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

Premier League Darts results: Michael Smith thumps Peter Wright to seal play-off spot but loses 7-1 to MVG

20:48 · THU May 03, 2018

Michael Smith thrashed Peter Wright 7-1 for the second time this season to seal his Premier League play-off spot but later lost by the same scoreline to MVG.

Scroll down below the match-by-match reports for statistics and updated table

MVG batters Smith to end winless run

Michael van Gerwen ended a run of three Premier League games without a win in emphatic fashion as he thrashed Michael Smith 7-1 in their top-of-the-table clash that ended an intriguing night in Manchester.

Having suffered double disappointment on home soil in Rotterdam last week, losing to Peter Wright on Wednesday and Raymond van Barneveld 24 hours later, the leader then had to scrap to earn a 6-6 draw with Daryl Gurney earlier this evening (details of all the other matches below).

Defeat to Bully Boy, who crushed Peter Wright 7-1 to all but seal his play-off spot in the opening match of the night, would have seen him surrender top spot to the impressive St Helens man and the crowd anticipated a cracking showdown.

As it turned out, neither player were able to get near their best, with MVG averaging less than 100 (94.76) for the first time in 36 Premier League games while he only hit two 180s and his highest checkout was 40.

The world number one also missed 11 darts at doubles but it cost him very little as Smith only managed to hit one of his nine attempts in a poor display that was of stark contrast to many of his performances this season.

He was even in danger of suffering the 10th whitewash in Premier League history - and second of the season after he inflicted the misery on Barney in Liverpool - but salvaged a morsel of pride by taking the seventh leg.

Smith is still set to appear at the O2 for Finals Night on May 17 play-off spot given his vastly superior leg difference over fifth-placed Daryl Gurney, who can only reach Smith's current mark of 18 points if he wins his last two games.

BIG CHECKOUTS! 👊

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 😱 pic.twitter.com/A3aOxyE69o
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 27, 2018

MVG told www.pdc.tv: "I feel good, I didn't make a lot of mistakes and now I can focus on The O2. I believe in myself. I know what I can do, I've been top of the table for the last five years. I know I can be better but it doesn't matter because I'm top of the table."

Smith bullies Wright

Michael Smith all but sealed his place in the Premier League play-offs with a thumping 7-1 victory over Peter Wright in Manchester.

It's the second time this season he's thrashed the 2017 runner-up by this scoreline as he once again underlined his potential to go all the way to glory.

Bully Boy was among the favourites for relegation at the start of the campaign - and an 80/1 outsider to triumph - but he's now amassed 18 points and can now book his hotel for the O2 on May 17.

The St Helens thrower got off to a flying start by throwing a 180 at his first visit as he took the opening leg in 12 darts and quickly won the next three in 13, 14 and 12.

The last of this run of four successive legs was finished off with a superb 128 checkout before Wright finally got on the board.

Smith moved 5-1 up before taking out 126 on the bullseye and moments later completed the victory, ending with an average of 104.86.

OH MY!

More missed darts from Wright and Smith capitalises with a brilliant 126 checkout.

He is looking SUPERB in this year's @Unibet Premier League. #Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/CrdrHx2AD4
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 26, 2018

MVG held by Gurney

Michael van Gerwen failed to win a Premier League match for the third time in a row - and even had to hold his nerve in the final leg to rescue a 6-6 draw with Daryl Gurney.

A week after suffering two shock defeats in Rotterdam against Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld, an angry world number one was eager to bounce back to winning ways in Manchester.

However, despite averaging over 100 for the 35th Premier League game in succession (this time posting 104.96) and hitting almost 50% of his doubles, he was taken the distance by the gutsy Northern Irishman.

Gurney, who averaged 100, desperately needed victory to keep his faint play-off hopes alive and it looked as though he might go and sneak an upset win when taking out a superb 156 checkout to level an absorbing contest at 5-5.

He pinned double 16 in the next for a 13-darter to guarantee a point only for a wobbly MVG to finally seal a point after missing three darts at doubles from 32.

As well as the 156, Gurney also weighed in with a 107 checkout earlier in the match with MVG contributing ton+ finishes of 130 and 121.

This checkout from @Superchin180, though... 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ySMX2piHZK
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 27, 2018

Gurney, who needs to win his remaining two games to stand a chance of reaching the play-offs, said: "To be 6-5 up and if Michael had a bad leg I could maybe have stolen the game, but he started off with a 180 and I knew then I was kindof in trouble. At that stage I knew I was probably going to get a point.

"I don't care who I'm playing - I never ever give up. I'm one of the best players in the world for one reason, and it doesn't matter who I'm playing I won't give up or give them an easy game."

Wizard finds his book of magic at last

Simon Whitlock upset the odds and the form book to claim a shock 7-5 victory over Gary Anderson, which creates just a little doubt over the Scotsman's hopes of sealing a spot in the play-offs.

While Anderson was at his majestic best with three victories in Rotterdam last week, the Wizard's Premier League campaign fell apart completely as he suffered back-to-back 7-1 defeats.

Although Whitlock's chances of qualifying for the O2 are still over as he lies five points behind fourth-placed Anderson with just two games remaining, Daryl Gurney is three short and could potentially sneak in. Albeit unlikely.

The not so Flying Scotsman was out-of-sorts compared to previous weeks, throwing just two 180s and posting a disappointing - by his high standards - 94.45 average although he did raise the roof with a 135 checkout after Whitlock had missed his first match dart in the 11th leg.

Anderson earned himself a shot at tops for a 111 checkout to earn a point but he missed, with Whitlock returning to take out a victory-sealing 70.

WHITLOCK WINS!

Simon Whitlock throws the @Unibet Premier League WIDE OPEN with a brilliant victory over Gary Anderson.

What a set-up shot to win it too! pic.twitter.com/0vzmzls3Wl
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 26, 2018

Barney's play-off dreams over

Raymond van Barneveld's chances of qualifying for the Premier League play-offs are now over after a 6-6 draw with Rob Cross.

Barney's heroic double win in Rotterdam last week, which included a memorable victory over Michael van Gerwen, gave him a glimmer of hope of reaching Finals Night at the O2 on May 17 but he needed to nothing short of two more points against the world champion.

The crowd were firmly behind the veteran Dutchman, who thrilled them with a 129 checkout on the bullseye in the fifth leg only for Cross to go on and open up a 5-3 lead.

Barney battled bravely in a scrappy contest to win the next three legs but a clinical 13-darter from Cross in the decider moved him up to 18 points and is almost in the play-offs for sure.

BIG from BARNEY!

A stunning 129 checkout from the five-time World Champion to close the gap. #Unibet180 pic.twitter.com/OoVXTtaZ83
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 26, 2018

With Gurney four points behind Cross with two games left, Voltage needs just a point. He said: "It wasn't the best game tonight, from both of us, but darts is a funny game sometimes. I've still got a job to do and I can't afford to lose my next two games. I'm not bothered where I finish in the top four as long as I make the Play-Offs."