McCoy's Premier League Darts - Night Seven

THE stars of the McCoy's Premier League Darts delighted a record 9,000 crowd at The O2 in Dublin on Thursday night, with Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis taking thrilling victories.

A sell-out Irish crowd was treated to an enthralling seventh league night of this year's Premier League Darts season, as the tournament visited the Emerald Isle for the first time.

Taylor's 8-2 win over 2009 champion James Wade saw him move five points clear at the top of the league table, but the night's other results saw his rivals remain locked in the battle for top-four places.

Van Barneveld moved second in the table - above Simon Whitlock on leg difference - with a brilliant 8-5 win over Gary Anderson in which the Dutchman averaged over 107.

Whitlock had to settle for a point in his clash with Andy Hamilton, while World Champion Adrian Lewis moved off the bottom of the table with his first win of the season, as he defeated Kevin Painter 8-3.

"It's been an amazing night," said Taylor. "The atmosphere was incredible and it's been like a rock concert from start to finish, it was a great buzz.

"When you first walk out it's awesome - I felt a bit like Russell Crowe in the film 'Gladiator'. The venue's set up where everyone could has a great view and it was fantastic."

Van Barneveld produced arguably his best performance of the season to defeat reigning champion Anderson, who averaged 105 in reply but paid for missing three darts to level the game at six-all.

"It's one of the best nights of my career," said van Barneveld. "It means a lot to play in front of a great crowd like this, it was amazing and it gives you a warm feeling in your body when they sing your name.

"My performance tonight was fantastic. It's another two points and I'm second so I'm very happy with that."

World Champion Lewis won five successive legs to break a deadlock with Painter from three-all to win 8-3 in their contest, and was delighted to take his first victory of the season as the tournament reached its half-way stage.

"It's obviously a big relief," said Lewis. "To take seven games to get a win shows how tough the Premier League is but I think there'll be no stopping me now."

The night's other game saw Australian star Simon Whitlock produce a 13-darter in the deciding leg of his clash with Andy Hamilton to share the points.

The £450,000 tournament continues next Thursday with the eighth league night, to be held at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

Click here for McCoy's Premier League Darts Night Seven Photo Gallery

McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Seven
March 22 - The O2, Dublin
Andy Hamilton 7-7 Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis 8-3 Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld 8-5 Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor 8-2 James Wade

Latest League Table

After Week Seven	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
Phil Taylor	7	6	1	0	+29	13
Raymond van Barneveld	7	3	2	2	+2	8
Simon Whitlock	7	3	2	2	+1	8
Gary Anderson	7	3	0	4	+2	6
Kevin Painter	7	3	0	4	-3	6
James Wade	7	3	0	4	-9	6
Adrian Lewis	7	1	3	3	-9	5
Andy Hamilton	7	1	2	4	-13	4

Click here for McCoy's Premier League Darts Night Seven Photo Gallery

Match Reports
ANDY HAMILTON 7-7 SIMON WHITLOCK
ANDY HAMILTON picked up his first point for four weeks in the McCoy's Premier League Darts at The O2 in Dublin on Thursday - but was denied victory as Simon Whitlock grabbed a draw with a 13-darter.

The pair thrilled a sell-out 9,000 record crowd in Dublin with a fine battle, which saw Hamilton take a 5-3 lead at one stage only to be pegged back by the Australian.

Whitlock was twice punished for missing chances to break in the early legs, with Hamilton stepping in to hold throw in legs one and three after being out-scored, while the Australian took out 90 to level in the fourth.

Hamilton hit a 180 and double 16 to win the fifth and posted a 171 on his way to leaving 40 in the next, only for Whitlock to brilliantly check out 152.

Whitlock also landed a 180 in the seventh, but missed tops as Hamilton hit the same bed before breaking for the first time on double 16 to lead 5-3.

Hamilton, though, missed four darts to win the next as Whitlock broke back on double two, and he then hit tops to level at five-all before the pair traded the next two with identical finishes of 90 on the bull.

