton.

Manley, who was sidelined for a month earlier this year with a heart problem, takes on St Helens teenager Michael Smith, while Mardle faces Ireland’s Mick McGowan on the main stage in his first televised appearance since his World Championship loss to Artut, who was at the time a debutant qualifier.

Beaton drew either Noel Grant or Ricky Evans, a pair of Rileys Qualifiers who meet in round one, while Thornton is up against Mark Wilson or Paul Gibbs.

Former World Championship finalist Kirk Shepherd faces Adrian Gray on the main stage, while highly-rated youngster Arron Monk joins father Colin in the field, with the 20-year-old facing Stourbridge’s Nick Fullwell.

Alex Roy, twice a quarter-finalist in the Bolton event, takes on Yorkshire’s Mark Lawrence, who made it through to the last eight a year ago before losing to Phil Taylor.

Former UK Open champion Roland Scholten, who picked up the title in 2004, takes on the winner of the first round clash between Rileys Qualifiers Bradley Williams and Joe Palmer.

The 32 second round winners will go into the draw for the third round at the end of Thursday’s play, with reigning UK Open champion Phil Taylor, 2008 winner James Wade amongst the 32 players entering at the last 64 stage.

Australia’s Simon Whitlock, the World Championship runner-up, Scottish ace Gary Anderson and Premier League Darts stars Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis, Terry Jenkins and Ronnie Baxter also come into the event in round three.

Play will progress through the last 32 and last 16 on Saturday before Sunday sees the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final spread across two sessions at the Reebok Stadium, with the eventual champion taking home £40,000.

Tickets for the Rileys Darts Zoens UK Open are still available by calling 0844 871 2932 or by visiting the Reebok Stadium Box Office.

The Rileys Darts Zones UK Open is live on Sky Sports in High Definition, with coverage also available for users outside of the UK & Ireland via www.pdc.tv.

Rileys Darts Zones UK Open
Schedule of Play
Thursday June 3
7pm-11pm
Main Stage
Preliminary Round
Ashley Whisker v Gary Mawson
First Round
Louis Blundell v Richie Burnett
Darren Latham v Joe Cullen
Steve Hine v Ian Gleeson
Stuart Monaghan v William O’Connor
Second Round
Kirk Shepherd v Adrian Gray
Wayne Mardle v Mick McGowan
Nick Fullwell v Arron Monk
Hudson/Neate/Dave Smith v Paul Nicholson

Board Two
Preliminary Round
Andy Hutchings v Darren Webster
First Round
John Quantock v Matt Padgett
Chris Loudon v Paul Whitworth
Hudson/Neate v Dave Smith
Riihonen/Farmer v Dean Edlin
Second Round
Alex Roy v Mark Lawrence
Kevin McDine v Harrison/Green
Grant/R Evans v Steve Beaton
Monaghan/O’Connor v Mark Frost

Board Three
Preliminary Round
Kevin Dowling v Jyhan Artut
Dean Stewart v Dylan Duo
First Round
Darren Sullivan v Tony Hutchinson
Sam Allen v Melvyn Johnston
Bradley Williams v Joe Palmer
Ryan Murray v Lowe/J Clark
Second Round
Justin Pipe v Chris Thompson
Newland/Robertson v Dennis Smith
Eastwood/Martin v Whisker/Mawson/Stewart/Duo
Harris/Hutchings/D Webster v Andy Smith

Board Four
Preliminary Round
Prakash Jiwa v John Lakeman
First Round
Robbie Newland v John Robertson
Mark Wilson v Paul Gibbs
Dean Harris v Hutchings/D Webster
Dowling/Artut v A Murray/Rand
Second Round
Colin Monk v Darren Johnson
Mark Cox v Hammond/O’Neill
Blundell/Burnett v Pinhorne/Robinson/Ringland
R Murray/Lowe/J Clark v Quantock/Padgett

