Premier League Darts Night 12

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit a sensational nine-darter in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts during a win over Terry Jenkins in Aberdeen on Thursday night.

The Dutchman has endured a nightmare year in the Premier League, sinking to the foot of the table with eight defeats - including five in a row ahead of the visit to Scotland.

But he brought 4,000 Scottish fans to their feet with a brilliant nine-darter in the second leg of his clash with Jenkins.

Click here to watch Raymond van Barneveld's nine-darter in PDCtv!

He went on to lead 4-0 and 7-2 before Jenkins won four legs in a row to force a decider, but the English star missed one dart to claim a draw before van Barneveld finished double 16 to edge only his third win of the campaign.

The defeat ended any outside hopes Jenkins had of making the play-offs, with four rivals in the hunt for places in the top four drawing, when James Wade faced Ronnie Baxter and Simon Whitlock met Adrian Lewis.

Reigning champion Wade missed five match darts in the deciding leg of his stalemate with Baxter, while Lewis battled from 7-4 down to claim a point against Whitlock.

That moved Wade, Baxter and Whitlock onto 12 points, two ahead of Lewis and one behind second-placed Mervyn King, who suffered a potentially damaging 8-1 reverse to Phil Taylor.

Taylor averaged a record 116 in defeating John Part in Aberdeen last year, and was again in superb form in Scotland to produce the heaviest defeat of the season in romping to victory.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week 12 - AECC, Aberdeen
Ronnie Baxter 7-7 James Wade
Mervyn King 1-8 Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld 8-6 Terry Jenkins - ** Raymond van Barneveld nine-darter!
Simon Whitlock 7-7 Adrian Lewis

Latest League Table

	P	W	D	L	+/-	LWAT	Pts
Phil Taylor	12	10	2	0	+48	40	22
Mervyn King	12	5	3	4	+6	30	13
James Wade	12	4	4	4	0	25	12
Ronnie Baxter	12	4	4	4	-1	34	12
Simon Whitlock	12	5	2	5	-1	30	12
Adrian Lewis	12	4	2	6	-9	26	10
Terry Jenkins	12	3	2	7	-19	25	8
R v Barneveld	12	3	1	8	-24	23	7

RONNIE BAXTER 7-7 JAMES WADE
RONNIE BAXTER scrambled a draw against James Wade to share the spoils for the second time this season with the defending Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts champion.

The play-off chasing pair battled it out in an entertaining contest which swung both ways as Baxter led 4-2 before Wade won five legs out of six to earn a point - only to then miss five match darts in the decider.

The early stages were dominated by missed doubles, with the first four legs going against the throw, Baxter taking out 110 in the second but winning the fourth on double one to show the inconsistency of the pair's start.

Wade had landed double two and tops to take his first two legs, but missed another chance to break in the fifth as Baxter penalised two misses to take out double top, and then hit the same bed for a 4-2 lead at the break.

Wade hit a 180 after the restart, and powered home a fine 121 finish for a 12-darter after Baxter had missed double 18.

The reigning champion levelled in the next, thanks to another 180 in a 14-darter, before punishing eight missed doubles from Baxter in the next to regain the lead.

Double top put Wade 6-4 up before Baxter won his first leg in five, hitting a 96 finish of single 20, double 18 and double top.

Wade finished 101 in the 12th leg to lead 7-5 and ensure a minimum of a point, but was denied a shot at victory in the next as Baxter hit a 180 and a third-dart double two to force a decider.

The Lancastrian trailed as Wade set up victory, only to miss a total of five darts at double ten, five and two to claim both points and allow him back on 96, which he despatched in two darts for the draw.

"We both missed a lot of doubles in the early legs but I was disappointed that I went 4-2 up and didn't kick on from that," said Baxter.

"James let me in at the end and I took my chance. I'm happy with with a draw and it could prove to be a crucial point."

Match Stats

Ronnie Baxter	7-7	James Wade
17	100+	17
12	140+	14
2	180	3
29.26	Ave1	31.03
87.79	Ave3	93.08
110	High Finish	121,101
4	Legs Against Throw	4

PHIL TAYLOR 8-1 MERVYN KING
PHIL TAYLOR powered to the biggest win so far in the 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, defeating Mervyn King 8-1 at the AECC in Aberdeen.

Taylor was already assured of finishing at the head of the Premier League table this season, but ensured King faces a nervous wait to secure his play-off place in the remaining to matches following a heavy loss.

King, last year's runner-up, was punished for a below-par display as he failed to produce the form which has seen him sit amongst the top four throughout the campaign.

Taylor stated his intentions with a 180 and double eight to win the opening leg against the throw and hit the same finish to move 2-0 up.