Whitlock missed double 16 for a 102 finish in the 13th leg to break, and Hamilton hit tops to ensure at least a point, but the Australian brilliantly won the final game with a 13-darter on double four to grab a draw.

"It was a cracking game and that's what the Premier League's all about," said Whitlock. "The 152 was huge because I went in at the break level instead of 4-2 down.

"Andy seems to bring out some special darts against me and he was fantastic again, so I'm happy to get a draw in the end."

Hamilton said: "I'm gaining experience and getting used to the big crowds in the Premier League, and it was a fantastic atmosphere tonight.

"It's great to get a point out of the game. Perhaps I could have got more than a point but Simon played well and it was a good battle."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Whitlock misses a total of four darts at the bull, double 16 and double eight to break, and Hamilton finishes double eight at the first time of asking.
1-1 - The Australian regains his range to land double eight and level.
2-1 - Whitlock is off-target again on the bull, for a 126 finish, and Hamilton posts double ten to win leg three.
2-2 - Whitlock finishes 90 with a combination of two outer bullseyes and tops.
3-2 - Hamilton opens with a 180 and finishes double 16 to deny Whitlock a dart at 40.
3-3 - Hamilton hits a 171 to be first to a finish before setting up 40 - but the Australian brilliantly checks out 152 to level at the break.
4-3 - Whitlock leaves 72 with a 180, but misses tops and Hamilton steps in to hit the same bed to hold throw.
5-3 - Hamilton secures the game's first break of throw by landing double 16 at the first time of asking.
5-4 - Whitlock hits a 180 before missing the bull for a 121 finish, but Hamilton misses tops for a 118 checkout. However, the pair also fail to win the leg in their next visits before the Australian hits double two to break back.
5-5 - Whitlock hits double top with his third dart to level a thrilling contest.
6-5 - Hamilton hits his second 180 of the game, and finishes 90 on the bull to regain the lead.
6-6 - Whitlock lands a 180, and Hamilton posts a 174 before the Australian matches his opponent by taking out 90 on the bull to square the contest.
7-6 - Whitlock misses double 16 for a 102 finish to break, and Hamilton lands tops to pick up his first point since week three.
7-7 - Whitlock is first to a finish, missing double four for a 128 finish before landing double four for a point with a 13-darter.

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton	7-7	Simon Whitlock
14	100+	19
10	140+	10
2	180	3
32.37	Ave1	32.25
97.10	Ave3	96.74
90	High Finish	152
1	Breaks of Throw	1
7/12 - 58%	Finishing %	7/20 - 35%

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-3 KEVIN PAINTER
ADRIAN LEWIS won his first game of the McCoy's Premier League Darts season, defeating Kevin Painter 8-3 at The O2 in Dublin.

The World Champion picked up his first points since week three, when he completed a hat-trick of draws, by punishing missed doubles from Painter.

The pair shared the game's opening six legs, but Lewis won five in a row to sweep to the win.

"It's obviously a big relief," said Lewis. "To take seven games to get a win shows how tough the Premier League is but I think there'll be no stopping me now.

"I know there's a lot more to come and I can go from strength to strength. I felt a lot more confident in myself and my form's coming back."

After Lewis had won the game's opening leg on double top, Painter produced back-to-back 14-darters to move 2-1 up, finishing 87 in leg two and following a 180 with double 16 to break in the third.

He also missed the bull for a 122 finish in the fourth, as Lewis landed double top to level and hit the same bed for a 79 finish to move 3-2 up.

Painter replied on the same bed to level going into the break, but Lewis found another gear to pull clear.

He followed up a 13-darter in the seventh leg by punishing six missed doubles from Painter to break in the next and lead 5-3.

Painter hit a 180 in the next but failed to close out the leg as Lewis landed tops to steal, before hitting double 18 for a 14-darter to move 7-3 up and double ten to secure victory with five successive legs.

