The full results, selected highlights, match reports and statistics from the 2018 Premier League Darts season.
The Premier League Darts season, which got underway in Dublin on February 1, has concluded in emphatic fashion, with Michael van Gerwen romping away to his fourth title in his sixth successive final.
The world number one topped the regular season table for the sixth year in a row and on Play-Off night he defeated Rob Cross in the last four before trashing Michael Smith 11-4 with an astonishing average of 112.37.
Here you can look back on how the season unfolded with the final table, results, round-ups, selected match highlights and all the key statistics.
Suljovic and Price were eliminated after Judgement Night
Play-Off Night Results
MVG LIFTS HIS @UNIBET PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY | The champ lifts the trophy high.....again!#Unibet180 #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/9amY0OARR0
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 17, 2018
Scroll down further for a full look at the season's overall statistics
Night 1, February 1
3Arena, Dublin
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π Revenge is sweet for MVG#MVGvCross #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/OFAgcKGPOX
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 1, 2018
Night 2, February 8
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π―Don't miss three darts at a double when Barney is on 167...#LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/6e4F5PF8KC
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 8, 2018
Night 3, February 15
Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
ππ― What a leg!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 15, 2018
π MVG misses out on a nine-darter
π£ Gary Anderson takes out 170 on his next visit#LoveTheDarts
pic.twitter.com/wvr9eNZUPP
Night 4, February 22
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π― Gary Anderson's 150 checkout was the highlight of the night in Berlin#LoveTheDartspic.twitter.com/bQqIm2j6Cl
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 22, 2018
Night 5, March 1
Westpoint Arena, Exeter
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
****TONIGHT'S ACTION IN EXETER WAS CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW - THE FOLLOWING FIXTURES WILL BE PLAYED ON APRIL 5 IN LIVERPOOL - WHICH WILL NOW BE JUDGEMENT NIGHT****
Night 6, March 8
First Direct Arena, Leeds
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π€π―Our darts expert Chris Hammer tries to fulfil a lifetime ambition and throw a dart on the Premier League stage...
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) March 8, 2018
π©Only to be thwarted by a three-time world champion...#LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/g7PMSPW7xD
Night 7, March 15
Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π How comeback king Gary Anderson saved his match against Barney...#LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/ATdHyRHHSm
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) March 15, 2018
Night 8, March 22
The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
Ando brings the crowd to their feet with the first ton+ finish of the match#Unibet180 #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/kLobAktQpw
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 22, 2018
Night 9, March 29
The SSE Arena, Belfast
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
It looked like it may have gone close but MvG turned on the gas and run out 7-2 winner in tonight's all Dutch clash!#LoveTheDarts #Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/XFhgsd98aB
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 29, 2018
Night 10, April 5 (Judgement Night)
Echo Arena, Liverpool
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
*Following the elimination Gerwyn Price and Mensur Suljovic after Judgement Night, the remaining eight players will compete in six further nights ahead of the Play-Offs.*
π―π€ What do you do after missing 22 darts at doubles including 13 in one leg?!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) April 5, 2018
π Simon Whitlock!#lovethedarts pic.twitter.com/JuaAcHdcEN
Night 11, April 12
The FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π Gary Anderson thrashes Peter Wright 7-2
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) April 12, 2018
π― Four 180s
π 104 average
π And this 144 checkout
π½ @OfficialPDC π#lovethedartspic.twitter.com/sXy0XzzgUZ
Click here to listen to a special episode 11 of the Sporting Life Darts Podcast on iTunes for free (or soundcloud here) as John Part reflects on the incredible career of the late, great Eric Bristow.
Night 12, April 18 (Wednesday)
Ahoy Arena, Rotterdam
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
THIS EXTRA NIGHT IS TO MAKE UP FOR THE FIXTURES LOST IN EXETER IN WEEK FIVE
WHAT A WIN FOR PETER WRIGHT
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 18, 2018
van Gerwen beaten on home turf and the crowd are stunned silent π#Unibet180 #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/6e76XNwmFE
Night 13, April 19
Ahoy Arena, Rotterdam
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
π The moment Barney wins a thrilling Dutch derby in Rotterdam π―#lovethedartspic.twitter.com/sFtFsDqAYb
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) April 19, 2018
Night 14, April 26
Manchester Arena, Manchester
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
BIG CHECKOUTS! π
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 27, 2018
Watch all the ton-plus checkouts from NIGHT 13 of the @Unibet Premier League in Manchester...
We thought we would include that silly double-double 92 from Whitlock too π± pic.twitter.com/A3aOxyE69o
Night 15, May 3
Arena Birmingham
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
INCREDIBLE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 3, 2018
What a finish from Michael van Gerwen as he takes out 144 to move 5-1 ahead.#Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/bxbif8SogS
Night 16, May 10
BHGE Arena, Aberdeen
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
RIDICULOUS DARTS!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 10, 2018
Gary Anderson follows up MvG's 180 with a stunning 112 to guarantee a point in Aberdeen.
