Premier League Darts: MVG shines as Taylor beats Barney

In one of the highest-quality matches ever seen in the competition's history, the world number one needed an average of over 113 to see off a tremendous challenge from Wade, who averaged a shade under 111 himself.

It looked as though Wade would snatch a well-deserved draw when leaving 41 in the final leg but he was denied as MVG returned to the oche to take out 138 with two treble 19s and a double 12, sparking wild celebrations from the Dutchman.

Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld also put on a great show, with the Power coming out on top 7-3 to complete a regular season double over his great rival.

Taylor averaged just under 106 in one of his best performances of the season while Barney's run of four straight wins came to an end despite two ton+ checkouts and an average of 100.51.  

Although that result initially saw Taylor leapfrog the Dutchman into third, van Barneveld jumped back up above him by the end of the night as he averaged over 100 again in a 7-2 victory over Wade, who failed to produce the same kind of form as he did against MVG.

The 100-plus averages kept coming as Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall served up an entertaining 6-6 draw.

Second-placed Snakebite was heading to defeat against a rejuvanated Chizzy, whose seven 180s and a fine 145 checkout helped him average over 106, but he dug deep to win the last three legs of the match to escape with a point.

Adrian Lewis gained revenge over Gary Anderson for last week's defeat by claiming a 7-3 victory which puts him level on points with the Scotsman and well in the mix for a top-four spot.

Below is a full statistical breakdown of each match as well as player reaction while we also rank their performances at the bottom of this article as well as provide the updated Premier League table.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SEASON FIXTURES, RESULTS, TABLE & ODDS

James Wade 5-7 Michael van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen came through an epic encounter with James Wade in their Premier League Darts clash in Dublin, producing a dramatic 138 checkout in the final leg for a 7-5 triumph.

Despite heading into the clash as 1/9 favourite to pick up another two points against the struggling Englishman, van Gerwen was forced to produce his A-game in one of the highest-quality matches ever seen in the competition's history.

The world number one averaged 113.62, hit six 180s and took out 50% of his attempts at doubles - statistics which would steamroller most opponents.

But Wade, who has suffered a run of poor results in recent weeks, averaged a shade under 111 himself and hit five of his seven shots at doubles to come agonisingly close to a well-deserved draw.

He'd led 4-2 after landing three 14-darters and a 13-dart leg, only for van Gerwen to rattle off four on the bounce to secure a minimum of a point at 6-4.

The 2009 champion replied with a 12-darter to force a deciding leg before visits of 140, 140 and 180 left just 41 as he chased that draw.

However, he would never get a chance to take it out as MVG followed a 171 score with two treble 19s and double 12 for a stunning 138 checkout under pressure. 

Van Gerwen said: "A good game comes from two players and James was phenomenal, and I want to give all credit to him. It was probably James' highest average in a long time, so I'm really glad I won it in the end. After I was 4-2 down I knew I had to do something extra if I was going to win the game, and I did that.

"Somehow I managed to do the 171 and the 138 when he was on 41 after nine darts. That takes a lot of capability, pressure and confidence to do that. I'm really glad I won this game and I needed it."   

Three-dart averages
Wade: 110.82
Van Gerwen:  113.62 

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Wade: 12
Van Gerwen: 13
140+ thrown
Wade: 13
Van Gerwen: 9
180+ thrown
Wade: 4
Van Gerwen: 6

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wade: N/A  (Highest: 88)
Van Gerwen: 138

Checkout percentage
Wade: 71.43% (5/7)
Van Gerwen: 50% (7/14) 

Raymond van Barneveld 3-7 Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor completed a regular season double over his great rival Raymond van Barneveld with a 7-3 victory in Dublin.

The Power produced one of his best performances of the Premier League season so far with an average of 105.87, helped by four 180s, as he moved into the top four.

They key turning point came at 1-1 when Taylor responded to Barney's 121 checkout to break in the previous leg with one of his own and from there he raced into a 4-1 lead.

