Darts

Thursday’s Premier League Darts, Sky Sports 1 from 7.10pm
Money-Back Special
If any of Thursday nights Premier League matches ends in a draw, Paddy Power will refund all losing Correct Score bets on that match!

PDC World Darts Championship, Thurs 15th Dec 2011 to Mon 2nd Jan 2012
Money-Back Special
If the final checkout of any match is 100+, Paddy Power will refund your losing betting in running match bets on that match.

Have a match bet on a player during the UK Open and if your selection loses, but has a 170 Checkout in the match, VC Bet will pay you as a WINNER!

PHIL TAYLOR, Raymond van Barneveld, Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis will do battle for the 888 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 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 event will be screened live on Sky Sports HD and also on the Sky 3D channel from 7pm (UK time).

888 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

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD believes the battle for places in the 888.com Premier League Darts play-offs next month is between five players, as he prepares to face World Champion Adrian Lewis in Sheffield on Thursday.

The Dutchman is locked in a battle to claim a spot in the top four of the league table, with only five games remaining before those players qualify to compete at the Wembley Arena on May 19 for the £125,000 title.

While league leader Phil Taylor needs just one win to mathematically secure his play-off place, just three points separate Gary Anderson, Simon Whitlock, van Barneveld and Lewis behind him in the league table.

And van Barneveld, who has lost to top-quality displays by Taylor and Whitlock in the past fortnight, is anticipating another titanic struggle when he plays Lewis at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena on Thursday.

“It’s a really exciting Premier League and I think there are five players playing for four places now,” said van Barneveld, ruling out the changes of James Wade, Terry Jenkins and Mark Webster.

“You can play very well and hit big averages but still lose, as I showed last week against Simon when he averaged nearly 108 to my 104.

“I’d rather have a 97 average and win, but doubles are the key to winning matches. I’m still improving and I know I’m playing well, but now I have to prove it by hitting the key shots.”

Lewis had lost last week to 2009 champion Wade, who needs a win from his clash with Whitlock to keep alive his hopes of reclaiming the title next month after winning only three out of nine games so far.

“I don’t deserve to be in the top four but my form’s starting to come back,” said Wade. “My throws becoming natural again and I want to finish the season by showing people how well I can play.”

Whitlock hit eight 180s – the most by any player this season – in his 8-5 defeat of van Barneveld last week, and a 107.93 average was his highest since joining the PDC circuit almost two years ago.

“The table’s so tight that anybody can still make the top four, and I’ve got to go up there and try and win every week,” said Whitlock. “I think my game’s got a little bit better in recent weeks and I’m expecting good things.”

Scotland’s Gary Anderson enjoyed a superb win over Jenkins in Aberdeen last week, and takes on the league’s bottom player, Mark Webster, in Sheffield.

“I’ve won my last two games and that’s been a boost but I’ve got to keep it up now,” said Anderson. “Mark has shown how dangerous he can be on his day and he’s fighting for some pride.”

Taylor, meanwhile, could effectively end Jenkins’ fading play-off hopes when they clash in the night’s other game.

“The pressure’s on Terry now ,” said Taylor, who has won eight successive matches. “He’s had a few bad results and he knows he’s got to play better against me.

“I’m over the moon with how I’m playing and I’ve been consistent over the last five or six weeks, but I won’t be easing up against anyone.”

Week Ten - Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield

James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Mark Webster v Gary Anderson
Terry Jenkins v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis

GARY ANDERSON is looking to retain his advantage at the top of the Premier League Darts table when he faces fellow newcomer Mark Webster at a sold-out Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Thursday.

Scottish ace Anderson is the only unbeaten player following the opening two weeks of the Premier League Darts season, after defeating Simon Whitlock and Terry Jenkins in his first two matches.

He plays Welsh Webster in Belfast on Thursday, and believes he must retain his ruthless streak to see off the left-hander, who hit finishes of 170 and 160 in a defeat to Phil Taylor last week.

“I always used to struggle when I played players who I was good friends with, and it took a few people to grab me by the throat and say ‘this is your living, there’s no friends on stage’,” said Anderson.

