Betway Premier League Night Two

TAYLOR OFF THE MARK IN BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE

PHIL TAYLOR, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, James Wade and Dave Chisnall produced sublime performances as they picked up victories in the Betway Premier League in Bournemouth on Thursday.

On a night of outstanding quality at a sold-out BIC, four stars produced big ton-plus averages in impressive victories before Chisnall edged out reigning Premier League champion 7-5 in a dramatic final-leg thriller.

Taylor bounced back from his opening-night defeat to Anderson with a majestic 7-2 defeat of Stoke rival Adrian Lewis, averaging 108.33 and hitting seven doubles from ten attempts.

The victory was a fitting tribute for Taylor to pay to his late mother following her funeral on Wednesday, as the 16-time World Champion kick-started his Premier League campaign.

Although Lewis led 2-1 early on, Taylor took the next six legs without reply in an unstoppable burst.

"It's been a tough week, I think yesterday was the worst day of my life but that's gone now and today was my darts and I've got to move on," said Taylor.

"I can go up there and relax because everything is a bonus for me. I can concentrate on my career a bit now, try and entertain and do my best.

"Whoever you play now, you've got to go out there and play your best. Adrian didn't seem to hit the scores that he normally does, he seemed to be under a bit of pressure."

World Champion Anderson matched past Peter Wright with seven successive legs as he landed four ton-plus checkouts, matched Taylor with seven doubles from ten attempts and averaged almost 107 in a superb 7-1 victory.

Wright had won the game's opening leg, but Anderson finished 126, 121 and 100 as he moved 4-1 up and added a 124 checkout on his way to a second successive victory.

"That's another good win for me because I'm still not at 100 percent but I'm getting there," said Anderson. "My finishing was really good tonight and I managed to get away from Peter.

"It's a long season but this is a good start from me and there's plenty to build on."

Michael van Gerwen also picked up his second successive win as he continued his brilliant recent form with a 7-3 defeat of Stephen Bunting, who averaged 103.43 but was out-gunned by a 109.44 average from the Dutch ace.

The world number one took command by taking the opening three legs without reply and went on to seal victory with a superb 138 finish.

"I'm really pleased with this win because Stephen was fantastic too and it shows that you're not guaranteed to win with a 103 average any more," said van Gerwen. "I started really well and it was nice to take advantage when Stephen missed his doubles.

"I have more in the tank and that's a good thing because I want to keep this going through the Premier League, and with this performance I can do that."

Dave Chisnall joins van Gerwen and Anderson on four league points as he won his second game of the season with a narrow 7-5 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld in a tense final match of the evening.

Chisnall finished 101 as he held a slender 4-3 lead before van Barneveld broke for a 5-4 advantage - only to miss doubles in the next two legs as the Grand Slam of Darts finalist edged back ahead before he sealed the win on double nine.

The night's other winner in Bournemouth was James Wade, the 2014 Masters champion who also impressed as he averaged 104 in a 7-2 win over Kim Huybrechts.

Wade also took the game's first three legs to move ahead, and also finished 143 as he followed up a draw with Bunting in Leeds by remaining unbeaten following two weeks.

The Betway Premier League Darts continues next Thursday with Week Three at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, with the matches including Merseyside duo Bunting and Chisnall up against Taylor and Wade respectively and the eagerly-awaited meeting between van Gerwen and Anderson.

For tickets, visit www.echoarena.com or call 0844 8000 400 .

WATCH LIVE

Sky Sports HD - UK & Ireland
RTL7 - Netherlands
Sport1 - Germany
Fox Sports - Australia
Sky - New Zealand
OSN - Middle East & North Africa
Viasat - Scandinavia
Nova - Czech Republic & Slovakia
Sport1 - Hungary
ESPN - USA
LIVEPDC.TV - for International Pass Subscribers outside of UK, Ireland & Holland

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Get Involved online through the PDC's Social Media Channels
www.twitter.com/OfficialPDC using the hashtag #LoveTheDarts
www.facebook.com/OfficialPDC
Instagram - OfficialPDC
Snapchat - OfficialPDC
Vine - OfficialPDC
Google+

Betway Premier League
Night Two, Thursday February 12
BIC, Bournemouth
Peter Wright 1-7 Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen 7-3 Stephen Bunting
Adrian Lewis 2-7 Phil Taylor
James Wade 7-2 Kim Huybrechts
Dave Chisnall 7-5 Raymond van Barneveld

All games are the best of 12 legs - first to seven legs or a six-all draw

Latest League Table

After Week Two	P	W	D	L	Legs +/-	Pts
Michael van Gerwen	2	2	0	0	+8	4
Dave Chisnall	2	2	0	0	+8	4
Gary Anderson	2	2	0	0	+8	4
James Wade	2	1	1	0	+5	3
Phil Taylor	2	1	0	1	+3	2
Adrian Lewis	2	1	0	1	+1	2
Stephen Bunting	2	0	1	1	-4	1
Raymond van Barneveld	2	0	0	2	-8	0
Kim Huybrechts	2	0	0	2	-9	0
Peter Wright	2	0	0	2	-12	0

MATCH INFORMATION
Peter Wright v Gary Anderson
1-0 - Wright finishes 56 on tops to win the opener.
1-1 - Anderson finishes 126 on the bull to level.
1-2 - The World Champion breaks throw by finishing 121 on double 14.
1-3 - Anderson misses the bull for a third successive ton-plus finish - for a 124 combination - but returns to land double 12 to consolidate his lead.
1-4 - Wright misses double eight to finish 130 and is also unable to finish three further darts to win the leg, allowing Anderson in to take out 100 for another break of throw.
1-5 - Anderson continues to apply the pressure, opening with a 177 before finishing 92 for an 11-darter to pull clear.
1-6 - Anderson lands his first 180 before taking out 124 on double 11 for a fourth ton-plus finish of the contest.
1-7 - Anderson pins double top at the first time of asking to complete a brilliant victory, finishing with a 106.94 average.

