Premier League Darts: Van Gerwen whitewashes Lewis 7-0

MVG's third career 7-0 win in the Premier League moves him three points clear of Wright at the top of the table but both players are now assured of a place at London's O2 with two rounds of fixtures to spare.

The Dutchman averaged a stunning 110.75, hit three 180s and made seven of his 10 darts at doubles as he inflicted more misery on a dejected Jackpot, who was beaten 7-4 by James Wade earlier, to put his top-four hopes in jeopardy.

Lewis, a nine-dart hero from two weeks ago in Liverpool, needed a win to bounce back from last Thursday's defeat to Chisnall but he produced his first of two below-par performances against the Machine.

Lewis averaged only 96.68 and missed 12 of his 16 shots at doubles as Wade made him pay with checkouts of 100, 74, 70 and 66 during his win.

It could have been a different night for van Gerwen had Chizzy converted one of his three darts at double 18 for the match in the 10th leg but he missed them all and the world number one capitalised to earn a share of the spoils.

While the point guaranteed MVG's top-four status, he quickly turned his focus to cementing his position at the summit and the £25,000 league winner's bonus after watching second-placed Wright beat Taylor 7-3 with a clinical display of finishing.

After the opening four legs were shared, Snakebite romped into a 6-2 lead with the help of checkouts from 116, 104 and 96 and although he wasted four match darts in the next leg as Taylor pulled one back, he made no mistake by taking out 78.

The Power meanwhile, remains in the cluster of player battling for the remaining two places - but next week he faces MVG in Sheffield.

Gary Anderson leapfrogged Taylor up to third with an entertaining 7-4 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.

The Flying Scotsman suffered a disappointing defeat to the Power seven days earlier but was much closer to his best in Birmingham as he averaged 105.47 and delighted the crowd with a 161 checkout.

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. 

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James Wade 7-4 Adrian Lewis

Adrian Lewis' hopes of reaching the Premier League Darts play-offs suffered a blow as James Wade beat him 7-4 in Birmingham.

Jackpot needed a win to bounce back from last Thursday's defeat to Dave Chisnall but he produced a below-par performance against a clinical Wade.

Lewis' was a different player to the one who landed a nine-dart finish in Liverpool two weeks ago, averaging just 96.68 and missing 12 of his 16 shots at doubles as his opponent made him pay with checkouts of 100, 74, 70 and 66 during the match.

Wade told www.pdc.tv: "I played okay and did enough to win, and that's what I strive to do. Adrian was below par tonight.

"It's two more points and it's a shame I didn't do this a few weeks ago. I've played poorly but I'm still enjoying it. This will be too little, too late, but hopefully I can do myself justice in the next two games.

"In my eyes, it's not possible for me to qualify - I might have left it too late but I can spoil it for the other players who need the points." 

Three-dart averages
Wade: 93.74
Lewis: 96.68

SCORING
100+ thrown
Wade: 18
Lewis: 18
140+ thrown
Wade: 8
Lewis: 8
180 thrown
Wade: 0
Lewis: 0

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wade: 100
Lewis: N/A (Highest: 73)

Checkout percentage
Wade: 53.85 (7/13)
Lewis: 25% (4/16) 

Dave Chisnall 6-6 Michael van Gerwen

Premier League Darts leader Michael van Gerwen came from 5-2 and 6-3 down to escape with a 6-6 draw against Dave Chisnall.

The world number one also survived three match darts from Chizzy in the 10th leg before clinically taking out 34 at the first attempt before finishing 188 in four darts - thanks to a timley maximum - to avoid defeat.

Van Gerwen, who averaged a fairly mediocre 101.95 by his high standards, is now assured of his place in the play-offs - as if it was in any doubt.

Chisnall will be rueing another potential high-profile scalp slipping through his fingers having blown seven match darts in a 6-6 draw with Gary Anderson in Liverpool.

Nevertheless his unbeaten run of five games, which includes back-to-back wins in Belfast, keeps alive his slim top-four hopes.