These two really bring the best out in each other. #Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/szIpEu0WEx
May 17 (Play-offs at the O2 Arena)
The O2, London
TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
πππ MVG IS THE 2018 @UNIBET PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPION πππ#Unibet180 #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/UF1qqBEaTW
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 17, 2018
HIGHEST MATCH AVERAGES (for each player)
HIGHEST WINNING MATCH AVERAGES (for each player)
HIGHEST TOURNAMENT AVERAGES (including play-offs)
MOST 180s
HIGHEST CHECKOUTS
CHECKOUT PERCENTAGES
(Title odds Price Boosted by Sky Bet)
Rob Cross capped an incredible debut year as a professional by winning the World Darts Championship, and headlines four new faces for the 2018 Premier League.
World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney, Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic and 2017 UK Open finalist Gerwyn Price will also come in to make their Prmeier League debuts.
Michael van Gerwen will be bidding to win his fourth Premier League title as the defending champion when the 2018 season begins at Dublin's 3Arena on Thursday February 1.
Former champions Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld are joined by 2017 runner-up Peter Wright, while 2012 runner-up Simon Whitlock and former World Youth Champion Michael Smith return to the Premier League field this year.
Former champion James Wade, 2011 finalist Adrian Lewis, Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts also drop out of the Premier League after competing in 2017.
Two-time defending champion Michael van Gerwen is hot favourite at 10/11 with Sky Bet to win the Premier League for a third successive year while world champion Rob Cross is next in the running at 7/2.
However, Sky Bet have boosted every player's odds ahead of the tournament meaning you can get 10/11 and 7/2 on MVG and Cross respectively...
Front Tables: Β£41 for UK venues, β¬56 for Dublin/Rotterdam/Berlin
Rear Tables: Β£36 for UK venues, β¬49 for Rotterdam/Berlin
Tiered Tickets: Β£23 for UK venues, β¬31 for Dublin/Rotterdam/Berlin
Note: Leeds and Dublin do not have Rear Tables due to smaller floor area. Ticket prices above do not include booking or transaction fees.
The below details are subject to change
The 10 competing players will face each other once in a league phase over the opening nine Thursday nights but the bottom two throwers in the table following Judgement Night will be eliminated.Six more league nights follow, with the remaining eight players facing each other once more before the top four then progress to the play-offs at The O2 in London.
Each league match is played over a maximum of 12 legs, with players earning two points for a win (by reaching seven legs) and one point for a draw. The player named on the left in the fixture will throw first in the opening leg but this will be reversed should they meet again.
If players are tied on points in the league table, leg difference will be the first deciding factor. If this is also a tie, then legs won against throw will be the next deciding factor, and any further tie would be split by a comparison of the relevant players' three-dart tournament average at that stage.
The play-offs consist of two semi-finals (best of 19 legs) and then the final (best of 21 legs), which will see the tournament's champion crowned.
Winner Β£250,000
Runner-Up Β£120,000
Semi-Finalists Β£80,000
Fifth Place Β£65,000
Sixth Place Β£55,000
Seventh Place Β£50,000
Eighth Place Β£45,000
Ninth Place Β£30,000
10th Place Β£25,000Β Β
The Premier League, a much-loved event for all darts fans and punters, was launched by Sky Sports in 2005 and takes the sport's biggest names all over the UK and Ireland as they compete in a round robin format in a bid to reach the play-offs, when the title is ultimately decided.
The world's top four automatically qualify for the event and are joined by six wildcard selections made by the PDC and Sky Sports to complete a final field.
Unsurprisingly Phil Taylor is the most successful Premier League player of all time having topped the table eight times and going on to lift the trophy on six occasions, while he also went a record 44 games unbeaten from 2005-2008.
James Wade first broke his dominance in 2009 when defeating Taylor's conqueror Mervyn King 13-8 and The Power has only won it twice since then, with Gary Anderson (2011 & 2015), Michael van Gerwen (2013, 2016 & 2017) and Raymond van Barneveld (2014) being the other champions.
Below we have details of the past finals, a selection of records, the final table of each previous season and a look at which players have ever featured in the event.
