Premier League Darts: Wright goes top as Taylor loses

Snakebite finally ended his wait for a first televised title in Minehead at the weekend and looked as though he'd maintain the momentum with flying colours against Wade as he stormed into a 5-1 lead.

The Machine battled back as Wright began to falter but kept his cool on double 16 to seal a 7-5 triumph, with his opponent waiting on 100 hoping to snatch a point.

The Scotsman replaces Phil Taylor at the top of the table after the Power suffered his first loss of the Premier League campaign at the hands of Adrian Lewis.

Jackpot's 7-4 victory not only boosts his survival hopes but brings him into the top-four reckoning such is the congested nature of the Premier League table.

Michael van Gerwen made his return from a back injury in a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Kim Huybrechts, who missed four darts to guarantee himself a point.

The Dutchman is a point behind Wright in the table but has a game in hand after missing last week's action in Exeter with a back problem which also forced him out of the UK Open.

Gary Anderson moved up into third place above Taylor as he rounded off the night with a crowd-rousing 7-3 win over Dave Chisnall.

The popular Scotsman was on course for the first whitewash of the season when winning the first five legs and even missed six darts at a double to go 6-0 up before Chizzy restored some respectability to the scoreline.

Raymond van Barneveld produced a stunning comeback from 4-1 down to claim a crucial 7-5 victory over Jelle Klaasen, who slips to the bottom of the table.

Barney was on the brink of damaging defeat but a morale-boosting checkout from 154 after Klaasen missed two darts at a double began a run of five straight legs which helped propel him to a win which ignites his top-four hopes.

Below is a full statistical breakdown of each match while we also rank the players' performances at the bottom of this article as well as provide the updated Premier League table. 

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Adrian Lewis 7-4 Phil Taylor

Adrian Lewis inflicted Phil Taylor's first defeat of the Premier League campaign with an impressive 7-4 victory at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

Jackpot nailed seven 180s and averaged 98.71 in a clash he was underdog to win but his two points not only ease his relegation fears but also brings him back into the running for the top four.

The pair exchanged breaks of throw in the opening two legs but after the next four were held, Lewis three on the trot to seize the initiative.

Taylor, who was well below his best with an average of 96.82, was left to rue a string of missed doubles and although he managed to pull one back, Lewis promptly sealed the victory.

Three-dart averages
Lewis: 98.71
Taylor: 96.82

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Lewis: 11
Taylor: 12
140+ thrown
Lewis: 7
Taylor: 6
180+ thrown
Lewis: 7
Taylor: 4

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Lewis: NA
Taylor: NA

Checkout percentage
Lewis: 36.84 % (7/19)
Taylor:   28.57 % (4/14)

James Wade 5-7 Peter Wright

Newly-crowned UK Open champion Peter Wright moved to the top of the Premier League table as he withstood a James Wade comeback to triumph 7-5 in Glasgow.

Snakebite, who finally won his first career televised title in Minehead at the weekend, picked up where he left off as he surged into 5-1 lead, landing a 115 checkout along the way.

But Wade fought back as he looked to maintain his realistic play-off hopes by taking four of the next five legs, which included a century checkout of his own, to give himself a chance of earning a point.

Wright's average was well below the stunning 119.5 he managed last Thursday in Exeter but with the vocal home support behind him, he eventually managed to stumble over the line as he took out 52 to pick up two points and move onto seven overall.

Wright said: "The crowd helped me out - the reception was fantastic and it felt great. James should have won the game if he'd hit his doubles but I managed to get the two points.

"I can play way better than that, but it's a win and that's all that counts and I can get back on the practice board for next week."

Three-dart averages
Wade: 94.52
Wright: 95.42

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Wade: 23
Wright: 19
140+ thrown
Wade: 9
Wright: 10
180+ thrown
Wade: 0
Wright: 2 

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wade: 100
Wright: 115

Checkout percentage
Wade: 31.25% (5/16)
Wright:  33.33% (7/21)

Kim Huybrechts 5-7 Michael van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen made a winning return from injury but was made to work for his 7-5 victory over Kim Huybrechts, who missed four darts to guarantee himself a point.

The Dutchman missed last week's action in Exeter with a back problem which also forced him out of the UK Open but he showed no signs of discomfort in Glasgow as he averaged 106.3, hit six 180s and hit 43.75% of his doubles.

Nevertheless Huybrechts, who was 8/1 to pick up his first win and 7/1 to earn his fourth draw of the season before the start, averaged over 100 himself as he pushed the world number one all the way and had a dart at the bullseye to go 6-4 up.

Even after van Gerwen restored parity, the Belgian had a further three darts to edge 6-5 ahead but missed them all as MVG ruthlessly took out 80 before nailing double 16 in the next to move up to second in the table, one point behind Peter Wright.

"I feel good and it was great to be back tonight," said Van Gerwen, who plays his game in hand in Manchester in two weeks time. "It's always nice to get the two points and Kim played well, but you have to take advantage if he misses and I did that.

"It's another two points for me and the crowd were nice, but next week in Rotterdam will be very special for me too."

Three-dart averages
Huybrechts: 101.72
Van Gerwen: 106.3

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Huybrechts: 12
Van Gerwen: 10
140+ thrown
Huybrechts: 8
Van Gerwen: 10
180+ thrown
Huybrechts: 5
Van Gerwen: 6

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Huybrechts: NA
Van Gerwen: 109

Checkout percentage
Huybrechts: 26.32% (5/19)
Van Gerwen: 43.75% (7/16)

Jelle Klaasen 5-7 Raymond van Barneveld

Raymond van Barneveld ignited his challenge for the top four as he snatched a 7-5 victory from the draws of defeat against fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen.