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Lewis holds throw on tops to open the contest.
1-1 - Painter levels by winning leg two.
1-2 - Painter hits a 180 and punishes Lewis' missed darts at tops to step in and land double 16 to break.
2-2 - Lewis breaks back, punishing a missed bull from Painter for a 122 finish before posting double top.
3-2 - Lewis finishes 79 with a treble 13, double top combination.
3-3 - Painter lands tops with his third dart to level going into the break.
4-3 - Lewis hits a 180 and posts tops to regain the lead.
5-3 - Lewis opens with a 180 but Painter is first to a finish, missing the bull for a 170. Lewis misses a second double top for a showpiece 100 checkout and three further darts at tops only to be given a let-off as Painter misses a total of five further darts to win the leg and the World Champion finally lands tops.
6-3 - Painter hits a 180 to be first to a finish but is punished for failing to kill off the Lewis as Lewis steps in on tops.
7-3 - Lewis posts a 180 and then finishes double 18 to earn a point - and move a leg away from his first win of the season.
8-3 - Lewis picks up victory by landing double ten.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	8-3	Kevin Painter
13	100+	17
3	140+	5
4	180	2
31.37	Ave1	29.41
94.11	Ave3	88.24
79	High Finish	87
3	Breaks of Throw	1
8/19 - 42%	Finishing %	3/14 - 21%

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-5 GARY ANDERSON
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD moved second in the McCoy's Premier League Darts table with an 8-5 win over Gary Anderson at The O2 in Dublin.

The Dutch star produced arguably his best display of the season, averaging over 107 with a superb performance to delight the capacity Irish crowd.

Anderson played his part in a fine game, averaging 105 in reply but ultimately paying the price for missing three darts to level the game at six-all.

Van Barneveld finished 109 and 94 to win two of the game's opening three legs, with Anderson replying in the second with a 12-darter to get off the mark.

The Scot also hit double ten to win the fourth before van Barneveld won three in a row as he broke for the first time in the game to lead 5-2, hitting back-to-back 14-darters before taking out 120.

Anderson replied with a superb 11-darter and then broke in 13 darts to pull back to 5-4, only for van Barneveld to open leg ten with back-to-back 180s.

He was unable to complete a nine-darter, missing the seventh dart at treble 20, but returned to finish the leg in 11 darts to move 6-4 up.

Anderson replied in 13 darts on double 18 and gave himself a chance to level in the next, only to miss three darts at doubles as van Barneveld took out 66 in two darts to move 7-5 up and ensure he would at least take a point.

However, he swiftly secured the victory by finishing 62 to move above Simon Whitlock into second place in the McCoy's Premier League Darts table on leg difference.

"I was a lot more focused for this game than when I won last week, but my performance tonight was fantastic," said van Barneveld. "It's another two points and I'm second so I'm very happy with that.

"Gary missed a crucial shot in the 12th leg and punished him, and I had to do that.

"It's only half-way through the season but I'm proud to be second because these are such good players.

"It means a lot to play in front of a great crowd like this, it was amazing and it gives you a warm feeling in your body when they sing your name. It's one of the best nights of my career."

Anderson admitted: "That 12th leg was crucial but I'm pleased with the way I've played.

