McCoy's Premier League Darts - Night Two

PHIL TAYLOR created another slice of history with a sensational nine-dart finish during his McCoy's Premier League Darts victory over Kevin Painter, while home favourite Gary Anderson delighted the Aberdeen crowd with victory on Thursday night.

Taylor hit his 11th televised nine-darter during an 8-5 win over Kevin Painter, as he landed 180, 174 and finished 147 to achieve the feat.

The perfect leg came amongst a run of five successive legs as Taylor came from 5-3 down to sweep to victory, averaging 108.27 in the process as he remains unbeaten following two weeks of the Premier League Darts season.

"I'm overwhelmed to have hit the nine-darter," said Taylor. "Kevin was playing really well and I knew I had to do something extraordinary to crack him.

"I thought I would do a nine-darter earlier in the match but it came at the perfect time. It's always the tough games that you do something like this because you're not thinking about it."

Painter had won the game's first three legs without reply and also hit finishes of 127 and 123 in moving 5-3 up before falling victim to Taylor's super-show.

"Phil's a legend and the nine-darter showed what he's capable of," said Painter. "I was doing quite well at 5-3 up but you always know that Phil can come back.

"I think if he hadn't hit the nine-darter I might have got the draw or even the win, but it spurred him on and he played some lovely darts after that."

Reigning Premier League Darts champion Anderson, meanwhile, bounced back from his defeat to Painter last week by defeating World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton 8-2.

The Scot, cheered on by a sell-out 4,000 crowd at the AECC, won the game's first four legs and, after Hamilton rallied to win two of his own in the middle of the match, punished missed doubles from the Englishman to seal victory.

Australian Simon Whitlock joined Taylor on three points at the head of the table as he defeated 2009 champion James Wade 8-4, having won the game's opening seven legs without reply before the left-hander threatened a fightback.

The night's other game saw current World Champion Adrian Lewis and five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld battle out a thrilling draw.

Lewis hit back from 2-0 down to lead 5-2 before van Barneveld squared the match at six-all.

The Stoke ace took out 140 to win the 13th leg and secure at least a point, before van Barneveld finished 126 on the bullseye in the final leg to snatch a draw - as both players remained unbeaten.

The McCoy's Premier League Darts continues at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast next Thursday, with the matches including resurgent van Barneveld taking on Taylor, who is 16/1 with William Hill - the official betting partner of the McCoy's Premier League - to hit another nine-dart finish.

Following his first victory of the season, Anderson has been cut to 5/1 to retain his Premier League title, with Taylor remaining the 11/8 favourite and Lewis rated at 7/2.

LIVEPDC.TV
The tournament will be available live to LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers.
Highlights will also be available from every night for all LIVEPDC.TV subscribers.
Click here to visit LIVEPDC.TV

McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Two
February 16 - AECC, Aberdeen
Adrian Lewis 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson 8-2 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 8-5 Kevin Painter
Simon Whitlock 8-4 James Wade

Latest League Table

	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
Simon Whitlock	2	1	1	0	+4	3
Phil Taylor	2	1	1	0	+3	3
Gary Anderson	2	1	0	1	+4	2
Adrian Lewis	2	0	2	0	0	2
Raymond van Barneveld	2	0	2	0	0	2
Kevin Painter	2	1	0	1	-1	2
Andy Hamilton	2	1	0	1	-3	2
James Wade	2	0	0	2	-7	0

ADRIAN LEWIS 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
ADRIAN LEWIS and Raymond van Barneveld shared ton-plus checkouts in the final two legs of an enthralling McCoy's Premier League Darts contest as they drew seven-all at the AECC in Aberdeen.

The duo had opened their Premier League campaigns with draws at the Manchester Arena a week ago, and were again forced to settle for a point following another high-quality contest.

Lewis hit back from 2-0 down to lead 5-2 before van Barneveld won four of the next five to level, but the World Champion hit a 140 checkout to move 7-6 up before his Dutch rival posted 126 on the bull for a point.

"It was a great match and I thought I dominated the game," said Lewis. "I had a couple of sloppy legs but I showed a lot of character after he'd got back level and took out a good 140 to go 7-6 up.

"I left 51 after nine darts in the last leg and his 126 finish was fantastic. The old Raymond is coming back and it's great to see."

