Premier League Darts: Adrian Lewis hits nine-darter

Having taken out 140 to open up a 2-0 lead before van Barneveld chucked in a 128 to get back within one, the pair exchanged maximums to begin the fourth leg.

Lewis, though, kept the ball rolling with another to leave 141, which he took out for a nine-darter as he showed a glimpse of the form which made him a twice world champion.

The Stoke thrower went on to win 7-4, finally shaking off his dogged opponent  by hitting bullseye bang in the middle - a fitting end to a performance which had it all.

There was an element of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' to the following match, but it mattered not to James Wade as he fought back to beat Phil Taylor 7-5.

Wade trailed 2-0 and 5-3 but, in typically tenacious fashion, reserved his best darts for the closing stages of the match as he took four legs in succession for a valuable victory.

The left-hander threw the first maximum of the match to edge ahead for the first time at 6-5, and while Taylor responded with a 180 of his own in the final leg it was too little, too late.

Wade had thrown a pair of 140s and a 137 to leave 87, which he took out for a 12-dart leg and battling victory over an opponent he hadn't beaten in the competition since 2009.

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Earlier, Michael van Gerwen recovered from 5-1 down to force a 6-6 draw with Peter Wright.

The reigning world champion was not his usual self, but still managed to escape from a subdued display with a point.

Wright took the first leg when van Gerwen's attempt at double eight slipped into single 11, and from there the Scot raced into a 4-0 lead.

After the next two legs were shared, van Gerwen could be seen literally pulling up his socks and it was from this point that he began to reduce the deficit.

He hit double 20 to get within three and double six to get within two, and while Wright guaranteed himself a draw by moving into a 6-3 lead, the tide had started to turn.

Despite being way below his best, van Gerwen won leg 10 after Snakebite's dart for a 160 checkout missed its target, before producing an 11-dart leg to really ramp up the pressure.

A scrappy, tense finale saw Wright earn himself a dart for the match, but when he narrowly missed double 16, van Gerwen stepped in to take out 68 in two darts.

Dave Chisnall spurned seven match darts as he also drew 6-6, as Gary Anderson got out of jail in the opener.

Chisnall had fought back from 5-3 down to win three legs in succession and move within one of the match, which he looked set to win thanks to a pair of final-leg maximums on his own throw.

However, he missed seven darts for the win as Anderson edged closer and eventually hit double 10 to force an unlikely draw, despite having himself looked in command midway through a topsy-turvy encounter.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given how they had respectively finished their earlier matches, Gary Anderson beat Peter Wright in the final game of the night.

What was surprising, however, was the ease with which Anderson saw off his opponent, winning five legs in succession in a 7-2 victory which ended a miserable round for his opponent.

Having escaped with a point against Chisnall earlier, Anderson was at his scintillating best on his return to the stage, throwing six maximums and averaging 113.44 despite missing 10 darts at double.

Wright's average was slightly higher than he'd produced in a disappointing draw with van Gerwen, but he missed six darts at double and couldn't match Anderson's scoring.

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. 

Gary Anderson 6-6 Dave Chisnall

Dave Chisnall spurned seven match darts as he drew 6-6 with Gary Anderson to kick off the action in Liverpool.  

Chisnall produced bursts of his absolute best to lead 3-1, before Anderson won four legs in succession to take control of the game.

At this point, Anderson was hitting doubles at upwards of 50 per cent (5/9) but Chisnall registered his fourth and fifth maximums to get within one leg, before another in leg six helped him tie the score as he hit double 20 at the third attempt.

Anderson should've moved back in front only to now miss four darts at double, allowing a ruthless Chisnall to take a 6-5 lead as he took out 74 in three.

Now guaranteed a point, Chisnall looked certain to take both as he hit five treble-20s to start the final leg, plus another three for another maximum to leave just 20 after nine darts.

With Anderson stranded, Chisnall somehow proceeded to miss seven darts for the match before the two-time world champion returned to hit double 10 for an unlikely draw.

"I thought the game deserved to be a draw," said Chisnall. "Gary missed a few doubles earlier on and I did at the end - I could have nicked it, but that's darts.

"It's swings and roundabouts in this game, and if you don't hit the double you don't win. It was just that one leg at the end that cost me.

"I'm happy with a point and I still believe I can qualify - there's five games left and if I win all them and the other results go my way then you never know."

Anderson said: "At 5-3 I was feeling alright but Dave came back. I scraped it but I'm happy with a point."

Three-dart averages
Anderson: 101.46
Chisnall: 98.98 

SCORING
100+ thrown
Anderson: 15
Chisnall: 8
140+ thrown
Anderson: 10
Chisnall: 6
180 thrown
Anderson: 2
Chisnall: 8

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Anderson: N/A (88 highest)
Chisnall: N/A (74 highest)

Checkout percentage
Anderson: 35.29% (6/17)
Chisnall: 31.58% (7/14)

Michael van Gerwen 6-6 Peter Wright

Michael van Gerwen fought back from 5-1 down to force a 6-6 draw with Peter Wright on Night 11 of Premier League Darts.   