Board Five
Preliminary Round
Andy Murray v Scott Rand
Par Riihonen v Steve Farmer
First Round
Gary Eastwood v David Martin
Michael Hammond v Henry O’Neill
Dave Honey v Mike Nott
Jay Foreman v Barrie Knight
Second Round
Wayne Atwood v Steve Brown
S Jones/Bowles v Michael Barnard
Draper/M Harris v Bache/Turner
Murphy/Warwick v Riihonen/Farmer/Edlin

Board Six
Preliminary Round
Kevin Lowe v Jason Clark
First Round
Alex Harrison v Jamie Green
Noel Grant v Ricky Evans
Henry Murphy v Paul Warwick
Simon Cunningham v Jiwa/Lakeman
Second Round
Robert Thornton v Wilson/Gibbs
Michael Smith v Peter Manley
Hine/Gleeson v Allen/Johnston
Broughton/Stephenson v Dowling/Artut/A Murray/Rand

Board Seven
Preliminary Round
Reece Robinson v Hugh Ringland
First Round
Matt Draper v Mark Harris
Paul Rowley v Anton Liscsey
Nicky Bache v Martyn Turner
Whisker/Mawson v Stewart/Duo
Second Round
Fisher/Webb v Chris Mason
Sullivan/Hutchinson v Steve Evans
Honey/Nott v Latham/Cullen
Williams/Palmer v Roland Scholten

Board Eight
Preliminary Round
Peter Hudson v Paul Neate
First Round
Tony Broughton v Mark Stephenson
Pete Fisher v Barrie Webb
Simon Jones v John Bowles
Danny Pinhorne v Robinson/Ringland
Second Round
Tony Ayres v Loudon/Whitworth
Rowley/Liscsey v Barrie Bates
Stephen Hardy v Foreman/Wright
Stuart Dutton v Cunningham/Jiwa/Lakeman

Friday June 4
7pm-11pm
Round Three (last 64)
Best of 17 legs

Saturday June 5
1pm-5pm
Round Four (last 32)
Best of 17 legs

7pm-11pm
Round Five (last 16)
Best of 17 legs

Sunday June 6
1pm-5pm
Quarter-Finals
Best of 19 legs

7pm-11pm
Semi-Finals
Best of 19 legs

Followed by
Final
Best of 21 legs

From the end of Round Two onwards on Thursday evening, a free draw will be made for subsequent rounds, with no seeding in operation.

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.

“I won this title for the first four years and I really want to win it back,” said Taylor, who won the first four seasons of Premier League Darts and was unbeaten in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

“The last few months haven’t been as much about finishing top or being unbeaten, it was just about getting through to the semi-finals and then winning the play-offs.

“I’ve done the first bit and now I’ve got to do the rest, and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I think you’ll see a different game when I play Mervyn in the semi-finals to last year’s match. It’s a different Phil this year and if he doesn’t turn up I’ll walk all over him, and if he does then it will be a cracker.

“Mervyn is a player you can get stuck in, and it’s a pleasure to play him. I enjoy it and I like playing him.

“I think it’s the best field of players we’ve had – James has done brilliantly to qualify after a bad start, and Simon Whitlock has been fantastic this season – and it’s going to be a tough field on Sunday, but I’m quietly confident.

“I know I can go up a couple of gears from the form I showed in the league stage and I’ll be ready on Sunday.”

King sat in the top two for much of the season, and his draw with Taylor was one of only two times the World Champion dropped points during the league phase.

“I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got,” said King. “Phil is playing really well and deserved to finish top of the league, but I know I can defeat him if I’m on top of my game.

“Phil is an absolutely fantastic player and I’m not as consistent as him. I’ve learned to live with my inconsistency – I can be the best player in the world or I can be one of the worst in the world if it goes wrong.

“But I can put that behind me and hopefully I will perform well on Sunday night and go one better than last year to win this title.”

Wade claimed the fourth major title of his career a year ago with victory over King in the final at Wembley, and has bounced back from losing his opening three matches this season to reach the play-offs.