Barney threatened a comeback by taking the next two, which included a fine 124 checkout to bring the Dublin crowd to its feet, only for Taylor to reel off three in succession for the win.

Taylor said:  "It's two points in the bag and it keeps me up there in the league table. I'm still enjoying it and still trying to get into the play-offs.

"Raymond's playing some great darts and he always seems to be there, and over the years we've had so many great battles. Playing him in Dublin was extra special."

Three-dart averages
Van Barneveld:  100.51
Taylor:  105.87 

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Van Barneveld: 8
Taylor: 11
140+ thrown
Van Barneveld: 8
Taylor: 10
180+ thrown
Van Barneveld: 4
Taylor: 4

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Van Barneveld: 124, 121
Taylor: 121

Checkout percentage
Van Barneveld: 33.33% (3/9)
Taylor: 41.18% (7/17)

Dave Chisnall 6-6 Peter Wright

Peter Wright dug deep to salvage a point in an entertaining 6-6 draw with Dave Chisnall in Dublin.

Second-placed Snakebite found himself 6-3 down against Chizzy, who was playing his best darts of a difficult campaign so far, but won three legs on the trot to snatch a draw.

Chisnall had earlier raised the roof with a 145 checkout to move 4-3 ahead while he also hit seven 180s as he averaged 106.4 and hit six of his eight attempts at doubles.

The result ensured Wright would finish the night in second - but only on leg difference from Barney - while Chizzy remains bottom of the post-Judgement Night table. 

"Obviously I wanted the two points but I didn't play exceptionally tonight and Dave punished me," said Wright. "When I was 6-3 down I knew I only had to break Dave's throw once and I did that, and it's a good point. 

"Dave's shown the crowd just how well he can play and if he carries on playing the way he is then he's going to take plenty more points off the guys in the run-up to the finals."

Chisnall said: "I was happy to get the point but also disappointed not to get the two points because I was in control when I went 6-3 up and I slackened off.

"A big thing for me was keeping the darts straight and fluent, and I did that tonight. Peter's one of the best in the world, a class act, and I knew he would come back at me so a point's good."  

Three-dart averages
Chisnall: 106.4
Wright: 101.82

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Chisnall: 10
Wright: 10
140+ thrown
Chisnall: 9
Wright: 13
180+ thrown
Chisnall: 7
Wright: 4

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Chisnall: 145
Wright: N/A (Highest: 64)

Checkout percentage
Chisnall: 75% (6/8)
Wright: 60% (6/10)

Adrian Lewis 7-3 Gary Anderson

Adrian Lewis put himself well in the mix for a top-four spot as he gained swift revenge on Gary Anderson with a commanding 7-3 victory.

Jackpot was beaten by the Scotsman last Thursday night but after an impressive weekend in Milton Keynes, Lewis returned to the Premier League stage with renewed confidence and always looked in control.  

Although he averaged a very solid 99.76 and finished with a checkout percentage of 58.33%, his cause was aided by uncharacteristically poor finishing from Anderson, who missed 18 of his 21 attempts at doubles. 

The result means Lewis draws level on points with Anderson in the Premier League table and puts himself well in the hunt for a place in the play-offs.

Lewis said: "It's massive. It's all about belief and this showed you can go up there and beat anyone if you believe in yourself.

"Gary beat me last week but every game's different and I know that if I turn up, I've got a good chance and I did the job tonight. I knew that if Gary won I was four points behind the top four so it was crucial. Everybody's trying to get into the top four and I did the job tonight."  

Three-dart averages
Lewis: 99.76
Anderson: 95.2

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Lewis: 11
Anderson: 15
140+ thrown
Lewis: 9
Anderson: 5
180+ thrown
Lewis: 4
Anderson: 2

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Lewis: N/A (Highest: 89)
Anderson: N/A (Highest: 38)

Checkout percentage
Lewis: 58.33% (7/12)
Anderson: 14.29% (3/21)

James Wade 2-7 Raymond van Barneveld

Raymond van Barneveld bounced back from his defeat to Phil Taylor earlier in the night as he claimed an impressive 7-2 victory over James Wade.

