Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen thrashes Daryl Gurney while Gary Anderson & Peter Wright serve up a classic
Michael van Gerwen thrashed Daryl Gurney 7-2 in Berlin while Gary Anderson and Peter Wright served up a Premier League Darts classic.
Scroll to the bottom for the results, standings & match stats
(Email us at editorial@sportinglife.com if you have any darting questions for John Part in next week's Sporting Life Darts Podcast!)
Rampant MVG floors SuperChin
Michael van Gerwen delighted the record-breaking 12,000 capacity crowd in Berlin with a ruthless 7-2 victory over Daryl Gurney.
The world number one headed to Germany on the back of winning two more PDC titles at the weekend - taking his 2018 tally to five and his career total to 102 - and there were no signs of Gurney causing a shock.
MVG was 6-1 up before the World Grand Prix champion picked up his second leg of the match although it could have been closer had Gurney not missed seven of his nine darts at doubles.
The defending champion averaged over 103 and hit the highest checkout of 106 - but both players were level on three 180s.
Van Gerwen told www.pdc.tv: "I think I played okay and I did the right things at the right moments to get the two points. I didn't make a lot of mistakes and my confidence is good at the moment.
"This was amazing tonight and darts is getting bigger and better all over the world. I love what I do and that's very important, and this was a special night.”
Flying Scotsman denies Snakebite
Gary Anderson produced stunning numbers but he still needed to win the last three legs to earn just a point in an epic clash with his Scottish foe Peter Wright.
The Flying Scotsman burst into a 2-0 lead in 29 darts, with the help of a stunning 150 checkout in the second leg, only for Wright to take the next three including finishes of 80 and 76.
Anderson threatened a nine-darter with back-to-back maximums and a treble 20 but his eighth missed it's intended target. Nevertheless he recovered for an 11-darter to restore parity.
Wright was also averaging well over 100 as he put together another run of three successive legs in 13, 12 and 15 darts, with the latter completed by a 120 checkout.
Back came the two-time world champion, following up a 12-darter to stay alive with an 11-darter to break just when Wright was preparing to come back for 96 to win.
Although Anderson kicked off the final leg with his fifth maximum, Wright responded with visits of 140, 134 and 140 to reach a finish first on 87 but he fluffed his lines with a score of 38 to give his opponent a lifeline.
The Flying Scotsman duly obliged as he hit two single 18s and the bullseye for an 86 checkout.
Wright said: “It’s amazing to be part of how big darts has become in Germany, I just want to say thank you to all the fans. To be out there in front of such amazing fans is a privilege and with more events like this we may see some of the German players like Martin Schindler join the Premier League one day.”
Voltage continues to rise
Rob Cross continued his Premier League Darts revival with an impressive 7-3 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.
The world champion suffered heavy defeats to MVG and Simon Whitlock in his opening two games as he struggled to cope with the new demands on his playing schedule but he's now finding his rhythm again.
Voltage beat Peter Wright to get off the mark in Newcastle last week and showed no signs of stage fright in front of 12,000 fans in Berlin as he put an out-of-sorts Barney to the sword.
Cross averaged 96.46, hit four 180s and converted seven of his 10 attempts at doubles.
His checkout of 128 in the final leg also sealed a 9/2 winner for our Sporting Life Darts Podcast star John Part.
Cross said "Raymond didn't play his best and he wasn't himself tonight, but the doubles went well for me and I'm happy with that. I'm feeling more comfortable and I'm getting there. Every week I'll keep getting better and I feel like me again. I'm getting more clinical and though I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent I'm trying to stay focused."
Wizard bullied by Smith
Michael Smith maintained his perfect start to the Premier League Darts season with a 7-3 win over Simon Whitlock in their top-of-the-table clash in Berlin.
Both players headed into the clash on the back of three straight wins but it was Bully Boy who leapfrogged the below-par Wizard to the summit with a commanding victory.
Neither player were at their best, averaging well under 90 due to sloppy finishing throughout, although Smith did hit five 180s and a high checkout of 106.
“As soon as I got on stage the hairs on my arms stood up because of the crowd, that was amazing out there,” said Smith.
“I’m not playing well and I’m winning. To have four wins out of four is great and when I start playing well it will be even better!”
Suljovic up and running
Mensur Suljovic finally has his first points of the Premier League Darts season after a sizzling 7-3 victory over Gerwyn Price.
The Austrian averaged over 106 - the third time in four matches he's gone 100 plus - and this time it was enough to get the job done.
Suljovic threw three 180s and a high checkout of 118 which contributed to his superb checkout percentage of 63.64%.
“The crowd is amazing and I’m so happy to be here with my friends and family,” said the Austrian. “I was nervous for the first week, and nervous for the second but I am playing well and starting to feel better.
Premier League Darts Results, Stats & Table
Night 4, February 22
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
- Michael Smith 7-3 Simon Whitlock
- Gerwyn Price 3-7 Mensur Suljovic
- Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Daryl Gurney
- Rob Cross 7-3 Raymond van Barneveld
- Peter Wright 6-6 Gary Anderson
Premier League Darts Table
- Smith P 4 W 4 D 0 L 0 LegD +14 Pts 8
- MVG P 4 W 3 D 0 L 1 LegD +12 Pts 6
- Whitlock P 4 W 3 D 0 L 1 LegD +7 Pts 6
- Wright P 4 W 1 D 2 L 1 LegD -1 Pts 4
- Cross P 4 W 2 D 0 L 2 LegD -4 Pts 4
- Anderson P 4 W 1 D 1 L 2 LegD -2 Pts 3
- Barney P 4 W 1 D 1 L 2 LegD -5 Pts 3
- Suljovic P 4 W 1 D 0 L 3 LegD -5 Pts 2
- Price P 4 W 0 D 2 L 2 LegD -8 Pts 2
- Gurney P 4 W 0 D 2 L 2 LegD -8 Pts 2
* Players level on points split by leg difference, legs won against throw and then, if necessary tournament average
CLICK HERE FOR FULL SEASON FIXTURES, RESULTS & TABLE
HIGHEST AVERAGES
Suljovic 106.2
Wright 105.96
Anderson 105.63
MVG 103.42
Cross 96.46
Gurney 95.85
Price 90.87
Barney 88.6
Smith 87.32
Whitlock 85.6
MOST 180s
Anderson 5
Smith 5
Wright 4
Cross 4
MVG 3
Gurney 3
Whitlock 3
Suljovic 3
Barney 0
Price 1
HIGHEST CHECKOUTS
Anderson 150
Cross 128
Wright 120
Suljovic 118
Barney 112
Smith 106
MVG 106
Gurney 68
Whitlock 66
Price 53
CHECKOUT PERCENTAGES
Anderson 83.33%
Cross 70%
Suljovic 63.64%
Price 60%
Wright 42.86%
MVG 40%
Smith 31.82%
Barney 30%
Gurney 22.22%
Whitlock 21.43%