King took out double 18 for a two-dart 61 finish to get off the mark in the third but was unable to break in the next as Taylor took out a pressure double four to lead 3-1.

A 68 finish was followed by a 12-darter as Taylor went into the break 5-1 up, and he hit scores of 180 and 165 before posting double two to move five legs clear.

He opened the eighth leg with a 180, his third in as many legs, before double top edged him to the brink of victory, which was sealed in the next as he took out 70 for the win.

"Mervyn has been the player to beat and been very consistent but he was a little off his game tonight and I took advantage," said Taylor.

"I'm loving the Premier League this season and I've got a new lease of life. I really want this title back because the Premier League is special and I'm setting myself up nicely for the play-offs."

Match Stats

Mervyn King	1-8	Phil Taylor
7	100+	8
9	140+	8
0	180	4
29.99	Ave1	33.48
89.98	Ave3	100.44
61	High Finish	82
0	Legs Against Throw	4

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-6 TERRY JENKINS
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit a sensational nine-darter in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts during an 8-6 win over Terry Jenkins in Aberdeen last night.

The Dutchman has endured a nightmare year in the Premier League, sinking to the foot of the table with eight defeats - including five in a row ahead of the visit to Scotland.

But he brought 4,000 Scottish fans to their feet with a brilliant nine-darter in the second leg of his clash with Jenkins.

Using a brand new set of darts, he hit back-to-back 180s and then finished 141 on double 12 to complete his fourth televised nine-darter and second in the Premier League.

He went on to lead 4-0 and 7-2 before Jenkins won five legs in a row to force a decider, but the English star missed one dart to claim a draw before van Barneveld finished double 16 to edge only his third win of the campaign.

"It's unbelievable," said van Barneveld, who hit the Premier League's only previous nine-darter during the 2006 season in Bournemouth.

"I've had a nightmare season in the Premier League but I was determined to finish well and hopefully avoid finishing at the bottom of the table, so to hit a nine-darter is incredible.

"I've been disappointing but this could be the start for me and I can't relax after this because it's only one win and one nine-dart leg - but I know if I play like that I can beat anyone and win major titles."

Van Barneveld made a brilliant start to the contest, hitting a 13-darter, which featured a 180, in the opening leg and then raising the AECC's roof with his brilliant nine-darter.

Finishes of double eight and double 16 saw him move 4-0 up before Jenkins landed double top to get off the mark with a 14-dart finish.

Van Barneveld won the next two to lead 6-1, and the pair then traded legs to leave the Dutchman 7-2 up and within touching distance of the win.

He missed two darts for the match in the next as Jenkins hit double four to stay alive, before the Englishman landed six perfect darts of his own in leg 11, taking out 74 for an 11-darter.

Double eight saw him pull back to 7-5 and a sensational 146 checkout saw him force a deciding leg, but he missed double ten for a 137 finish which would have secured a draw to allow van Barneveld back to post double 16 for a memorable win.

Click here to watch Raymond van Barneveld's nine-darter in PDCtv!

Match Stats

R v Barneveld	8-6	Terry Jenkins
12	100+	17
12	140+	8
5	180	3
32.81	Ave1	30.93
98.43	Ave3	92.79
141	High Finish	146
4	Legs Against Throw	3

SIMON WHITLOCK 7-7 ADRIAN LEWIS
ADRIAN LEWIS battled from 7-4 down to draw with Simon Whitlock at the AECC in Aberdeen and keep alive his hopes of securing a Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-off place.

The youngster looked set to wave goodbye to his hopes of finishing in the top four when Whitlock hit back from finding himself 2-0 down to lead 7-4.

But the Australian failed to close out the win, and Lewis clawed back the final three legs to claim a point and remain on the coat-tails of the top four.

Lewis edged a scrappy opening leg on double ten, and moved 2-0 up thanks to a double top finish.

Whitlock posted a 180 and an 81 checkout to get off the mark in the third, before punishing missed doubles in the next two to hit the front at 3-2.

Lewis hit a 180 and double 16 to level going into the break, but Whitlock followed a 12-darter with two further legs to move 6-3 ahead.

Lewis finished 84 to pull back a leg, and the duo traded spectacular 121 finishes to leave Whitlock 7-5 up - only for four missed match darts in the next leg to prove costly.

Lewis landed double 16 to stay in the game, and then won the decider on double six, with Whitlock waiting on 24.

"Early on I missed too many doubles but Simon took out some crucial finishes," said Lewis. "The dream of finishing in the top four is still alive but I know I'll have to win my final two games, against Ronnie Baxter and Phil Taylor, and I'll prepare for that."

Whitlock said: "Adrian played a good game and it was probably a fair result to draw. I'm still in the hunt and anything could happen in the last two weeks, but I've just got to focus on my own game."

Match Stats