Chisnall said: "It's a point lost. I had shots to win the match and I'm really disappointed, but it's not a defeat.

"I had the chance at the 36 and didn't take it, and Michael did what he does and came back. I had some chances early on that I took, but you have to hit your doubles against Michael.

"I've got to win my next two matches and see if the results go for me, because it's very close. I'm still in it and I've not lost in five games now, and I still think I can get through to The O2." 

Three-dart averages
Chisnall: 99.04
Van Gerwen: 101.95

SCORING
100+ thrown
Chisnall: 10
Van Gerwen: 11
140+ thrown
Chisnall: 11
Van Gerwen: 11
180 thrown
Chisnall: 5
Van Gerwen: 3 

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Chisnall: N/A (Highest: 84)
Van Gerwen: N/A (Highest: 87)

Checkout percentage
Chisnall: 33.33% (6/18)
Van Gerwen: 33.33% (6/18)

Phil Taylor 3-7 Peter Wright

Peter Wright claimed a commanding 7-3 victory over Phil Taylor which proved good enough by the end of the night to assure his place in the play-offs.

The Power, however, remains in the cluster of players battling for the two remaining places behind Michael van Gerwen and Wright.

Snakebite came into this clash with confidence after winning the German Darts Open on Sunday and while his scoring hardly set the pulses racing at The Barclaycard Arena, he produced a string of high checkouts to keep Taylor down.

With the scores level at 2-2, Wright landed successive finishes of 104, 116 and 96 to go 5-2 up before guaranteeing himself at least a point by taking out 32.

He missed four match darts in the next leg as the six-time former Premier League champion pulled one back but there was to be no repeat of his stunning comeback against Gary Anderson the previous week.

An attempt at the bullseye narrowly missed in the 10th leg, with Wright returning to clinically take out 78 and maximum points.

Wright said:  "The plan was just to try and win my game tonight, regardless of what happens with qualifying. I wasn't great but I didn't play as well as I wanted to tonight but I got the win.

"My finishing was good but I wasn't really happy with my scoring, but it's always hard to beat Phil so I'm pleased with that.

"It's amazing where I've come to, I used to be 5/1 against Phil and I was odds-on today, but it's down to the hard work I've done.

"I want to win my last two games and push for that top spot and challenge Michael, and then try and win the final at The O2. I want to push Michael and I'm not happy being second to him, I want to beat him." 

Three-dart averages
Taylor: 95.69
Wright: 94.32

SCORING
100+ thrown
Taylor: 7
Wright: 16
140+ thrown
Taylor: 8
Wright: 9
180 thrown
Taylor: 4
Wright: 1

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Taylor: N/A (Highest 93)
Wright: 116, 104

Checkout percentage
Taylor: 25% (3/12)
Wright: 41.18 (7/17)

Gary Anderson 7-4 Raymond van Barneveld

Gary Anderson moved up to third in the Premier League table after claiming a crucial 7-4 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.

In an entertaining battle between two of the top-four hopefuls, the former two-time champion got off to a flying start with a 13-darter and also fired a 161 checkout as he surged into leads of 3-0 and 4-1.

Van Barneveld dug deep and responded with three legs on the trot to restore parity but three missed darts in the ninth leg allowed the Scotsman to seize back the initiative before going on to seal maximum points.

The result not only puts Anderson in the driving seat for one of the two remaining play-off spots but it also saw him avenge the defeat he suffered at the hands of Barney in Rotterdam.

Anderson said: "It's two points and I'm always happy to get the win. It could have been a better performance but I hit the important doubles in the end.

"I got well in front against Phil last week and then fell asleep and I nearly did it again, so I need to finish people off when I get ahead like that - but I got the job done in the end." 