“I’m looking forward to it and it would be fantastic to retain this title,” said Wade. “I haven’t been on form but I’m quite an unpredictable player and it might just happen for me on Sunday.

“I’m not going to concentrate too much on what happened in the league stage because it’s not a knock-out format, it doesn’t mean you’re out of the tournament if you lose some games.

“I believe when it comes down to it that things will come right for me.

“It’s all new to Simon and he’s very keen because he has new targets to aim for and he’s got loads of enthusiasm, but I’ve been involved in big games before and I’ve won titles, something he hasn’t done yet.”

Whitlock is bidding to become the fourth successive debutant to reach the final in their first season, following the previous successes of Terry Jenkins (2007), James Wade (2008) and Mervyn King (2009) – although that trio all ended as runner-up.

The Australian won his final two matches in the league phase to jump from fifth place to finish second in the table, setting up a tasty semi-final with reigning champion Wade.

“It’s just one game at a time for me,” said Whitlock. “I’ve got a fairly good record against James but it’s going to be a really tough game because he’s defending champion.

“James and I are pretty even on paper but it depends what happens when we get on stage and start the game. He’s got it all to play for but it would mean everything for me to win it.

“I’ve been playing extremely well for about six weeks now and if I can win the semi-final then I’ll feel really confident going into the final.

“Knockout darts is more my game anyway and I treated the last two weeks of the season as knockout games, and it worked for me because I won them.

“I’m getting used to playing in more than one big game in a day, so if I win the first game, then I’ll be looking good for the final.”

Sunday’s semi-finals will be the best of 15 legs, with a ‘golden leg’ to decide the winner if the scores reach seven-all.

The third place play-off – which has been introduced this season – will also be played over the best of 15 legs, with the final to be played over the best of 19 legs, first to ten.

Sunday’s play-offs will be screened live on Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm, as well as live in Australia and Holland, which fans outside of the UK and Ireland can watch live coverage via www.pdc.tv.

The remaining tickets for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-offs are available on 0844 815 0 815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk, or from the Wembley Arena Box Office on the night.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Play-Offs
May 23 – Wembley Arena, London
Semi-Finals
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor v Mervyn King
First to eight legs – should the score be tied at seven-all after 14 legs, a ‘Golden Leg’ will decide the winner.
Followed by
Third Place Play-Off (first to eight legs)
Final (best of 19 legs)
Tickets: 0844 815 0 815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk

Sky Bet Odds
Semi-Final Match Odds
Simon Whitlock 4/6 v James Wade 6/5
Phil Taylor 1/14 v Mervyn King 15/2

Tournament Odds
1/3 Phil Taylor
9/2 Simon Whitlock
7/1 James Wade
22/1 Mervyn King
Odds courtesy Sky Bet, the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts. Odds correct at 1pm Friday May 21.

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.

Wade opens the night’s games when he faces Terry Jenkins in a match he cannot afford to lose, while a win for Baxter against resurgent Raymond van Barneveld would ensure his top four place.

Whitlock and King meet in the night’s third, and most crucial, fixture, while Taylor meets Lewis in the final match – a game Lewis may need to win to reach the top four should Baxter and Wade suffer defeats.

“It’s going right to the wire and it’s really exciting,” said Whitlock. “I was feeling the tension last week in Newcastle when I played James Wade, and to win that was massive for me.

“I knew I had to go up there and win and it’s the same this week too. I won a Players Championship on Saturday so I’m really confident and feeling good about my game.

“My finishing has been good recently and that’s the thing I practice most on, so if I’m hitting my checkouts I usually do well.”

Defending Premier League champion Wade bounced back from that loss to Whitlock in Newcastle by winning a UK Open Qualifier on Sunday, and admitted: “I play first and I know I have to win because even a draw might not get me into the top four.

“I had a bad start to the season, losing my first four games, so I knew I’d made it tough for myself but I’m going into Thursday positive and looking to beat Terry.

“If I do that, it puts pressure on the other players in their games.”