Van Barneveld opened the game in style by hitting three 140s and double 16 to take the first leg in 13 darts, before landing a 180 and double eight to take the second, after Lewis was off-target on double 15 for a 150 checkout.

Lewis hit a 180 and finished 100 with two double tops to spark his challenge in the third, and landed another maximum in a 12-dart leg to level.

He then finished double nine in two successive legs - the latter being an 11-darter which began with back-to-back 180s - and finished 64 on tops to win a fifth straight leg in moving 5-2 up.

Van Barneveld took the next three legs in 15 darts, taking out 76, 77 and double eight and also landed a maximum in the 11th leg, only for Lewis to take out 70 on tops to lead 6-5.

The Dutch star hit his fourth 180 of the game in a 14-darter as he levelled, only for Lewis to brilliantly check out 140 in the next to ensure at least a point at 7-6.

He then opened the final leg with scores of 140, 180 and 130 to leave 51 after nine darts - but van Barneveld had left himself 126 and finished the checkout on the bullseye to grab a draw.

"At 2-0 up I thought it was going to be my night, but he came back really well to go 5-2 up," said van Barneveld. "I got it back to five-all but the 126 was fantastic because Adrian had a brilliant leg to leave 51 after nine darts.

"In the last two weeks I've come back to get a point and I'm happy with that."

Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - van Barneveld hits three 140s and finishes double 16 for a 13-darter to break throw immediately.
0-2 - van Barneveld lands a 180 in being first to a finish, but misses two darts at double 16 to give Lewis a sniff on 150. The World Champion misses double 15 for the checkout, and the Dutchman returns to post double eight.
1-2 - Lewis lands a 180 and finishes 100 with a combination of single 20 and two double tops to get off the mark.
2-2 - Lewis hits another maximum and finishes double ten for a 12-darter to break back and level.
3-2 - The Stoke ace lands double nine for an 87 finish to take the lead.
4-2 - Lewis sets up a potential nine-darter with back-to-back 180s, and although he is unable to land a seventh treble 20 he takes out double nine for an 11-dart finish to move two legs clear at the break.
5-2 - Lewis takes a fifth successive leg by finishing 64 on tops.
5-3 - van Barneveld hits back by finishing 76 on double 18.
5-4 - van Barneveld breaks by landing double ten for a 77 finish.
5-5 - The five-time World Champion opens with scores of 140 and 180 and finishes double eight to level the contest.
6-5 - van Barneveld posts a 180, but is denied a dart at a double when Lewis finishes 70 on tops to edge back in front.
6-6 - van Barneveld hits a maximum for the third successive leg, and lands double four for a 14-darter to square the game once more.
7-6 - Lewis secures a minimum of a point with a brilliant 140 checkout.
7-7 - Lewis opens the final leg with scores of 140, 180 and 130 to leave 51, but van Barneveld snatches a point with a sensational 126 checkout on the bullseye for a 12-darter.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	7-7	Raymond van Barneveld
18	100+	15
8	140+	8
5	180	4
33.11	Ave1	31.57
99.32	Ave3	94.70
140,100	High Finish	126
2	Breaks of Throw	2
7/11 - 64%	Finishing %	7/15 - 47%

GARY ANDERSON 8-2 ANDY HAMILTON
REIGNING McCoy's Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson picked up his first victory of the 2012 season with an 8-2 defeat of Andy Hamilton at the AECC in Aberdeen.

The Scot had been under-par when he lost to Kevin Painter on the opening night of the season a week ago, but bounced back with a clinical defeat of the World Championship finalist.

Anderson led 4-0 before Hamilton hit back to win the next two, but the home favourite took another quartet of legs to secure the points.

The Scot punished four misses from Hamilton to win the opening leg on double six, setting the pattern for the contest as the Stoke ace began a nightmare on his doubles.

Anderson landed double top to take the next two legs before Hamilton posted a 180 in the fourth, only to miss two darts at tops to allow the reigning champion in on 128, which he duly finished on double 16.

Hamilton also posted a maximum in the fifth, and after the pair shared a host of missed doubles he returned to land double one - with his eighth dart for the leg - to get off the mark.

Hamilton then hit double 16 to halve the gap to 4-2, but paid for a miss at the same bed in the next when Anderson stepped in on tops to lead 5-2.

Double 18 moved Anderson four legs clear again, and when Hamilton missed the bull for a 170 checkout and two darts at double eight in the next the Scot landed double ten to ensure at least a point.