The reigning world champion was not his usual self, but still managed to escape from a subdued display with a point.

Wright took the first leg when van Gerwen's attempt at double eight slipped into single 11, and from there the Scot raced into a 4-0 lead.

After the next two legs were shared, van Gerwen could be seen literally pulling up his socks and it was from this point that he began to reduce the deficit.

He hit double 20 to get within three and double six to get within two, and while Wright guaranteed himself a draw by moving into a 6-3 lead, the tide had started to turn.

Despite being way below his best, van Gerwen won leg 10 after Snakebite's dart for a 160 checkout missed its target, before producing an 11-dart leg to really ramp up the pressure.

A scrappy, tense finale saw Wright earn himself a dart for the match, but when he narrowly missed double 16, van Gerwen stepped in to take out 68 in two darts.

"I should have had two points,” said Van Gerwen. "One point is not enough and if you don't win you always need to make sure you're frustrated with yourself.

"At the beginning of the game I missed doubles - I could have been 2-1 or 3-0 up - so after that you are happy to get a point. I can only blame myself, I played rubbish."

Three-dart averages
Van Gerwen: 103.48
Wright: 99.79

SCORING
100+ thrown
Van Gerwen: 13
Wright: 23
140+ thrown
Van Gerwen: 11
Wright: 9
180 thrown
Van Gerwen: 4
Wright: 2

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Van Gerwen: N/A (68 highest)
Wright: 108

Checkout percentage
Van Gerwen: 37.5% (6/16)
Wright: 50% (6/12)

Adrian Lewis 7-4 Raymond van Barneveld

Adrian Lewis hit a perfect nine-dart finish on his way to a 7-4 Premier League victory over Raymond van Barneveld.  

Having taken out 140 to open up a 2-0 lead before van Barneveld chucked in a 128 to get back within one, the pair exchanged maximums to begin the fourth leg.

Lewis, though, kept the ball rolling with another to leave 141, which he took out for a nine-darter as he showed a glimpse of the form which made him a twice world champion.

Van Barneveld missed a dart for leg five and was made to pay as Lewis took out 98, but the Dutchman kept on the tail of his opponent by taking the sixth leg on double eight.

Lewis was proving impossible to peg back on throw, taking leg seven comfortably, but a 76 finish from van Barneveld again reduced the deficit to two legs.

For once, van Barneveld was able to set up a chance at 5-3 down, but three poor darts from 81 enabled Lewis to come in a clean up.

Once more, van Barneveld refused to lie down, taking out 70 in the next, but in a fitting end to a performance which had it all, Lewis hit bullseye for a 7-4 win.

He hit six maximums, his fifth televised nine-dart finish, averaged over 111 and, for long periods, was at his fluid best.

"It's really special and a great feeling," said Lewis. "I've been threatening a nine-darter for the last couple of weeks in the floor tournaments and tonight I was determined not to miss it.

"The nine-darter's great but to get the win was important too. I knew I had to put in a performance and tonight I've come out a champion.

"Ray's been on a purple patch and even after I hit the nine-darter he was digging in and keeping me under pressure. It keeps me in the mix for the Play-Offs, I've won five games out of six and it's brilliant."

Three-dart averages
Lewis: 111.52
Van Barneveld: 99.29

SCORING
100+ thrown
Lewis: 12
Van Barneveld: 10
140+ thrown
Lewis: 10
Van Barneveld: 7
180 thrown
Lewis: 6
Van Barneveld: 5

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Lewis: 141, 140
Van Barneveld: 128

Checkout percentage
Lewis: 70% (7/10)
Van Barneveld: 44.44% (4/9)

Phil Taylor 5-7 James Wade

James Wade beat Phil Taylor for the first time in the Premier League since 2009, fighting back for a 7-5 victory.

Despite trailing 2-0 and 5-3, Wade's patented never-say-die attitude and clinical finishing saw him secure a vital victory in his quest for a semi-final spot.

Taylor started well, easily holding in the first leg before taking out 84 in two darts to open up a 2-0 lead.

Wade, though, responded with an opportunistic 64 on double 10 after Taylor had missed a dart for leg three, and scores were level after Wade won the fourth, mopping up back at his favourite double despite narrowly missing a dart for a 137.

A two-dart 82 finish saw Taylor move back in front but Wade again had the answers, taking out 106 on double 13, but Taylor didn't let it stop him as he took the following two legs under no real pressure, latterly with a 96 checkout.

At 5-3 up, Taylor then missed five darts for a guaranteed point and this proved the turning point, Wade hitting double 18 for 5-4 and then double six to level things up once more.

Wade then found his and indeed the game's first maximum before taking out 120 to move in front for the first time, before a clinical 12-dart hold saw him wrap up victory.

"It's hard when you're struggling and I tortured myself for 80 per cent of the game," said Wade. "I've given a few games away and I'm where I am because I haven't played well enough.