Should Wade and Baxter lose, Lewis would enter the night’s final game knowing he needs to defeat Phil Taylor for the first time on television, as well as overhaul a leg difference deficit with the players above him, if he was to finish fourth.

“If I win, I might still have a chance of qualifying and that’s how I will prepare for the match,” said Lewis. “If I want to qualify then I have to beat Phil and that would prove I deserve to be in the play-offs.

“At the beginning of the league I wouldn’t have expected to be in this position, because I’d have wanted to have qualified before the last week, but I’m still in with a shot.”

Taylor is bidding to end the league phase unbeaten should he avoid defeat against Stoke rival Lewis, and said: “I am going to go up there and enjoy the game.

“Adrian always gets up for matches against me and it could be crucial for him, but I won’t be doing him any favours.”

While Lewis could finish fourth, a loss to Taylor may also mean he slips to a seventh in the final table if Raymond van Barneveld ends the season with a third successive victory.

“I’ve got no pressure and all the pressure will be on Ronnie,” said van Barneveld. “I just want to finish as high as I can in the table and the way I’ve been playing I wish the Premier League was running for another five weeks now!

“I’ve lost eight games this season and that’s disappointing for me but I can’t control my opponent or what happens in Adrian’s game. All I can do is play good darts.”

Over 4,000 tickets have already been sold for the event, but the final few tickets remain on sale on 0844 124 624 or from www.trentfmarenanottingham.com.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 14, Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Terry Jenkins v James Wade
Ronnie Baxter v Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock v Mervyn King
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Live on Sky Sports HD 2 from 7pm
Fans outside the UK and Ireland can watch live through www.pdc.tv

Sky Bet Match Odds
Terry Jenkins 4/1, Draw 9/2, James Wade 2/5
Ronnie Baxter 2/1, Draw 7/2, Raymond van Barneveld 5/6
Simon Whitlock 5/6, Draw 7/2, Mervyn King 2/1
Phil Taylor 3/10, Draw 9/2, Adrian Lewis 11/2
Sky Bet are the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts. Odds correct at 12pm on Wednesday May 12.

Latest League Table

Play-Off Race – How It Stands
James Wade
* a win moves him onto 14 points, and he would then need King or Baxter to lose, or for Whitlock to lose by enough legs to drop below him on leg difference
* a draw moves him onto 13 points, and he would need Baxter to lose by more than three legs
* cannot qualify with a defeat

Ronnie Baxter
* a win means he qualifies
* a draw moves him onto 14 points and would probably be enough for him to qualify, unless Wade had won by four or more legs
* would still qualify with a defeat should Wade and Lewis both lose

Simon Whitlock
* qualifies with a win or a draw
* should Wade and Baxter both win, could drop to fifth if he loses to King

Mervyn King
* qualifies with a win
* a draw moves him onto 14 points and would probably be enough to qualify, unless Wade whitewashed Jenkins earlier to overhaul the leg difference deficit
* would still qualify with a defeat should Baxter lose and Wade not win

Adrian Lewis
* needs Baxter to lose and Wade to lose or draw, and he has to defeat Phil Taylor by enough legs to overhaul his leg difference deficit with Baxter

Cleggy’s Betting Predictions for this week’s Premier league

Who will be the Sheriff in Nottingham?

Consistency is the key for Nottingham…

After dethroning the King in typical Robin Hood-style last week in Newcastle, Barney has to contend with the Rocket in Nottingham on Thursday on what promises to be a cracking night of Dartistry in the East Midlands. Raymond also managed to notch himself a nine darter up in Geordie-land and will be hoping that his bow and arrows are in similar sharp-shooting prowess on Thursday. It is such a shame that Barney hasn’t played like his old self throughout the campaign; let’s face it, he’s been about as consistent as Nottingham Forest’s play-off record: narrowly winning the odd game only to be battered into submission in the next, in front of all your adoring fans, letting them down again and again and again…

Ronnie Baxter, however, reminds me of Blackpool rock: he’s tough and gets stuck in, as opposed to Barney and Nottingham Forest, who have been more like those hideous talking, music playing dolls you buy as a joke. They seem like a good idea to watch at the time, then they become annoying and repetitive…and frustrating and not good enough and a let down and a waste of money and lazy…sorry I was drifting off for a minute.