Match Stats

Peter Wright	1-7	Gary Anderson
11	100+	15
7	140+	5
0	170+	1
0	180	1
100.25	Average	106.94
56	High Finish	126
0	Breaks of Throw	3
1/5 - 20%	Checkout %	7/10 - 70%

Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
1-0 - van Gerwen makes an ideal start, winning the opening leg on double 16 for a 13-darter.
2-0 - The Dutchman breaks throw to double his lead, following a 180 with an 88 finish.
3-0 - van Gerwen finishes double 16 for another 13-dart leg.
3-1 - The world number one misses tops for another break of throw, allowing Bunting in to finish 50 to claim his first leg.
4-1 - Bunting opens with a 180, but van Gerwen finishes 25 to regain his lead.
5-1 - van Gerwen kicks off with a maximum before punishing two missed doubles from Bunting to return on double eight to move four legs clear.
5-2 - Double 18 sees Bunting hit back with a break.
5-3 - Bunting opens with 140 and 180 before landing double 12 to win back-to-back legs.
6-3 - van Gerwen secures a minimum of a point, landing a 180 and tops.
7-3 - The pair trade 180s - their fourth apiece - but Bunting is punished for missing two darts at tops as van Gerwen takes out 138 to seal the win, averaging an impressive 109.44.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen	7-3	Stephen Bunting
10	100+	9
8	140+	8
1	170+	0
4	180	4
109.44	Average	103.43
138	High Finish	87
3	Breaks of Throw	1
7/14 - 50%	Checkout %	3/9 - 33%

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
0-1 - Lewis misses the bull for a 170 finish and two further darts at double eight, allowing Taylor in to finish 65 for an immediate break.
1-1 - Lewis lands a 180 before finishing 47 to level.
2-1 - Lewis finishes tops to move ahead.
2-2 - Taylor pins double six to level matters.
2-3 - Taylor posts a 180 as he breaks throw to regain the lead.
2-4 - Taylor finishes double 16 to move two legs clear.
2-5 - Taylor breaks throw again by landing tops.
2-6 - Lewis fires in a maximum but misses the bull to finish 127, and Taylor lands tops to seal a minimum of a draw.
2-7 - Lewis lands his third 180 of the game, but it comes in vain as Taylor finishes 66 on double eight for an impressive win, averaging 108.33.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	2-7	Phil Taylor
9	100+	15
6	140+	8
0	170+	1
3	180	1
97.97	Average	108.33
47	High Finish	66
1	Breaks of Throw	4
2/6 - 33%	Checkout %	7/10 - 70%

James Wade v Kim Huybrechts
1-0 - Wade holds throw to claim the opener.
2-0 - Huybrechts misses four darts at doubles to level as Wade steps in to finish 80 for a break.
3-0 - Wade finishes 72 to continue his clinical start.
3-1 - Huybrechts replies by finishing 45 to get off the mark.
4-1 - Wade's flawless finishing continues as he takes out 143 on double 16.
5-1 - Wade fires in a 180 before finishing 64 for another break of throw.
6-1 - Wade once more posts tops as he seals at least a point/
6-2 - Huybrechts lands a 180 and finishes double 16 to keep his hopes alive.
7-2 - Wade finishes a fine victory on tops, ending with 7/10 on his doubles and a 104.09 average.

Match Stats

James Wade	7-2	Kim Huybrechts
13	100+	7
7	140+	4
0	170+	0
1	180	2
104.09	Average	93.57
143	High Finish	50
2	Breaks of Throw	0
7/10 - 70%	Checkout %	2/7 - 29%

Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - Chisnall takes out 80 as he wins the opening leg.
1-1 - van Barneveld fires in double 16 to level the contest.
2-1 - Chisnall opens with two 180s to set up a possible nine-dart chance, and though he is unable to add a seventh treble 20, he returns to finish 84 to claim the leg on double 12 for a 12-darter.
2-2 - Double eight sees van Barneveld hit back to square the game.
3-2 - Chisnall lands double ten to edge back ahead.
3-3 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 before finishing double 16 to level.
4-3 - van Barneveld again kicks off with a maximum, only to miss two darts at double eight to break, allowing Chisnall in to take out 101 on double 18.
4-4 - The reigning champion levels matters by finishing double 16.
4-5 - van Barneveld secures the game's first break of throw in a potentially key leg, with Chisnall missing the bull and three darts at tops to allow his opponent back in from a miss at double 16 to land double eight and move ahead.
5-5 - Chisnall levels following another tense leg, with the Dutchman hitting a 180 only to miss six doubles across three visits as the Grand Slam of Darts runner-up finishes a last-gasp double five to square with a break of his own.
6-5 - Chisnall moves back ahead and seals a minimum of a draw as the drama continues - with van Barneveld missing tops and three darts at double ten, allowing his rival to finish double one with his third dart to claim a point.
7-5 - Chisnall leaves 87 after nine darts before missing two match darts a double 18, but when the Dutchman fails to finish 124, the St Helens man snatches the win on double nine.

Match Stats