"Phil played poorly and I made the most of it, but I've been practising hard and that showed in the last few legs."

Three-dart averages
Taylor: 98.96
Wade: 93.88

SCORING
100+ thrown
Taylor: 15
Wade: 19
140+ thrown
Taylor: 10
Wade: 10
180 thrown
Taylor: 1
Wade: 1

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Taylor: N/A (Highest 96)
Wade: 120, 106

Checkout percentage
Taylor: 33.33% (5/15)
Wade: 43.75% (7/16)

Peter Wright 2-7 Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson produced some of his best darts to thrash Peter Wright 7-2 in the final match in Liverpool.

Anderson threw six 180s and averaged 113.44 in a quality display which saw him rattle off five legs in succession for a valuable success.

Wright could do nothing to stop his opponent, averaging a respectable 103.85 but ultimately well beaten on a disappointing night, following his earlier draw with Michael van Gerwen.

The first four legs of the match were shared on throw, Wright taking out 116 to get things off and running before Anderson stepped in to hit double 10, Wright then finally hitting double five after Anderson had twice bust his score, but Anderson responding with six darts from 244 in the fourth.

The ease with which he won that leg seemed to help Anderson erase memories of the third, which saw him hit single 13 when needing double six, then double 13 when again on 12, and from then on he was exceptional.

Leg five saw him hit double 20 with Wright lurking, he hit the same double in a similar situation for leg six, and then switched to double 18 for leg seven.

In full flight now, Anderson hit 19, treble 19, bullseye for a 126 finish to lead 6-2, before mopping up on double 14 afyer Wright had missed a dart at bull to keep the match alive. 

"It's been a good night," said Anderson. "I scraped a point against Dave but I played well there against Peter.

"I was lucky against Chizzy at the end. I was 5-3 up and hit a wall but he missed and I pinched a point and I was happy with that.

"In the last game I think I played alright. Sometimes you know they're going to go in when you let go and it felt good, it felt like they were going the way they should be."

Three-dart averages
Wright: 103.85
Anderson: 113.44

SCORING
100+ thrown
Wright: 12
Anderson: 10
140+ thrown
Wright: 7
Anderson: 8
180 thrown
Wright: 4
Anderson: 6

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wright: 116
Anderson: 126

Checkout percentage
Wright: 25% (2/8)
Anderson: 41.18% (7/17)  

Premier League Darts Week 11: Statistics

Three-dart averages
Gary Anderson (v Wright): 113.44
Adrian Lewis: 111.52
Peter Wright (v Anderson): 103.85
Michael van Gerwen: 103.48
Gary Anderson (v Chizzy): 101.46
Peter Wright (v MVG): 99.79
Raymond van Barneveld: 99.29
Dave Chisnall : 98.98 
Phil Taylor: 98.96
James Wade: 93.88 

180s Thrown
Dave Chisnall: 8
Adrian Lewis: 6
Gary Anderson (v Wright): 6
Raymond van Barneveld: 5
Michael van Gerwen: 4
Peter Wright (v Anderson): 4
Peter Wright (v MVG): 2
Gary Anderson (v Chizzy): 2
Phil Taylor: 1
James Wade: 1 

Checkouts over 100
Adrian Lewis: 141
Adrian Lewis: 140
Raymond van Barneveld: 128
Gary Anderson (v Wright): 126
James Wade: 120
Peter Wright (v Anderson): 116
Peter Wright (v MVG): 108
James Wade: 106

Checkout percentages
Adrian Lewis:  70% (7/10)
Peter Wright (v MVG):  50% (6/12)
Raymond van Barneveld: 44.44% (4/9)
James Wade: 43.75% (7/16)
Gary Anderson (v Wright): 41.18% (7/17)
Michael van Gerwen: 37.5% (6/16)
Gary Anderson (v Chizzy): 35.29% (6/17)
Phil Taylor:  33.33% (5/15)
Dave Chisnall: 31.58% (7/14)
Peter Wright (v Anderson): 25% (2/8) 

Premier League Darts 2017 Table

MVG P 11 W 7 D 3 L 1 LegD +21 Pts 17
Wright P 12 W 6 D 3 L 3 LegD +11 Pts 15
Anderson P 12 W 5 D 4 L 3 LegD +11 Pts 14
RVB P 12 W 6 D 2 L 4 LegD +6 Pts 14
Taylor P 11 W 5 D 3 L 3 LegD +7 Pts 13
Lewis P 11 W 6 D 1 L 4 LegD +7 Pts 13
Wade P 12 W 4 D 2 L 6 LegD -8 Pts 10
Chisnall P 11 W 3 D 2 L 6 LegD -16 Pts 8
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 

Next Week's Fixtures

Night 12, Thursday April 20
The SSE Arena, Belfast
TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (1900 GMT)

Dave Chisnall v Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Peter Wright v James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Dave Chisnall v Phil Taylor

Tickets: 028 9073 9074 or 0844 277 4455 or via www.ssearenabelfast.com