Despite Ronnie’s better season, Barney will fight on Thursday like Forest failed to on Tuesday and will do the Machine and Jackpot a favour as he inflicts Ronnie’s fifth defeat of the season. Get on Raymond.

Switch the power on, Phil!

Terry-Bull Jenkins gave the Power a fright last week by staying close to him. Well, I say close, a three leg loss to Phil is quite a result these days. Now, if Adie plays as he can, he will stay close to Phil; alas, when does this happen? The Jackpot rarely plays as his name suggests he should which is why he is languishing one place above the aforementioned Neverlander, Raymond, in sixth position. Trust me, I would love to say that ‘this one will be close’, or ‘Phil will be beaten, at last!’ BUT I can’t, I’m afraid. Taylor will Phil his boots and stick his other boot right down Adie’s semi-final chances. Jackpot for Lewis? Wooden spoon’s more likely…

The booze may work in Merv’s favour…

I hear the boos will be flowing in Nottingham this week. Well, at my house it certainly will. Now I love homophones and maybe Merv should too. If he convinces himself that the crowd are shouting for ‘booze’ as he walks out on stage, and in turn furnishes the crowd with a plethora of real ales, I am sure he would become a hero! Alternatively he could open a barrel of cheap lager and soak the lot of the disrespectful dimwits: either way, it will be much more successful than getting ‘wound up’ and losing one’s cool, wouldn’t it, Merv? There is no disputing that the King is class and WILL make this year’s final [you heard it here first] but first he must make the wizard Whitlock vanish from second spot, which he will do in Thursday’s four-pointer. The King will rain on the Wizard’s parade (homophones again…) and get his campaign back on track after a disappointing defeat to Barney last week.

Locked Horns

The aforementioned (twice in one piece) Bully will rage against the Machine, James Wade, this week and this is one James must win. This match is very difficult to call as Wadey aims to bounce back from a heavy mauling at the hands of the Wizard in Newcastle. Bounce back he will but he will bounce straight into the Bull’s horns and they will lock together at 7-7.

Doubles for Dough

Get on the King to beat Whitlock and Wade/Jenkins draw. This double should be around 10/1 and any respectable Turf Accountants!

Trebles for Show

Taylor/Barney/King all to win. This treble won’t win you a fortune but everyone likes a successful threes-up. Get on it.

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

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.

Defending champion Wade lost his opening three games this season but has only been defeated once since, and admitted: “It’s my biggest game of the season.

“I’m coming into a bit of form and I’ll be ready for Ronnie, and I’m sure he’ll be ready for me.

“I hope he is because it will be a good game, and I owe Ronnie one, because he’s hurt me a few times in tournaments just lately.”

Baxter admitted: “I’m holding fourth place at the moment but every point counts, and every leg does as well.

“It’s going to be extremely tough for me because I play James, Adrian and Raymond in my last three games but I’ve got to get on with it and pick my game up.”

Whitlock defeated Lewis 8-4 when the pair met previously this season, and said: “It’s really close and it’s going to come down to the last week, but the next couple of weeks are very important for a lot of players.”

Jenkins has to defeat bottom-placed van Barneveld to keep alive his outside chances of claiming a play-off place, having won his last two matches to move three points behind the top four.

Van Barneveld hit the highest average so far in this season’s Premier League of 106.92 when he defeated Jenkins 8-4 in Manchester – one of only two wins for the Dutchman so far in a disappointing season.

“He can always turn it on but I’ll be ready for him and expecting it this week,” said Jenkins. “He was the real Barney when he played me and hit a 107 average in Manchester.

