Darts results: Michael van Gerwen beats Peter Wright as Gary Anderson thrills 7,000 fans in Aberdeen
A review of Unibet Premier League Darts opening night, as Michael van Gerwen beat Peter Wright while Gary Anderson thrilled the Aberdeen crowd.
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MVG wins rematch with Snakebite
Michael van Gerwen's early teething problems with his new darts could already be consigned to the past after he beat Peter Wright 7-5 in a superb World Championship rematch on Premier League opening night.
As far as measures of revenge go, this is quite small having lost his grip on the Sid Waddell Trophy to Snakebite on New Year's Day but it does at least lay down a rather ominous marker at the start of the season.
Van Gerwen made a high-profile switch to Winmau a day after his defeat at the Alexandra Palace and concerns that he may struggle to adapt to the change of equipment escalated when crashing out of the Masters to Jonny Clayton in the first round last Friday.
Wright, who followed up his Ally Pally fairytale with Masters glory on Sunday, then had the world number one on the ropes yet again when racing into an early 2-0 lead thanks to a 14-darter and a 120 checkout but he then missed three clear darts at tops and was made to pay as MVG took out 106.
The Scotsman blew another three in the fourth leg, allowing the five-time Premier League king to get back on level terms with a 13-darter and failure to pin double 16 in the next was punished by van Gerwen's finish from 120.
Both players produced high-quality darts over the next three legs and with the scores level at 4-4, MVG's stunning 144 was checkout was immediately trumped by Wright's 157 to ensure this brilliant tussle would go the distance.
The Dutchman silenced the home fans by taking the remaining two legs, following up a 14-darter with a fine 104 checkout to get his campaign off to a winning start.
Van Gerwen averaged 104 compared to Wright's 97.71 and while the pair both hit four maximums, the defending champion's finishing was decisive as he hit seven of his nine attempts as Snakebite missed nine of his 15.
Flying Scotsman the ultimate crowd pleaser
Gary Anderson's incredible record in Scotland continued as he brought a 7,000-strong crowd in Aberdeen with a thrilling sprint finish against Daryl Gurney.
The Flying Scotsman, who arrived at the P&J Live for his first appearance in the tournament since 2018 having missed last season due to injury, was in danger of suffering his second ever Premier League defeat in his homeland when Gurney moved into a 5-4 lead.
Super Chin, unwisely playing without earplugs, was generally managing to defy the deafening jeers each time he aimed at the outer ring but he missed a dart at tops for what would have been point-guaranteeing 120 checkout before Anderson levelled the match with a 13-darter.
The two-time Premier League champion, who lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2015, went one better in the next leg to edge ahead before a roof raising 104 checkout sealed a second successive 12-darter that won him the match.
An earlier turning point came in the eighth leg when Gurney blew eight darts at a double to move into a 5-3 lead and there can be little doubt the vociferous crowd played their part before Anderson eventually pinned double one for a 24-darter.
The 49-year-old will have the chance to play in front of the Scottish fans for the 13th time in the Premier League when the bandwagon heads for Glasgow on May 7, but he'll need to avoid elimination on Judgement Night.
Iceman keeps cool to earn point
Gerwyn Price produced a late flurry of brilliance to rescue a point in a topsy-turvy 6-6 draw with Rob Cross.
The Grand Slam of Darts champion had earlier won three successive legs in 39 darts, culminating in a superb 124 checkout, to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead only for Voltage to hit back in style.
Cross, who has lost around two stone in weight due to a new fitness regime since his early exit at the World Championship in December, showed no issues with his balance as he rattled off four legs on the bounce including a 100 checkout that completed a 12-darter for a 6-4 advantage.
However, Price forced a deciding leg with a show-stopping finish from 130 before holding his nerve for a 13-darter - with Cross waiting on 38 - to share the spoils.
The World Matchplay champion, who beat Price in last year's European Championship final to lift his second TV title of the season, averaged 100 compared to his opponent's 95.86 while he hit one more maximum with three and was superior on his finishing with a checkout percentage of 60%.
Aspinall's Big Fish silences Aberdeen
Nathan Aspinall played the role of party pooper as his Premier League debut began with a 7-3 victory over John Henderson that sucked the life out of the 7,000 fans in Aberdeen.
The popular Highlander was returning to the scene of his unforgettable 6-6 draw with Michael van Gerwen last season when he sent the partisan crowd absolutely bonkers but he was unable to conjure up the same magic on this occasion.
It was frustrating for Henderson because Aspinall didn't exactly play close to his best either except for a crowd-silencing 170 checkout but the fans did at least make the most of his two 180s and three doubles.
The UK Open champion, who memorably won his maiden TV title with the Big Fish checkout last March, averaged a mediocre 89.19 compared to the Scotsman's 81.93 while he also hit a pair of maximums and converted seven of his 15 attempts at doubles.
Dream debut for Duzza
Glen Durrant's debut season as a fully fledged member of the Premier League line-up got off to a dream start with a 7-3 victory over 2018 runner-up Michael Smith.
The world number 22, who earned selection thanks to reaching three major televised semi-finals and winning two Pro Tour events in his maiden PDC campaign, was one of the nine 'Challengers' last season only to suffer a disappointing defeat in Glasgow but his return to Scotland was a much happier one.
Duzza may not have outscored his opponent, with both players averaging 95, but he pinned seven of his nine attempts at doubles in a ruthless display of finishing as Smith missed five of his eight.
Bully Boy headed to Aberdeen with mixed feelings having reached the fifth major final of his career at the weekend only to miss three darts for a maiden title in the deciding leg, and he won't find too many reasons for optimism after this performance.
Night one results and next week's fixtures
Night 1, February 6
P&J Live, Aberdeen
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
- Michael Smith 3-7 Glen Durrant
- Gary Anderson 7-5 Daryl Gurney
- Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Peter Wright
- Nathan Aspinall 7-3 John Henderson
- Gerwyn Price 6-6 Rob Cross
Night 2, February 13
Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
- Rob Cross v Nathan Aspinall
- Gerwyn Price v Michael Smith
- Gary Anderson v Peter Wright
- Glen Durrant v Fallon Sherrock
- Daryl Gurney v Michael van Gerwen
Click here for full Premier League Darts season guide including fixtures & dates
2020 Premier League Darts Table
- Aspinall P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 LegD +4 Pts 2
- Durrant P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 LegD +4 Pts 2
- Anderson P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 LegD +2 Pts 2
- Van Gerwen P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 LegD +2 Pts 2
- Cross P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 LegD +0 Pts 1
- Price P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 LegD +0 Pts 1
- Wright P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 LegD -2 Pts 0
- Gurney P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 LegD -2 Pts 0
- Smith P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 LegD -4 Pts 0