“I have to be more ruthless and if I get a chance to rip his heart out I will, and Mark will be exactly the same.

“Mark’s playing well. He’s packed his job in and is playing darts 24/7, and you can see his game’s come on leaps and bounds.

“He’s always been a good player but now he’s finishing big and scoring a lot more 180s.”

Anderson averaged almost 100 in seeing off Whitlock at The O2 and topped 102 in winning 8-4 against Terry Jenkins last week in Nottingham, and has set his sights on breaking Phil Taylor’s record televised average of 118.66 set at the 2010 UK Open.

“What I’ve done so far is not enough – I want to show people the 120-plus averages,” said Anderson. “That’s what I’m aiming for, to prove it can be done.

“Phil has had the 118 average and I want to smash it.”

Taylor’s bid for a second successive win sees him take on Terry Jenkins in Belfast, after averaging 103 in a superb 8-5 defeat of Webster in Nottingham as he bounced back from an opening-week loss to Adrian Lewis.

“Last week was just what I needed and I’ve got to keep that up now,” said Taylor. “I’m really excited about the challenge of the Premier League again and I’ll be fighting every week.

“I want to get better and more confident each week now, but I can’t look further ahead than playing Terry Jenkins because he’s a real battler and it will be a good match in Belfast.”

World Champion Adrian Lewis will meet Raymond van Barneveld at the Odyssey Arena, with the Dutchman having hit four ton-plus finishes in a brilliant performance to see off Whitlock in Nottingham.

“Last week has given me lots of confidence,” said van Barneveld. “I’ve been working hard and playing well in practice and hopefully I can keep taking it onto the stage.”

Whitlock, meanwhile, will be bidding to claim his first win of the campaign as he enters Thursday’s clash with James Wade as the only player without a point following two weeks.

Wade took out 136 in the deciding leg of his game with Lewis last week to claim an 8-6 victory, but admitted: “I wanted to prove something last week and hopefully I can come back in Belfast with the same attitude.

“If I can have that mentality and feeling every week and every weekend then I would be a very good player, but the stupid thing with me is that I don’t always do that.”

Coverage of the Premier League Darts will be shown live on Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm on Thursday.

Premier League Darts
Week Three – Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Gary Anderson v Mark Webster
Simon Whitlock v James Wade
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Terry Jenkins

REIGNING champion Phil Taylor faces Welsh newcomer Mark Webster as the second week of the 888.com Premier League Darts sees the tournament visit Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena on Thursday.

Five-time Premier League Darts champion Taylor suffered his heaviest ever defeat in the competition when he lost 8-2 to Adrian Lewis at The O2 a week ago.

That loss came on the back of a quarter-final exit loss to Thursday’s opponent Webster in the World Championship on New Year’s Day, giving Taylor a double incentive to bounce back in Nottingham.

“It was a really disappointing way to start the season and I’m working hard to put it right,” said Taylor.

“I know I’ll have to improve against Mark because he’s been playing brilliantly recently.

“He’s a great young player who’s talented and dedicated to the game and he deserved to beat me in the World Championship. That’s behind me now and it’s a new game on Thursday.”

Webster had opened his first Premier League campaign in style last week, overcoming 2009 champion James Wade 8-3 at The O2, but is expecting a Taylor backlash in Nottingham.

“I don’t read too much into Phil’s result last week because you don’t lose your quality overnight,” said Webster.

“People say class is permanent and form is temporary, and I think Phil will be fine – just hopefully not on Thursday! Hopefully I can keep playing like I have been and I can get another result against Phil.”

World Champion Lewis is looking to follow up his win over Taylor with victory in his meeting with left-hander Wade, who lost the final five legs without reply against Webster last week but has reached the Premier League’s final for the past three years.

“James has shown his quality so many times and I know he’s wanting to get back to form,” said Lewis.

“He got the win over me in the World Grand Prix final too last year so maybe there will be a bit of revenge on Thursday, but it’s a fresh game and I can’t think too much about that.

“It was great for me to start so well last week but the challenge will be to keep playing that well. It’s about being in the top four at the end of the 14 weeks so that’s my aim.”