“That was just my bad luck in a way, but it was one of the game that’s made me struggle because it was a big loss for me. I’ve got a couple of wins in the last two weeks and given myself a chance of reaching the play-offs.

“The pressure is on the others to stay in the top four and I can just go up there and throw my darts.”

The night’s other game sees the league’s leading two players meet for the second time this season.

Mervyn King is one of only two players to take a point from unbeaten league leader Phil Taylor, having drawn in Manchester, and the 15-time World Champion is expecting another tight battle in Aberdeen.

“He’s having a brilliant season and I’m very much looking forward to the game,” said Taylor. “Mervyn is one of the most dedicated players, if not the most dedicated player, I’ve seen during my career.

“He does everything right, is very one-track minded in how me approaches the game and he doesn’t mess around – he just gets on with his job and does things right.”

Almost 4,000 tickets have already been sold for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, but a small number are still available on 08444 77 9000.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week 12 – AECC, Aberdeen
Ronnie Baxter v James Wade
Mervyn King v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Simon Whitlock v Adrian Lewis

Watch live on Sky Sports HD 1 from 7pm
Fans outside of the UK & Ireland can watch live via www.pdc.tv

Sky Bet Match Odds
Ronnie Baxter 4/1, Draw 9/2, James Wade 2/5
Mervyn King 6/1, Draw 9/2, Phil Taylor 2/7
Raymond van Barneveld 11/10, Draw 4/1, Terry Jenkins 11/8
Simon Whitlock 5/6, Draw 7/2, Adrian Lewis 2/1
Odds courtesy Sky Bet, the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, and correct at 12pm Wednesday April 28.

Latest League Table

The 11th of 14 league nights is likely to prove instrumental in the race for players to secure spots in the top four to compete in May’s play-offs at Wembley.

While Phil Taylor, who is unbeaten so far this year, has already booked his top four finish, the other seven competitors are all still chasing a play-off place.

The league’s bottom two players, Terry Jenkins and Raymond van Barneveld, have to win in Liverpool if they are to keep their hopes alive, but the evening could end with five players tied on 11 points in second place.

Mervyn King, Ronnie Baxter and Simon Whitlock have already reached that total, while reigning champion James Wade and Adrian Lewis are sat on nine points.

The night opens when Baxter faces Jenkins, who ended a six-game losing run by defeating Lewis 8-5 in Sheffield a week ago.

“Ronnie’s had a good season and deserves to be in the top four at the moment but this is my chance,” said Jenkins. “It’s a relief to have won last week.

“I’ve been through these patches two or three times before and as long as you believe in yourself your form always comes back.”

Wade faces van Barneveld in the night’s second game, before Lewis meets King, who drew with Baxter in Sheffield a week ago.

“Any points are gratefully accepted at the moment,” admitted King. “It will be a hard game against Adrian because he’s played well this season.”

The night’s final fixture sees a rematch of January’s World Championship final between Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock, which saw the Stoke legend come from 2-1 down to win 7-3.

Whitlock’s previous Premier League meeting with Taylor came on the opening night at The O2 in London, when the Australian lost 8-3 on a disappointing debut in the tournament.

“That was awful for me,” said Whitlock, who has won three of his last four games as well as Players Championships on successive weekends.

“I only got back here from Australia two days before the first game and my heel problem meant I didn’t really practice for the best part of a month.

“I went up there with no form but his time around I’m feeling a lot better, and it’s a confident and in-form Simon.”

Taylor drew with Wade at the Sheffield Arena last week, coming from 7-4 down to grab a point, and he is expecting another tight contest this time around – having lost to Whitlock in a Players Championship on Saturday.

“Simon’s playing brilliantly at the moment, probably as well as he ever has,” said Taylor. “His game has improved massively since the opening week and I know it will be a tough match.

“His finishing is fantastic and he takes his chances, so I know I’ve got to be on top of my game on Thursday.”