Three-dart averages
Anderson: 105.47
Van Barneveld: 101.98

SCORING
100+ thrown
Anderson: 12
Van Barneveld: 17
140+ thrown
Anderson: 12
Van Barneveld: 9
180 thrown
Anderson: 1
Van Barneveld: 2

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Anderson: 161
Van Barneveld: N/A (Highest: 85)

Checkout percentage
Anderson: 53.85% (7/13)
Van Barneveld: 33.33% (4/12) 

Adrian Lewis 0-7 Michael van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen powered to his third career Premier League whitewash as he thrashed Adrian Lewis 7-0 on a disasterous night for Jackpot.

The world number one averaged 110.75, hit three 180s and made seven of his 10 darts at doubles during a ruthless display as Lewis suffered his second defeat in Birmingham.

It was only the eighth whitewash in the history of the competition and he's now in pole position to earn the £25,000 league leader's bonus.

Van Gerwen said: "It's been a good evening for me. To go home with three points is good and I think I made a great night of it at the end with the win over Adrian.

"It was a fantastic performance and I played phenomenal against Adrian - I came alive and everything clicked.

"The first step is getting into the play-offs and the biggest step is at The O2, and I want to keep this going now. I'm feeling good and I'm playing really well."

Three-dart averages
Lewis: 94.53
Van Gerwen: 110.75

SCORING
100+ thrown
Lewis: 11
Van Gerwen: 7
140+ thrown
Lewis: 3
Van Gerwen: 6
180 thrown
Lewis: 0
Van Gerwen: 3

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Lewis: N/A
Van Gerwen: N/A (Highest: 93)

Checkout percentage
Lewis: 0
Van Gerwen: 70% (7/10)

Premier League Darts 2017 Table

MVG P 14 W 9 D 4 L 1 LegD +33 Pts 22
Wright P 14 W 8 D 3 L 3 LegD +19 Pts 19
Anderson P 14 W 6 D 4 L 4 LegD +11 Pts 16
Taylor P 14 W 6 D 3 L 5 LegD +1 Pts 15
RVB P 14 W 6 D 2 L 6 LegD -2 Pts 14
Lewis P 14 W 6 D 1 L 7 LegD -7 Pts 13
Chisnall P 14 W 5 D 3 L 6 LegD -7 Pts 13
Wade P 14 W 5 D 2 L 7 LegD -9 Pts 12
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  

Premier League Darts Week 13: Statistics

Three-dart averages
Michael van Gerwen (v Lewis): 110.75
Gary Anderson: 105.47
Raymond van Barneveld: 101.98
Michael van Gerwen (v Chisnall): 101.95
Dave Chisnall: 99.04
Adrian Lewis (v Wade): 96.68
Phil Taylor: 95.69
Adrian Lewis (v Van Gerwen): 94.53
Peter Wright: 94.32
James Wade: 93.74

180s Thrown
Dave Chisnall: 5
Phil Taylor: 4
Michael van Gerwen (v Chisnall): 3
Michael van Gerwen (v Lewis): 3
Raymond van Barneveld: 2
Peter Wright: 1
Gary Anderson: 1
James Wade: 0
Adrian Lewis (v Wade): 0
Adrian Lewis (v Van Gerwen): 0

Checkouts over 100
Gary Anderson: 161
Peter Wright: 116
Peter Wright: 104
James Wade: 100

Checkout percentages
Michael van Gerwen (v Lewis): 70% (7/10)
Gary Anderson: 53.85% (7/13)
James Wade: 53.85% (7/13)
Peter Wright:  41.18 (7/17)
Michael van Gerwen (v Chisnall): 33.33% (6/18)
Dave Chisnall: 33.33% (6/18)
Raymond van Barneveld: 33.33% (4/12)
Adrian Lewis (v Wade): 25% (4/16)
Phil Taylor:  25% (3/12)
Adrian Lewis (v Van Gerwen): 0

Next week's fixtures

Night 14, Thursday May 4
Sheffield Arena
TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (1900 GMT)
Peter Wright v Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld v Dave Chisnall
James Wade v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0114 256 5656 or via www.sheffieldarena.co.uk