BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE STARS AIMING FOR BOURNEMOUTH BOOST
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN, Adrian Lewis and Dave Chisnall are aiming to continue their flying starts to the Betway Premier League season on Week Two at the BIC in Bournemouth on Thursday.
The trio were the stand-out performers on last week's opening night in Leeds, claiming impressive victories to kick off their challenge in the £700,000 event.
World number one van Gerwen defeated Kim Huybrechts 7-3 last week and faces another Premier League debutant, Stephen Bunting, in Bournemouth.
The Dutchman also won two of the three UK Open Qualifiers held last weekend to continue his superb start to 2015, which also included victory in The Masters at the start of the month.
"I'm delighted with how my form is at the moment and I've had a great couple of weeks," said van Gerwen. "I hope I can keep this going throughout the tournament - but I still have to perform on Thursday on stage.
"Stephen's a good player - he wasn't picked for this tournament for no reason - so I'll have to try as hard as I can. I need to try to beat him as well as possible because every leg could be important in this tournament."
Bunting picked up a point on his Premier League debut as he snatched a last-gasp draw with Wade in Leeds, and the St Helens ace hopes to put any early-season nerves aside when he faces the 2013 Premier League winner.
"I was really nervous last week so it was fantastic to take a draw," said Bunting. "It was always going to be a nervy tie and I'm just glad to get through it and move on to Bournemouth now.
"It's all a learning curve for me, and I can only go from strength to strength.
"Michael's another fantastic player, and when you're playing against the players in the Premier League you've got to produce your best darts and hit the 100 averages if you want to beat them."
Lewis has also been in brilliant form, with his 7-1 win over reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld featuring a personal best televised average of almost 114 before he also won a UK Open Qualifier last weekend.
Lewis meets Stoke rival Phil Taylor in Bournemouth, having overcome the 16-time World Champion on the same stage 12 months ago when they met early in the Premier League.
"It was great last week and I want to take that form into my games against the rest of the players now," said Lewis. "I'm really looking forward to playing Phil and it's always brilliant to play him.
"The Premier League has the ten best players in the world, but as long as I concentrate on what I'm doing I don't care who I'm playing. I'll go up there and go straight at Phil on Thursday."
Chisnall, meanwhile, stunned Peter Wright with a sublime performance as he also claimed a 7-1 victory ahead of his Bournemouth meeting with van Barneveld.
"It will be a tough game against Barney," said Chisnall. "He was the champion last year, but I've just got to do what I do hopefully I can win again.
"It was really good in Leeds last week - I wasn't nervous at all, probably because I've been in the Premier League before, and the crowd were great."
World Champion Anderson also opened the season with a victory in Leeds, as he edged out Taylor 7-5 in a deciding leg, and he is expecting another tough battle when he takes on Wright.
"Dave Chisnall played well last week, but Peter will be looking to bounce back," said Anderson. "Peter's had a fantastic couple of years and he was really good in the Premier League last season.
"I was pleased to get the win and hopefully I can do the same again this week."
The night's other game in Bournemouth sees Premier League newcomer Huybrechts take on Wade, who drew with Bunting last week
"I was nervous being back in the Premier League last week and a point's not a bad result because Stephen's a really good player and it was a close match," said Wade.
"Now that the first night's out of the way I can settle down a bit and I won't be as nervous this week, and I'm excited about playing Kim. He's new to Premier League and he's done really well in the last couple of years.
"His performances have been great and I know he'll be better for having got his first game of the season out of the way, but I'm going out for the win and I'll be giving it my all."
The visit to the Bournemouth continues the Premier League's association with its longest-standing venue, which first hosted the sport's top players back in 2006, while Thursday's event is a sell-out
Betway Premier League
Night Two, Thursday February 12
BIC, Bournemouth
Peter Wright v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
James Wade v Kim Huybrechts
Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld
Tickets: SOLD OUT
Betway Match Odds
7/2 Peter Wright
4/1 Draw
4/7 Gary Anderson
4/7 Michael van Gerwen
4/1 Draw
7/2 Stephen Bunting
6/4 Adrian Lewis
7/2 Draw
6/5 Phil Taylor
Evs James Wade
7/2 Draw
15/8 Kim Huybrechts
5/4 Dave Chisnall
7/2 Draw
6/4 Raymond van Barneveld
For other bets and special offers, visit www.betway.com. Odds above correct at time of writing and may be subject to change