Debutant Jonny Clayton tops the Unibet Premier League table heading into the first mid-season break after he claimed a 7-4 win over Gary Anderson in Milton Keynes on Friday.
Clayton's dream start to his maiden Premier League campaign continued as he averaged just under 100 to go a point clear at the summit on seven points.
The Welshman fired in six 180s and took advantage of ten missed double attempts from Anderson to end the first block of league action on a high.
"You dream of having a start like this for a first attempt in such a big tournament, I'm one happy Welshman," said a delighted Clayton, who hit a nine-darter on Night Three.
π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ 'I'm one happy Welshman'. Jonny Clayton adapts to Gary Anderson's speed to chalk up another win on the Premier League as the dream continues for The Ferret. π@JonnyClay9 #Unibet180 | #PLDarts21 | @OfficialPDC pic.twitter.com/HMxa2NlgaB
β Unibet (@unibet) April 9, 2021
"Gary has always been one of my favourite players, I love the way he plays, so to beat him on a stage like this is a dream come true.
"The game was played at some pace, by the time I'd had a sip of water it was already my turn to throw. It was maybe a little bit quick for me but it didn't do me too much harm."
Mixed emotions for Aspinall
Last year's runner-up Nathan Aspinall produced a stellar 105.38 average in a 6-6 draw with Michael van Gerwen, but was left relieved at the end of the match after Van Gerwen missed a match dart.
Five-time Premier League champion Van Gerwen was looking to bounce back from a surprise defeat to James Wade on Night Four, but was unable to break down a resurgent Aspinall.
Having pinned checkouts of 148 and 100, Van Gerwen led 6-5 and earned himself one dart at double top for the match.
Aspinall snatches a draw!
β PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 9, 2021
Van Gerwen misses a dart for all the points but Aspinall finds a brilliant dart into tops to pick up a deserved draw in that match!
105 average to Van Gerwen's 99... what a class game π pic.twitter.com/qdRlHA61CV
Van Gerwen dropped low with his attempt, but Aspinall made no mistake on the same target with his last dart in hand to wrap up a 68 checkout for the match.
"I'm very happy to get a point," said Aspinall. "For me he's the best player in the world so to get any result against Michael is always a positive.
"I've had a great week, if I'd been offered six points from the first ten available I would've taken that 100 per cent.
"I'm getting better with every night, I'm feeling more and more confident and I'm looking forward to coming back refreshed."
De Sousa delivers again
For the second night running Jose de Sousa produced the performance of the night in claiming his first Premier League victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh, running out a 7-3 victor.
A nine-dart hitter on Night Four, De Sousa rattled in six trademark 180s but improved accuracy on the outer ring saw him hit 50 per cent of his checkout attempt to claim a valuable two points.
π πππ₯π¦π§ πͺππ‘ ππ’π₯ ππ π¦π’π¨π¦π
β PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 9, 2021
Jose de Sousa gets his first win on the board as he ends Dimitri Van den Bergh's unbeaten run.
That wraps up the first five nights of the @unibet Premier League! pic.twitter.com/gLZRCD15IT
Wright you are then
Peter Wright extended his unbeaten run to three matches as he recovered from 5-3 down to claim a 7-5 victory over Rob Cross.
A change of darts didn't seem to be working for Wright in the early stages, but he found a way to win the final four legs without reply to leapfrog Cross in the league standings.
James Wade backed up his defeat of Van Gerwen on Night Four with a comfortable 7-3 success over Glen Durrant.
Two-time Premier League winner Wade was on target with 50% of his checkout attempts, including a 152 finish to deny a route into the contest for defending champion Durrant, who appears destined for an early elimination following five straight losses.
James Wade gets the win!
β PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 9, 2021
Tops for The Machine and he clinches a 7-4 victory over Glen Durrant... pic.twitter.com/5f2R29ivhN
Night 5 results
- Gary Anderson 4-7 Jonny Clayton
- Peter Wright 7-5 Rob Cross
- Michael van Gerwen 6-6 Nathan Aspinall
- James Wade 7-3 Glen Durrant
- Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-7 Jose de Sousa