Most Titles: Phil Taylor - 6
Longest Unbeaten Run: Phil Taylor - 44 (2005-2008)
Biggest League Victory: Phil Taylor 11-1 Wayne Mardle (2005) & Phil Taylor 11-1 Peter Manley (2005)
Biggest Play-Off Victory: Phil Taylor 16-4 Colin Lloyd (2005 Final)
Whitewashes (since dead legs removed in 2006): Colin Lloyd 8-0 Terry Jenkins (2007), Phil Taylor 8-0 Wayne Mardle (2008), James Wade 8-0 Simon Whitlock (2012), Michael van Gerwen 7-0 Phil Taylor (2014), Michael van Gerwen 7-0 James Wade (2015), Robert Thornton 0-7 Dave Chisnall (2016), Robert Thornton 0-7 Phil Taylor (2016), Michael van Gerwen 7-0 Adrian Lewis (2017)
Most 180s in a Match: Gary Anderson - 11 v Simon Whitlock (2011)
Most 180s in a Season: Gary Anderson - 79 in 2011
Top 10 High Averages:
Nine-Dart Finishes
Winner in caps & bold, runner-up in bold.
Top four each year made the play-offs (Top would play fourth)
Points in brackets
Season 2005
PHIL TAYLOR (23)
Colin Lloyd (16)
Peter Manley (12)
Roland Scholten (9)
Mark Dudbridge (8)
John Part (8)
Wayne Mardle (8)
Play-off final:
Phil Taylor 16-4 Colin Lloyd
Season 2006
PHIL TAYLOR (23)
Raymond van Barneveld (21)
Roland Scholten (10)
Colin Lloyd (9)
Ronnie Baxter (8)
Peter Manley (8)
Wayne Mardle (5)
Play-off final:
Phil Taylor 16-6 Roland Scholten
Season 2007
PHIL TAYLOR (25)
Raymond van Barneveld (17)
Terry Jenkins (15)
Dennis Priestley (13)
Colin Lloyd (12)
Peter Manley (11)
Adrian Lewis (10)
Roland Scholten (9)
Play-off final:
Phil Taylor 16-6 Terry Jenkins
Season 2008
PHIL TAYLOR (21)
James Wade (20)
Raymond van Barneveld (18)
Adrian Lewis (12)
Wayne Mardle (12)
Peter Manley (11)
Terry Jenkins (9)
John Part (9)
Play-off final:
Phil Taylor 16-8 James Wade
Season 2009
Phil Taylor (18)
JAMES WADE (17)
Raymond van Barneveld (13)
Mervyn King (12)
Terry Jenkins (9)
John Part (9)
Jelle Klaasen (6)
Play-off final:
James Wade 13-8 Mervyn King
Season 2010
PHIL TAYLOR (26)
Simon Whitlock (16)
James Wade (14)
Mervyn King (13)
Ronnie Baxter (13)
Raymond van Barneveld (11)
Adrian Lewis (11)
Terry Jenkins (8)
Play-off final:
Phil Taylor 10-8 James Wade
Season 2011
Phil Taylor (26)
Raymond van Barneveld (18)
GARY ANDERSON (17)
Adrian Lewis (14)
James Wade (13)
Simon Whitlock (11)
Terry Jenkins (8)
Mark Webster (5)
Play-off final:
Gary Anderson 10-4 Adrian Lewis
Season 2012
PHIL TAYLOR (24)
Simon Whitlock (16)
Andy Hamilton (13)
James Wade (13)
Raymond van Barneveld (13)
Adrian Lewis (12)
Kevin Painter (11)
Gary Anderson (10)
Play-off final:
Phil Taylor 10-7 Simon Whitlock
Season 2013
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN (24)
Raymond van Barneveld (23)
Phil Taylor (20)
James Wade (17)
Robert Thornton (15)
Simon Whitlock (15)
Andy Hamilton (12)
Adrian Lewis (10)
Wes Newton (5)
Gary Anderson (5)
Play-off final:
Michael van Gerwen 10-8 Phil Taylor
Season 2014
Michael van Gerwen (24)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD (20)
Phil Taylor (20)
Gary Anderson (20)
Peter Wright (17)
Adrian Lewis (15)
Dave Chisnall (10)
Robert Thornton (9)
Wes Newton (6)
Simon Whitlock (5)
Play-off final:
Raymond van Barneveld 10-6 Michael van Gerwen
Season 2015
Michael van Gerwen (23)
Dave Chisnall (22)
GARY ANDERSON (20)
Raymond van Barneveld (19)
Phil Taylor (15)
Adrian Lewis (14)
James Wade (12)
Stephen Bunting (11)
Peter Wright (6)
Kim Huybrechts (4)
Play-off final:
Gary Anderson 11-7 Michael van Gerwen
Season 2016
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN (26)
Phil Taylor (24)
Gary Anderson (20)
Adrian Lewis (19)
Peter Wright (17)
James Wade (16)
Raymond van Barneveld (12)
Robert Thornton (6)
Dave Chisnall (3)
Michael Smith (3)
Play-off final:
Michael van Gerwen 11-3 Phil Taylor
Finals Night Results
Semi Finals (Best of 19 legs)
Final (best of 21 legs)
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE 2017 SEASON RESULTS & WEEKLY REPORTS & STATS