The night will open when five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld plays Australian Simon Whitlock, with both players looking to bounce back from defeats in week one.

Two of the opening week’s winners, Terry Jenkins and Gary Anderson, clash in the other game in Nottingham as they look to remain unbeaten.

888.com Premier League Darts
Week Two, February 17 – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor v Mark Webster
Terry Jenkins v Gary Anderson
Coverage is live in the UK on Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm.

PHIL TAYLOR will begin the defence of his PDC World Darts Championship title against Gary Mawson or Juanito Gionzon on Thursday December 16.

Taylor – the 15-time World Champion – drew the winner of the preliminary round clash between American number two Mawson and Philippines national champion Gionzon for his opener in this year’s £1 million event at Alexandra Palace in London.

Taylor will compete on the opening night of the event on December 16, with the world’s biggest tournament coming to a climax on Monday January 3 2011, when the two finalists compete for the £200,000 first prize.

World number two James Wade drew Spanish debutant Antonio Alcinas, while five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, the number three seed, will play Steve Hine.

Simon Whitlock, the Australian who has moved up to fourth in the PDC Order of Merit since reaching last year’s final at Alexandra Palace, plays Wales’ Steve Evans, and 2010 semi-finalist Mark Webster drew Steve Maish.

The 72-player event features the PDC’s top 32 alonside 40 qualifiers who have won their place through the series of 37 Players Championships held around this year or international knockouts.

Holland’s Roland Scholten won the West Europe Qualifier and plays Finland’s Veijo Viinikka, with the winner going on to face number eight seed Ronnie Baxter.

John Part, the three-time World Champion who took the 2008 title at Alexandra Palace, could face Taylor in round two should he overcome Per Laursen or Boris Krcmar.

Adrian Lewis drew Tony Eccles, Terry Jenkins faces debutant Joe Cullen, Colin Lloyd faces Germany’s Andree Welge and Mervyn King comes up against either Magnus Caris or Dietmar Burger.

Debutants Steve Farmer, Nigel Heydon and Mark Hylton will take on Paul Nicholson, Robert Thornton and Steve Beaton respectively, while PDPA Qualifier Alex Roy drew 2005 finalist Mark Dudbridge in another tasty encounter.

The first round will be played from December 16-23, with the last 32 returning after Christmas to compete in the remainder of the event. (more…)

PHIL TAYLOR smashed apart the record books with TWO nine-dart finishes in claiming glory in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, defeating James Wade 10-8 to reclaim the £125,000 title.

Taylor became the first player in darting history to hit two nine-dart finishes in one game with a scintillating performance in the final of the tournament, as he won back the Premier League trophy. Having avenged last season’s semi-final loss to Mervyn King with a thumping 8-1 triumph, Taylor took to the stage in the final and hit his first Premier League nine-darter in the second leg against Wade.

He went on to achieve the feat again in the 15th leg of the final, halting Wade’s comeback in its tracks with his second nine-darter. Taylor also hit seven perfect darts in the next leg, settling for a ten-darter which edged him to the brink of victory before eventually sealing a 10-8 triumph.

“I’m a very proud man,” said Taylor. “I’ve won every title in the PDC and I don’t think I can ever do better than this – it’s the proudest day of my life. Everything I’ve done for the last 30 years has all come together. It’s been my dream to do this.”

The night was a joyous one for Taylor, whose bid to reclaim the title had been delayed by 24 hours due to a power cut on Sunday in the north London area. However, he showed few signs of that affecting him by producing the season’s highest average so far in seeing off King 8-1 in the semis.

King was restricted to only four darts at a double in the game, with Taylor’s accuracy on double top in the first five legs effectively ending any chance of a repeat of his victory at the same stage last year. King did take the sixth leg of the game, but Taylor replied with a 164 finish and swept to victory with an average of 107.98.

That was bettered in the final, as Taylor overcame Wade’s brave challenge to retain the title in a thriller. Wade won through to the final with an 8-6 defeat of Australian Simon Whitlock, and kicked off the final with a 180, taking the opening leg in 12 darts with a fine 136 checkout.