That perhaps relaxed Anderson as he produced his best leg of the game to secure victory, with both players opening with 180s and Hamilton landing a second only to see the home favourite take out 81 for an 11-darter.

"It's nice to get a win but I'm still struggling with my form," said Anderson. "I won with an 11-darter and that was a lovely way to finish, especially for the fans who gave me fantastic support.

"It's great to play in Scotland but when you're struggling it adds a little bit of pressure, so it's a relief to get the win.

"I know I've got a lot of improvement in me and I want to be hitting 120 averages, but I'm a long way off that at the moment."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Hamilton misses double top and three darts at double ten to allow Anderson a reprieve, with the Scot returning from a missed double 12 for a 141 finish to land double six for the opener.
2-0 - Anderson doubles his lead on tops to break throw.
3-0 - The Scot delights his home crowd with a 180 on his way to a third successive leg.
4-0 - Hamilton hits a 180 but crucially misses two darts at tops, allowing Anderson in on 128 as the reigning champion takes out the combination on double 16 to break again for a four-leg lead.
4-1 - Hamilton hits another maximum, and after missing seven doubles he returns to punish three missed doubles from Anderson to land double one and get off the mark.
4-2 - Double 16 gives Hamilton a second leg as he halves the deficit.
5-2 - Hamilton misses double 16 for a 104 finish, and Anderson posts tops to move three legs clear once more.
6-2 - Double 18 moves Anderson to the brink of claiming his first point of the season.
7-2 - Hamilton's doubling nightmare continues, as he misses the bull for a 170 checkout and two darts at double eight before Anderson hits double ten to seal at least a point.
8-2 - Anderson seals victory with a brilliant 11-darter, with both players opening with 180s before Hamilton hits a second to leave 61 only to see the Scot finish 81 in two darts for the win.

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	8-2	Andy Hamilton
15	100+	11
4	140+	3
2	180	5
28.33	Ave1	28.09
84.98	Ave3	84.28
128	High Finish	44
4	Breaks of Throw	1
8/17 - 47%	Finishing %	2/21 - 10%

PHIL TAYLOR v KEVIN PAINTER
PHIL TAYLOR hit a stunning nine-dart finish in coming from 5-3 down to defeat Kevin Painter 8-5 in the McCoy's Premier League Darts in Aberdeen.

Taylor, who famously landed two perfect legs in the 2010 Premier League Darts final, hit his 13th nine-darter in all competitions in a brilliant performance which brought the 4,000 sell-out AECC crowd to its feet.

Premier League newcomer Painter had led 3-0 and also took out 127 and 123 to move 5-3 up before Taylor won the ninth leg and hit his nine-darter in the next to level.

He opened with a 180 and then landed a 174 score before taking out 147 on double 18 to achieve the feat.

He then took out 72, 100 and double eight to secure an 8-5 victory, and said: "I'm overwhelmed to have hit the nine-darter.

"Kevin was playing really well and had hit some fantastic finishes to take the lead, and I knew I had to do something extraordinary to crack him.

"I thought I would do a nine-darter earlier in the match but it came at the perfect time. It's always the tough games that you do something like this because you're not thinking about it, and it shows that everything I'm doing at the moment with my preparation, I'm doing right."

Painter had started the game superbly, landing a 180 in the opening leg and finishing 80 on tops to break throw after Taylor missed a dart at double 16.

Taylor would also miss one dart in each of the next two legs as Painter took out double ten and 61 to move 3-0 up.

Taylor replied superbly to win the fourth, opening with a 177 and finishing 132 to get off the mark.

Painter finished 127 on double eight to lead 4-1, but Taylor hit a 180 in another 12-darter before posting double top to reduce the gap to one leg.

Another ton-plus finish from Painter, who took out 123 on the bullseye, saw him move 5-3 up before Taylor launched an incredible barrage.

After finishing double 16 with his third dart to take the ninth leg, Taylor posted his incredible nine-darter to win the tenth and level, before taking out 72 on double 16 to lead for the first time.

He landed a 171 and a 100 checkout for another 12-darter to move 7-5 up, and then sealed a memorable victory by following a 177 with double eight.

"Phil's a legend and the nine-darter showed what he's capable of," said Painter. "I was doing quite well at 5-3 up but you always know that Phil can come back.

"I think if he hadn't hit the nine-darter I might have got the draw or even the win, but it spurred him on and he played some lovely darts after that.