A crowd of over 7,000 fans will pack the Liverpool Echo Arena on Thursday, although a limited number of tickets remain on sale on 0844 8000 400 or from www.echoarena.com.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week 11 – Liverpool Echo Arena
Terry Jenkins v Ronnie Baxter
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Mervyn King
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
Tickets: 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
Watch live on Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm, or international viewers can watch on www.pdc.tv

Sky Bet Match Odds
Terry Jenkins 5/4, Draw 7/2, Ronnie Baxter 5/4
James Wade 4/6, Draw 7/2, Raymond van Barneveld 5/2
Adrian Lewis 5/2, Draw 7/2, Mervyn King 5/4
Phil Taylor 4/11, Draw 9/2, Simon Whitlock 4/1
Sky Bet are the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts

Latest League Table

Wade has yet to find the form which saw him pick up the £125,000 title last year, but after losing his opening three games he has moved to the brink of the play-off places with two wins from his last three.

The left-hander has also defeated Taylor twice in the Premier League previously, and the 15-time World Champion believes Wade is returning to his best at the right time of the season.

“James hasn’t clicked yet this season but when he’s under pressure he does the business,” said Taylor. “It’s getting down to the nitty gritty now and I think that’s when we’ll see the best of James.

“He’s a really good player, one of the best in the game, but him and Adrian Lewis are untapped talents in many ways at the moment; their time will come eventually and they’re doing very well so far.”

Taylor is unbeaten after nine of the 14 weekly rounds, and comfortably defeated Wade 8-2 when they met in Belfast in February.

“People talk about how Phil is playing and to his credit he keeps doing it, week-in, week-out and year-in, year-out,” said Wade. “He’ll be ready, but I’ll be prepared for him.

“I believe, deep down, he knows that I’m going to perform against him. Things are turning round for me and hopefully I will perform to the best of my ability against Phil, because there’s no reason why I shouldn’t.”

The night may prove crucial for the Premier League’s other play-off contenders, with Simon Whitlock and Adrian Lewis – placed fourth and fifth respectively – taking on the bottom two, Raymond van Barneveld and Terry Jenkins.

Whitlock overcame van Barneveld in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-finals, and hit eight out of nine attempts at a double in defeating the Dutchman 8-5 earlier in the Premier League.

“I’ve beaten him the last two times we’ve played but he’s a dangerous opponent,” said Whitlock. “He can do anything on the night and even though I’m going into it confident, I’ll be wary that he can produce something special.

“He’s been struggling a little bit this season with his darts, changing a few things, and he’s going through an experimental stage. I’ve been doing a bit of the same but I think I’m a bit more confident than him at the moment.”

Lewis, meanwhile, is hoping to follow up wins over Wade and van Barneveld in the past fortnight with another two points when he meets Jenkins.

“The last time I played Terry, in Belfast, he took out pretty much every chance he had and he won 8-6,” said Lewis. “You expect that to happen in this game now, and I’ve been doing it myself for the last few weeks.

“I believe I can do to other players and I’ll be looking to show that against Terry.”

The evening’s other game sees the two players tied on ten points in joint second place, Mervyn King and Ronnie Baxter, clash at the Sheffield Arena.

Baxter took an 8-6 victory in their previous Premier League meeting, checking out 164 in the deciding leg of their contest in Belfast in week three.

Tickets remain on sale for Thursday’s Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Sheffield Arena – to purchase call 0114 256 5656 or visit www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Coverage is live on Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm, while fans outside the UK and Ireland can watch live through www.pdc.tv.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Ten – Sheffield Arena
Terry Jenkins v Adrian Lewis
Ronnie Baxter v Mervyn King
James Wade v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Tickets: 0114 256 5656 or www.sheffieldarena.co.uk

Match Odds
Terry Jenkins 9/2, Draw 9/2, Adrian Lewis 4/11
Ronnie Baxter 5/2, Draw 4/1, Mervyn King 8/13
James Wade 9/2, Draw 9/2, Phil Taylor 4/11
Raymond van Barneveld Evens, Draw 7/2, Simon Whitlock 13/8
Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.