Taylor replied in style, opening leg two with a 174 score, which he followed up with a 180 and then a 147 finish of treble 20, treble 17 and double 18 to record the first nine-dart finish in a televised final. A classy 110, of single 20, bullseye and double top, put him 2-1 up before Wade levelled on double top after the World Champion missed the bullseye for a 132 checkout.

Taylor found an extra gear to take the next three legs, taking out 86 for the fifth leg, an 11-darter which featured scores of 177 and 180 to break throw and then double top for a 5-2 cushion. Wade left double top with a 171 score in hitting back, only for double 16 to give Taylor a sixth leg.

Wade hit a 180 and a 121 bullseye finish to take the tenth, only for Taylor to reply in kind with a maximum and an 82 checkout of bullseye and double 16 for a 7-4 lead. Wade took a key 12th leg on double ten before edging a scrappy 13th as the tension rose, with Taylor missing the bull and two darts at double eight before Wade landed double two to cut the gap to one leg.

The pair then traded maximums in the next, with Wade first to a finish and posting double top to square the match at seven-all. Taylor, rattled by Wade’s revival, kicked off the 15th leg with a 180, which he repeated on his second visit to the oche before landing a 141 finish to create history with his second nine-darter of the game – raising the Wembley Arena roof.

Taylor also set up a potential third nine-darter of the game when he opened the next with scores of 174 and 180, only to miss his eighth dart, at treble 17, with double eight for a ten-dart finish putting him into a 9-7 lead. However, three missed darts at double top for the match in the next allowed Wade to finish 64 on double top.

Taylor, though, found a tenth 180 of the game to open the next leg and finished 88 on double 14 for a 12-darter in taking back the coveted trophy – presented by famous actor, comedian and TV presenter Stephen Fry. “It’s absolutely incredible and possibly the greatest moment of my career,” said Taylor, who had claimed a 15th World Championship title in January and has dominated the sport for 20 years.

“I knew it was possible to hit two nine-darters in one game and I said to [former world number one and Sky Sports pundit] Rod Harrington in the break after six legs of the final that I thought there could be a second in our game. I was playing well enough and James was improving too. You put him under pressure and he hits you back hard to put pressure on you not to miss doubles.”

“I was nice and relaxed going into the final and am delighted to do that for the fans who turned out after the postponement yesterday and with an England football game on next door at Wembley.” Wade, who picks up £65,000 as runner-up, admitted: “It was an incredible game and in a way it’s a compliment that Phil hit two nine-darters to beat me.

“The score was 10-8 so those two legs were the difference and I don’t think that two nine-darters will ever be seen again in such a short format. Phil played better than me and that’s why he won. I’ve played better and know I can play better but I wasn’t good enough tonight and am not good enough to win tournaments against him at the moment.”

King bounced back from his semi-final loss to claim victory in the third place play-off, and a £50,000 prize, with an 8-7 win over Whitlock. Australian Whitlock had finished second in the league phase but was left with the £40,000 fourth place prize money after seeing King come from 7-5 down to take the win.

The trophy presentation by Stephen Fry capped a memorable night for the TV personality, who also commentated for Sky Sports alongside Sid Waddell and Rod Harrington for the Phil Taylor-Mervyn King semi-final.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Play-Offs
May 24 – Wembley Arena, London
Semi-Finals
Simon Whitlock 6-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 8-1 Mervyn King

Third Place Play-Off
Simon Whitlock 7-8 Mervyn King

Final
James Wade 8-10 Phil Taylor
* Phil Taylor hits two nine-dart finishes

Sky Bet are offering 2/5 for Phil Taylor to win the 2011 PDC World Championships after he defeated Simon Whitlock 7-3 last night to claim his 15^th world title. Taylor, who won every televised event in the 2009 calendar except for the Premier League, is 12/1 to do the clean sweep of the 8 events in 2010. It’s evens for the Power to claim both the 2010 Premier League and 2011 World Championships and it’s 3/1 for Taylor to go on and win the next 3 world titles.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “With Taylor still hungry for success and the overall prize money on the increase, you can expect a bold bid from the world number 1 to go one better than 2009 and win every televised event.” (more…)