Barney averaged just over 100 once again but this time it was good enough for the win while his opponent failed to produce the same kind of form which pushed MVG all the way in the opening match in Dublin.

The Dutchman looked tired in the early stages of the match but it didn't take long for him to find his rhythm with a string of 180s which helped him win four legs on the trot from 3-2 up to move back up to third in the table.

He's now level on points with second-placed Peter Wright although he has now played a game more than everyone bar Wade.

Barney said:  "I was never close to winning the game against Phil but I had to focus and prepare for the game with James because I knew there was another two points to get 

"Phil played an awesome game and his finishing was fantastic, so fair play to him, he beat me fair and square and it made it hard for me but I'm happy to get the two points against James."

Three-dart averages
Wade: 93.58
Van Barneveld: 100.07

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Wade: 17
Van Barneveld: 12
140+ thrown
Wade: 4
Van Barneveld: 6
180+ thrown
Wade: 1
Van Barneveld: 5

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wade: N/A (Highest: 66)
Van Barneveld: N/A (Highest: 64)

Checkout percentage
Wade: 40% (2/5)
Van Barneveld: 58.33% (7/12)

Premier League Darts 2017 Table

MVG P 10 W 7 D 2 L 1 LegD +21 Pts 16
Wright P 10 W 6 D 2 L 2 LegD +16 Pts 14
RVB P 11 W 6 D 2 L 3 LegD +9 Pts 14
Taylor P 10 W 5 D 3 L 2 LegD +9 Pts 13
Anderson P 10 W 4 D 3 L 3 LegD +6 Pts 11
Lewis P 10 W 5 D 1 L 4 LegD +4 Pts 11
Wade P 11 W 3 D 2 L 6 LegD -10 Pts 8
Chisnall P 10 W 3 D 1 L 6 LegD -16 Pts 7
Klaasen P 9 W 1 D 1 L 7 LegD -16 Pts 3
Huybrechts P 9 W 0 D 3 L 6 LegD -23 Pts 3 

* Klaasen & Huybrechts relegated after week nine  

Premier League Darts Week 10: Statistics

Three-dart averages
Michael van Gerwen (v Wade):  113.62
James Wade (v MVG): 110.82
Dave Chisnall: 106.4
Phil Taylor: 105.87
Peter Wright: 101.82
Raymond van Barneveld (v Taylor): 100.51
Raymond Van Barneveld (v Wade): 100.07
Adrian Lewis: 99.76
Gary Anderson: 95.2
James Wade (v RVB): 93.58

180s Thrown
Dave Chisnall: 7
Michael van Gerwen (v Wade): 6
Raymond van Barneveld (v Wade): 5
James Wade (v MVG): 4
Peter Wright: 4
Phil Taylor: 4
Adrian Lewis: 4
Raymond van Barneveld (v Taylor): 4
Gary Anderson: 2
James Wade (v RVB): 1

Checkouts over 100
Dave Chisnall: 145
Michael van Gerwen (v Wade): 138
Raymond van Barneveld (v Taylor): 124
Phil Taylor: 121
Raymond van Barneveld (v Taylor): 121

Checkout percentages
Dave Chisnall: 75% (6/8)
James Wade (v MVG):  71.43 % (5/7)
Peter Wright: 60% (6/10)
Adrian Lewis: 58.33% (7/12)
Raymond van Barneveld (v Wade): 58.33% (7/12)
Michael van Gerwen (v Wade): 50% (7/14)
Phil Taylor: 41.18% (7/17)
James Wade (v RVB): 40% (2/5)
Raymond van Barneveld (v Taylor): 33.33% (3/9)
Gary Anderson: 14.29% (3/21) 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SEASON FIXTURES, RESULTS, TABLE & ODDS

Next Week's Fixtures

Night 11, Thursday April 13
Echo Arena, Liverpool
TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (1900 GMT)
Gary Anderson v Dave Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Peter Wright v Gary Anderson
Tickets: 0844 8000 400 or via www.echoarena.co.uk