"But there won't be many players who will take five legs from him in the McCoy's Premier League so I'm pleased with that. I played well and I'm loving every second of the Premier League so far."

Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Painter hits a 180, and when Taylor misses double 16 to lead he steps in to finish 80 on tops.
0-2 - Taylor is again off-target, and Painter finishes double ten to move two legs up.
0-3 - Painter finishes 61 with an outer bull, double 18 combination for another break of throw.
1-3 - Taylor opens with a 177 and takes out 132 on the bull to win his first leg of the game.
1-4 - Painter replies superbly by finishing 127 on double eight.
2-4 - Taylor lands a 180, his first of the game, and lands double 16 to break back.
3-4 - Taylor posts double top to pull back to within a leg.
3-5 - Painter follows his earlier 127 finish by taking out 123 on the bull to win a fifth leg.
4-5 - Taylor posts double 16 with his third dart to move back within touching distance.
5-5 - PHIL TAYLOR HITS NINE-DARTER - opening the leg with a 180, hitting a 174 and then taking out 147 on double 18 for an historic perfect leg.
6-5 - Taylor finishes 72 on double 16 to take the lead for the first time.
7-5 - Taylor hits a 171 and takes out 100 to ensure he will win at least a point.
8-5 - Taylor posts a 177 before missing the bull for a 126 finish to seal the victory, but has enough cushion to return and hit double eight for the win.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	8-5	Kevin Painter
18	100+	15
10	140+	11
2	180	1
36.09	Ave1	32.33
108.27	Ave3	97.00
147,132,100	High Finish	127,123
4	Breaks of Throw	3
8/17 - 47%	Finishing %	5/6 - 83%

SIMON WHITLOCK 8-4 JAMES WADE
SIMON WHITLOCK maintained his unbeaten start to the McCoy's Premier League Darts with an 8-5 win over 2009 champion James Wade.

The Australian followed up last week's thrilling draw with Raymond van Barneveld by continuing his form, taking out half of his attempts at a double as he moved to the top of the Premier League table.

After hitting a 180 and finishing 64 to win the opening leg, Whitlock punished misses from Wade in the next three, hitting finishes of 90 and 80 before posting double six to move 4-0 up.

He then took out 66 to win a fifth leg, and broke throw again in the next, with the pair trading 180s but Wade again missing his doubles as the Australian finished tops for a 13-darter.

Whitlock returned from the break to finish 48 for a 7-0 lead before Wade sparked his fightback with a tremendous 11-dart finish, hitting a maximum, two 140s and double top at the first time of asking.

He hit the same bed in the next after Whitlock missed tops for the match, and landed double ten in the next two for a pair of 14-darters as he pulled back to 7-4.

However, he missed one dart at double top to win a fifth successive leg, and Whitlock punished him by hitting the same bed to secure both points.

"It was a struggle for me but I got the win," said Whitlock. "It felt like my birthday when James was missing all those doubles, but I'll take that every day of the week.

"I didn't feel totally comfortable during the game but it's great to get the win. I'm in good form and my confidence is quite good, and this is probably my best start to a Premier League season and it feels great."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Whitlock hits a 180 and finishes 64 on double 16 for the opening leg.
2-0 - Whitlock takes out 90 on double five.
3-0 - Whitlock lands another maximum on his way to a third successive leg.
4-0 - Whitlock misses two darts at double 12, but Wade cannot finish with three darts at double top, ten and five as the Australian returns on double six.
5-0 - A 66 finish moves Whitlock five legs clear.
6-0 - Wade opens with a 180 but again struggles on his doubles as Whitlock lands a maximum and posts tops for a 13-darter to break.
7-0 - Wade misses a further two darts to get off the mark, and Whitlock moves a leg away from victory by taking out 48.
7-1 - Wade finally breaks his duck with a superb 11-darter, hitting 140, 180, 140 and finishing 41 on double top.
7-2 - Whitlock misses tops for a 71 finish to take the win, and Wade lands tops for a second successive leg to take out 64 and keep the match alive.
7-3 - Wade continues to edge back into the game by posting double ten.
7-4 - The pair trade 180s, and when Whitlock misses double 16 and double eight for the win Wade steps in to take out 62 on double ten and break.
8-4 - Wade misses tops to win a fifth successive leg, and Whitlock steps in to hit the same bed to secure both points.

Match Stats