Michael van Gerwen in action against Michael Smith (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Premier League darts results: Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross claim impressive wins in Liverpool

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Fri April 12, 2019 · 6y ago

Results, review and highlights from Unibet Premier League Darts night 11 in Liverpool, as the top two Rob Cross and Michael van Gerwen both won.

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Mighty Mike bullies Smith

Michael van Gerwen averaged almost 110 as he crushed Michael Smith 8-3 at The M&S Bank Arena to keep the pressure on Premier League leader Rob Cross ahead of their top-of-the-table clash next Thursday.

After Voltage had despatched Peter Wright at the start of the evening to move three points clear, MVG responded in the best possible fashion in a repeat of the 2018 final and the climax of the 2019 World Championship.

It was his fourth victory in a row over Bully Boy and a third in 2019 having also beaten him on the opening night of the Premier League - and this performance in Liverpool was easily his best in the tournament since then.

Van Gerwen, whose average of 109.11 was boosted by just two 180s, missed just five darts at doubles while he was particularly explosive during the early stages of the match, reeling off two 11-darters and finishing a 12-darter with a 122 checkout as he romped into a 4-0 lead.

Smith stopped the rot with a 12-darter but by the time he managed another it was only to reduce the deficit to 6-2 and despite pulling another back with a finish from 70, MVG prompted sealed the victory with checkouts from 76 and 80.

The St Helens thrower, who hit five 180s and averaged 100, spurned 12 of his 15 darts at doubles and still props up the table with eight points - four behind the play-off places.

"I knew I had to do something special and I think I did that today," said Van Gerwen. "My doubles were phenomenal and I put Michael under pressure from the beginning.

"I've been steady this year and not made a lot of mistakes. I performed well today and I want to keep it going - but there is more to come.

"Rob is playing really good darts at the moment so I know I'm going to have to play at my best to beat him next week, and this win is good for my confidence."

Voltage still hot despite illness

Rob Cross maintained his grip on top spot in the Premier League despite a recent bout of tonsillitis as he defeated Peter Wright 8-5 in Liverpool.

Voltage was forced to pull out of Sunday's Players Championship event and spent much of the week in bed recovering but you'd never have guessed given the standard of his performance, averaging 102 in an impressive victory that was sealed with an 11-darter and initially sent him three points clear.

It was the eighth time in 11 matches that Cross has recorded a three-figure average while he also hit four 180s and pinned eight of his 15 attempts at doubles during his third triumph on the spin.

His match high checkout of 140 was one of two he managed above 100 although Wright also contributed to an entertaining affair by firing in a pair of his own as well as four maximums.

When Cross landed a 105 finish to complete a 12-darter, Snakebite threatened a comeback by taking three of the next four legs, including checkouts of 106 and 104 but it was to prove in vain.

Snakebite averaged just over 100 but he's now in danger of losing touch of the top four on nine points.

Cross said: "I've not really felt myself so it was nice to get a result. I hit my doubles well and the 140 was important to get my nose in front and was the catalyst for me. I'm in a good position but the first aim is to make sure I'm in the Play-Offs."

Wade and Gurney share spoils

James Wade moved up to third in the Premier League table - but only on legs difference - after an entertaining 7-7 draw with Daryl Gurney.

Both players are now on 12 points alongside fourth-placed Gerwyn Price and Mensur Suljovic in fifth as the race for the play-offs intensifies with just five weeks of the regular season remaining.

The Machine was bossed by Gurney on the averages and the 180s while he also had to come back from two-leg deficits on three occasions - 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3 - but it was the Northern Irishman who had to win the decider for a share of the spoils, doing it in style with a superb 10-darter.

Wade, who won his first PDC title of the season on Saturday, only averaged 90 compared to Gurney's 104 and hit five fewer maximums than his opponent's six, although his finishing was marginally superior as he converted seven of his 13 attempts at doubles.

Gurney will rue the fact three of eight missed doubles came in one leg when he led 5-3 as the ultimate punisher Wade began a run of three legs on the spin before the recent German Darts Championship winner stopped the rot with a superb 11-darter.

"I want to get myself into the Play-Offs so it feels like a point lost," admitted Gurney. "I messed up a few legs and that's cost me a point.

"I was determined to win tonight as James beat me 7-0 the last time we played. A point is better than nothing but there's four of us on 12 points now so it's very tight."

Price keeps cool against Suljovic

Gerwyn Price came through a scrappy battle with Mensur Suljovic to leapfrog the Austrian in the Premier League table and boost his play-off chances.

The Iceman's below-par average of 89 was marginally better than Suljovic's 88 while they hit just two maximums apiece and failed to produce a checkout above 100 as neither player gave the Liverpool crowd much to shout about.

But Price, who is now on a three-match unbeaten run, won't really care having moved into the top four on 12 points courtesy of his 8-5 triumph and above fifth-placed Suljovic on legs difference.

The Grand Slam of Darts champion, who has also won two PDC titles this season, looked to be coasting when his match high checkout of 86 that completed a 12-darter saw him race into a 3-0 lead only for Suljovic to bounce back with four legs on the trot.

Price responded with a run of four of his own before the Gentle grabbed his last leg of the match, with the Welshman sealing maximum points with a 13-darter.

The result sees Price, who hit eight of his 18 double compared to Suljovic's five from 19, bounce back from the disappointment of missing two match darts in a 7-7 draw with Michael van Gerwen last Thursday.

"Every two points is vital now so I'm happy with the win but not as happy with my performance," said Price. "I know Mensur's game inside out and I thought I had him under control early on.

"I'm under the weather and neither of us were at our best, so I think I'm lucky to get a win. In the last couple of weeks I've been doing alright and I'm confident going to Cardiff next week."