JAMES WADE stormed to the top of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts table in Aberdeen, as Wayne Mardle moved into the play-off places for the first time.

Victories for Wade and Phil Taylor against Adrian Lewis at the AECC, coupled with a defeat for Raymond van Barneveld, saw the duo move clear at the head of the standings following ten weeks.

Wade was in sensational form, defeating Lewis 8-1 and hitting a ten-darter in a ruthless display.

"I'm getting closer to sealing a place in the play-offs and that's pleasing, but I've got to keep on winning now," said Wade. "I'm really enjoying things at the moment and it's paying off."

Taylor earlier won his contest with Lewis - re-arranged from last week after the youngster missed the league night in Birmingham through illness - with an 8-3 victory after going 2-0 down early on.

"To come from 2-0 down and win this so convincingly is brilliant," said Taylor. "Adrian was always going to be under pressure after missing last week through illness, and I took advantage of that."

An 8-6 loss for van Barneveld against Peter Manley means that the Dutchman now faces Taylor in front of a PDC record crowd of almost 8,000 fans in Liverpool next week battling to avoid a third loss in four games.

A dramatic night in Aberdeen saw Wayne Mardle become the first player this year to win four successive matches, with his 8-5 victory over John Part moving him up to fourth in the table.

Part, who came from 4-1 down to level before Mardle pulled away for the win, now sits at the bottom of the standings but just three points away from the play-off places with four weeks remaining.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night Ten, AECC, Aberdeen
Phil Taylor 8-3 Adrian Lewis
Peter Manley 8-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Wayne Mardle 8-5 John Part
James Wade 8-1 Adrian Lewis

PHIL TAYLOR 8-3 ADRIAN LEWIS

PHIL TAYLOR continued his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts charge with an 8-3 defeat of Adrian Lewis in Aberdeen.

Taylor is now unbeaten for the last six weeks and landed seven maximums in a superb display.

Taylor trailed 2-0 but won eight of the next nine legs to blow Lewis away and set up next week's clash with Raymond van Barneveld in style.

Lewis started well, taking the first leg on double top and then doubling his lead following a bizarre second leg, which Taylor started with back-to-back maximums before missing seven darts at a double to let the youngster in.

Taylor broke the throw back immediately on double 16, and squared the match before a 12-darter put him in front for the first time in the contest.

Lewis missed three darts at a double to level going into the break, although he landed a maximum after the restart before reducing the arrears to 4-3.

That, though, would be as close as he got as Taylor launched into top gear - recording back-to-back 12-darters followed by an 11-darter to move 7-3 up.

Taylor then sealed the win in style, bettering an earlier 100 finish with a 107 checkout to complete a fine performance.

"To come from 2-0 down and win this so convincingly is brilliant," said Taylor. "Adrian was always going to be under pressure after missing last week through illness, and I took advantage of that.

"My start got into my head a bit but I knew I had to break back and had targeted going into the break level at three-all, so a 4-2 lead was a bonus.

"Another win may be enough for me to qualify for the play-offs but I have to produce 100-plus averages and I certainly will against Raymond van Barneveld next week."

PETER MANLEY 8-6 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

PETER MANLEY stunned Raymond van Barneveld with a sensational 8-6 victory over the five-time World Champion at the AECC.

Manley started the night bottom of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts but kick-started his play-off challenge with a thrilling comeback against the Dutchman.

He trailed 4-2 before taking six of the final eight legs to claim a priceless win.

Van Barneveld opened well, taking three of the first four legs to lead 3-1, including a break of throw in the opening leg and a 14-darter.

Manley landed double ten to reduce the arrears but a wayward double top allowed van Barneveld to regain his two-leg cushion at the break.

Manley took out double ten to take the first two after the restart - making it four double ten finishes in a row for the Carlisle-based star - before taking the ninth leg on double 18 to lead for the first time.

Van Barneveld missed three darts at double 16 in the next to allow Manley to move 6-4 up, before taking out double top in the next two to level.

The Dutchman hit the game's first 180 in the next, but tellingly three poor scores around the maximum allowed Manley a chance to snatch at least a point on double ten.

Van Barneveld had his opportunity to take a draw in the deciding leg - but missed tops for a 114 finish and Manley returned to take out double six for only his second win of the campaign.

"It's typical of me to do it the hard way," smiled Manley. "I've won just two matches in the league - against Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

"I've got matches against Terry Jenkins, Adrian then Phil - if I can win them I will qualify for the semis.

"I know Phil is really gunning for me after I stuffed him earlier this year - I've really enjoyed basking in that win for as much as possible!"

Van Barneveld takes on Taylor in front of almost 8,000 fans at Liverpool next week, and he added: “I’m very disappointed and I’ll have to work very hard on the practice board this week.

“I wasn’t good enough tonight and there were too many poor darts, but I can put it right and will have to against Phil.”
WAYNE MARDLE 8-5 JOHN PART

WAYNE MARDLE claimed a fourth straight Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts to move into the play-off places for the first time in Aberdeen.

Mardle has moved from the bottom of the table to fourth in the league with a superb run of form, and added current World Champion to his list of victims with an 8-5 triumph.

Mardle led 4-1 and then pulled clear after Part clawed back level to take the victory.

"I had darts to go 5-1 up and a year ago I'd have crumbled but I've got more belief now," said Mardle. "I'm on a roll now and anything could happen!"

Mardle hit a maximum in breaking the throw in the opening leg, and led 3-0 before Part got off the mark on double eight.

Mardle defied a 180 from the World Champion to take the fifth leg, but paid the price for three missed darts for a 5-1 lead as Part stepped in on double 16 to take the next.

The Canadian also won the next two after the break to level, but crucially missed darts at double 16 and double eight to lead 5-4.

Mardle landed double 18 to regain his lead, and never looked back - hitting 180s in the next two legs as he moved 7-4 up.

He was punished for a missed double top for victory in the next as Part took out 87 on the bull to stay in the game, but an unplanned 44 finish of double 12, double ten earned him the win.

"Darts is one of those sports where you can get on a roll week on week and I'm in that phase now," said Mardle.

"I think I can win this event if it's my day, but the likes of Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade are so consistent.

"On my day I've beaten them all but I've got to be consistent for the rest of the league phase and hopefully it will work out for me if I make the play-offs."

JAMES WADE 8-1 ADRIAN LEWIS

JAMES WADE powered clear at the top of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-1 rout of Adrian Lewis.

Wade made it a nightmare return to action for Lewis, who missed last week's Premier League through illness and left Aberdeen on the back of heavy losses to Phil Taylor and Wade.

Wade showed no mercy to his close friend Lewis, storming 7-0 up before sealing the second heaviest victory of the year.

The world number three made a ruthless start, kicking off with a 14-darter before producing a brilliant ten-darter to double his advantage.

A 78 finish put Wade 3-0 up, and he also included legs of 14 and 13 darts in taking a 6-0 lead at the break.

A 121 finish secured at least a point, before three uncharacteristic missed doubles allowed Lewis to take his first leg of the game, on double four.

But wrapped up the points swiftly, hitting four ton-plus scores in the next leg and landing double ten for a fine victory.

"I'm getting closer to sealing a place in the play-offs and that's pleasing, but I've got to keep on winning now," said Wade.

"A couple of months ago I was becoming a little bit lazy but I realised you have to put everything into it to get something back out of it, and I'm working hard.

"It was hard for Adrian having to play twice tonight after being ill, but I'm very pleased with how I played."

Lewis admitted: "I feel drained and it's very disappointing to lose both matches on the night.

"I've had about ten days where I've really struggled but I was confident coming to Aberdeen and I just couldn't find my best game when I got on stage."