"It's probably the best I've played in the first seven weeks but those three darts in the 12th leg were the key moment in the end."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - van Barneveld finishes 109 to win the first leg.
1-1 - The duo trade 180s before Anderson finishes 61 on tops to level.
2-1 - The Dutchman takes out 94 on tops to win the third.
2-2 - van Barneveld misses his chance to break on double four and Anderson steps in on double ten.
3-2 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 and hits double eight to win the fifth leg.
4-2 - van Barneveld takes the game's first break of throw on double 18 to lead by two legs at the interval.
5-2 - van Barneveld wins a third successive leg by taking out 120.
5-3 - Anderson opens with scores of 180 and 140, and although van Barneveld hits a maximum the Scot takes out tops to hit back,
5-4 - Anderson reduces the gap with a break of throw on double 13.
6-4 - van Barneveld opens with back-to-back 180s, and although he misses out on a nine-darter when his seventh dart misses the treble 20, he returns to land double 16 for an 11-darter.
6-5 - Anderson breaks back with double 18.
7-5 - Anderson misses three darts to level the game and van Barneveld takes out 66 in two darts to ensure a minimum of a point.
8-5 - van Barneveld finishes 62 on double 16 to secure the win, ending with a 107.22 average compared to Anderson's 105.39.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	8-5	Gary Anderson
17	100+	20
12	140+	13
5	180	2
35.74	Ave1	35.13
107.22	Ave3	105.39
120,109	High Finish	61
3	Breaks of Throw	3
8/15 - 53%	Finishing %	5/10 - 50%

PHIL TAYLOR 8-2 JAMES WADE
PHIL TAYLOR delighted the record 9,000 Dublin crowd by maintaining his unbeaten record in the McCoy's Premier League Darts with an 8-2 defeat of James Wade.

Taylor won his sixth successive game and moved five points clear at the top of the table with another brilliant display, averaging over 107 and restricting the 2009 champion to just two legs.

Wade hit five 180s in reply, but could not halt a mid-game surge of five successive legs from Taylor, who went on to seal victory with a 110 checkout.

Taylor finished 70 for the game's opening leg before Wade hit a 180 in levelling - only to be hit by a sucker-punch from the world number one in the next.

Wade hit scores of 134, 180 and 97 to leave 90 after nine darts in his bid to break throw, only to see Taylor power in a 102 checkout.

Taylor then finished legs of 13 and 14 darts to lead 4-1 before winning a key sixth to move further clear at the break, after Wade missed four darts to pull back to 4-2.

Taylor returned from the break with a 13-darter, which featured a 180, before Wade replied in kind to stem the tide with his second leg, which he won on tops.

He also hit a 180 in the next, but missed the bullseye for a 121 finish as Taylor landed double 13 to move 7-2 up and only a leg away from the win.

Wade landed his fifth maximum of the game as he battled to keep the match alive, but missed a dart at tops and was punished as Taylor finished 110 on tops to secure victory.

"The sixth leg was crucial because James had a chance to come back to 4-2, and at 5-1 down he was under pressure," said Taylor.

"He'd have had to break my throw a two or three times after that to get anything from the game so I could relax after the break.

"The other results went for me and, with another couple of wins I'll be sure of qualifying for the Play-Offs, which is the initial aim."

He added: "It's been an amazing night. The atmosphere was incredible and it's been like a rock concert from start to finish, it was a great buzz.

"When you first walk out it's awesome - I felt a bit like Russell Crowe in the film 'Gladiator'. The venue's set up where everyone has a great view and it was fantastic."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Taylor finishes 70 on tops to take the opening leg.
1-1 - Wade opens with a 180 before levelling.
2-1 - Wade kicks off with scores of 134 and 180 only to see Taylor take out 102 for a 12-darter.
3-1 - Taylor hits 140 and 180 before hitting double four to break in 13 darts.
4-1 - Wade lands a third 180 but Taylor finishes 64 to move three legs clear.
5-1 - Wade misses four darts at a double to hit back, and Taylor posts double ten to break again.
6-1 - Taylor hits a 180, and finishes double 18 to move five clear.
6-2 - Wade posts double top to hit back and win his first leg in six.
7-2 - Taylor hits three 140s to be first to a finish, before Wade hits a 180 to leave 121. Taylor misses double 13 for a 121, but Wade is off-target on the bull and Taylor returns to seal at least a point and ensure he will remain unbeaten.
8-2 - Wade lands his fifth 180 of the game, but misses double top and Taylor finishes 110 on tops to seal the win.

Match Stats