Barney, seemingly suffering a hangover from his quarter-final exit at the UK Open on Sunday, found himself 4-1 down but a timley 154 checkout after Klaasen missed two darts at a double began a run of five straight legs.

The Cobra stopped the rot to cut the gap to 6-5 but van Barneveld held his nerve to take out 60 in the next to seal a valuable two points which lifts him up to six points in an extremely tight Premier League table.

Klaasen meanwhile slips to the bottom of the standings below Huybrechts.

 "Tonight I went out to enjoy it and the crowds are amazing in Scotland," said Van Barneveld. 

"I'm more relaxed and want to enjoy myself, and I'm thinking in a positive way. The 154 was so important and it changed the game. Jelle was under pressure then and he started missing doubles, and he let me in."  

Three-dart averages
Klaasen: 95.42
Van Barneveld: 96.46

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Klaasen: 18
Van Barneveld: 20
140+ thrown
Klaasen: 8
Van Barneveld: 7
180+ thrown
Klaasen: 2
Van Barneveld: 3

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Klaasen: 111
Van Barneveld:  154, 107, 104

Checkout percentage
Klaasen: 25% (5/20)
Van Barneveld: 43.75% (7/16)

Dave Chisnall 3-7 Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson delighted the Glasgow crowd as he moved up into third place above Phil Taylor in the Premier League table as he rounded off the night with a 7-3 win over Dave Chisnall.

The popular Scotsman was well on course for the first whitewash of the season when winning the first five legs but he then missed six darts at a double to go 6-0 up as a relieved Chizzy finally got off the mark.

Chisnall had hardly had a look in by this point but took the next two legs to restore a degree of respectability to the scoreline before another burst from Anderson got the job done.

Having enjoyed the home crowd support in Glasgow, the boot will be on the other foot for Anderson next week when he takes on Raymond van Barneveld in Rotterdam.

Anderson said: "This was a really special night for me. There was a mixture of nerves and excitement - it's great to be back in Scotland and to get a win. 

"Dave's a cracking player and I knew he would come back at me, so I'm happy that I managed to get it finished off. It's not been brilliant so far this season so it's nice to go out there and get a win."

Three-dart averages
Chisnall: 92.67
Anderson: 101.71

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Chisnall: 10
Anderson: 9
140+ thrown
Chisnall: 5
Anderson: 12
180+ thrown
Chisnall: 4
Anderson: 4 

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Chisnall: NA
Anderson: 147

Checkout percentage
Chisnall: 21.43% (3/14)
Anderson: 30.43% (7/23)

 

Premier League Darts 2017 Table

Peter Wright P 6 W 4 D 1 L 1 LegDiff +8 Pts 9
Michael van Gerwen P 5 W 3 D 2 L 0 LegDiff +9 Pts 8
Gary Anderson P 6 W 2 D 3 L 1 LegDiff +6 Pts 7
Phil Taylor P 6 W 2 D 3 L 1 LegDiff +4 Pts 7
James Wade P 6 W 2 D 2 L 2 LegDiff +1 Pts 6
Raymond van Barneveld P 6 W 2 D 2 L 2 LegDiff -4 Pts 6
Dave Chisnall P 7 W 3 D 0 L 4 LegDiff -7 Pts 6
Adrian Lewis P 6 W 2 D 1 L 3 LegDiff -2 Pts 5
Kim Huybrechts P 6 W 0 D 3 L 3 LegDiff -7 Pts 3
Jelle Klaasen P 6 W 1 D 1 L 4 LegDiff -8 Pts 3

MVG has played one game less as he withdrew from week five due to injury, with Chisnall playing twice that night.  

Premier League Darts Week Six: Statistics

Three-dart averages
Michael van Gerwen: 106.3
Kim Huybrechts: 101.72
Gary Anderson: 101.71
Adrian Lewis: 98.71
Phil Taylor: 96.82
Raymond van Barneveld: 96.46
Peter Wright: 95.42
Jelle Klaasen: 95.42
James Wade: 94.52
Dave Chisnall: 92.67 

180s Thrown
Adrian Lewis: 7
Michael van Gerwen: 6
Kim Huybrechts: 5
Dave Chisnall: 4
Gary Anderson: 4
Phil Taylor: 4
Raymond van Barneveld: 3
Jelle Klaasen: 2
Peter Wright: 2

Checkouts over 100
Raymond van Barneveld: 154
Gary Anderson: 147
Peter Wright: 115
Jelle Klaasen: 111
James Wade: 100
Michael van Gerwen: 109
Raymond van Barneveld: 107
Raymond van Barneveld:  104  

Checkout percentages
Michael van Gerwen: 43.75% (7/16)
Raymond van Barneveld: 43.75% (7/16)
Adrian  Lewis: 36.84 % (7/19)
Peter Wright: 33.33% (7/21)  
James Wade: 31.25% (5/16)
Gary Anderson: 30.43% (7/23)
Phil  Taylor: 28.57 % (4/14)
Kim Huybrechts: 26.32% (5/19)
Jelle Klaasen: 25% (5/20)
Dave  Chisnall: 21.43% (3/14)

Premier League: Next week's fixtures

Night Seven, Thursday March 16
Ahoy Arena, Rotterdam
TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (1900 GMT)
James Wade v Jelle Klaasen
Peter Wright v Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen
Kim Huybrechts v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: Sold Out 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SEASON FIXTURES, RESULTS & TABLE