Clayton goes top of Cazoo Premier League with victory in Aberdeen

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Jonny Clayton hit top spot in the Cazoo Premier League with a third victory of the season in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Wright vows to stop 'stupid' tinkering ahead of crucial period

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Peter Wright believes a return to his World Championship winning darts will see him secure a Cazoo Premier League Play-Off place

Wonderful Wade delights record crowd for Cazoo Premier League win

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James Wade thrilled a UK record 12,000 crowd in Manchester to claim his first Cazoo Premier League night win of 2022 with a superb display.

New walk-on song for Play-Off chasing Price

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Gerwyn Price has changed his walk-on music as he embarks on a Play-Off push in the Cazoo Premier League.

Van Gerwen extends Cazoo Premier League lead with Leeds victory

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Michael van Gerwen extended his lead at the top of the Cazoo Premier League with victory in Leeds on Night Nine.

Home comforts for excited Cullen ahead of Leeds debut

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Joe Cullen is relishing the chance to take to the First Direct Arena stage as the Cazoo Premier League visits Leeds on Thursday night.

Anderson ruled out of Cazoo Premier League's Leeds visit

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Gary Anderson has been ruled out of Thursday's Cazoo Premier League night in Leeds after testing positive for Covid-19.

Birmingham best from Clayton to claim second Cazoo Premier League win

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Brilliant Jonny Clayton claimed a second Cazoo Premier League night win in Birmingham, denying James Wade a first victory.

Price to play on despite confirmed fracture to throwing hand

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Gerwyn Price will compete in Thursday's Cazoo Premier League in Birmingham despite confirmation of a fractured bone in his throwing hand.

Cullen denies Van Gerwen to rule in Rotterdam

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Joe Cullen denied Michael van Gerwen a dream homecoming in Rotterdam on Thursday to pick up his first Cazoo Premier League night win.

Michael Smith triumphed on Night 16 of the Cazoo Premier League in Newcastle on Thursday, as Joe Cullen defeated World Champion Peter Wright to seal his place at next month's Play-Offs.

Smith was the only player in this year’s event without a night win to his name ahead of the trip to Tyneside, but the World Championship runner-up rectified that with victory on the final night of league phase action.

Smith recorded impressive wins over Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price at the Utilita Arena, before defying a late fightback from Jonny Clayton to scoop the £10,000 winner’s bonus.

“To finally get that win and get over the line was massive tonight. Sadly I didn't make the top four, but I ended on a high and a positive," said Smith.

“It was only me on zero wins in the Premier League, so I was playing for that, and luckily enough I fell over the line against Jonny."

The St Helen’s star had dumped out Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals for a second straight week, before easing past an out-of-sorts Price, who overcame James Wade earlier in the evening. 

Smith saved his best performance of the night until last, averaging 98 and converting 67% of his attempts at double to leapfrog Price and secure a sixth-place finish.

The 31-year-old made a blistering start to the Night 16 showpiece, following up an early break of throw with legs of 13 and 12 darts to establish a commanding 3-0 cushion.

The world number four extended his lead to 4-0, before Clayton reeled off three successive legs of his own to threaten an unlikely comeback.

Smith then halted Clayton’s charge with a fourth 180 and a 13-darter to move to the cusp of victory, before sealing the deal with a classy 112 checkout, to ensure all eight players ended the campaign with at least one night win to their name.

However, Cullen and Wright’s blockbuster showdown was the headline act in Newcastle, with the winner assured of a coveted top four spot.

The pair were locked on 22 points ahead of Thursday’s clash, but it was Cullen who came out on top in an enthralling affair to cap off a fine debut season.

The Masters champion prevailed on Night 15 in London to move above Wright in the table, and he maintained his fine form to deny the world number one a third Play-Off appearance.

Both players were imperious on the outer ring, with Cullen converting all six of his attempts at double 16 - including a clinical 105 kill in the penultimate leg, with Wright sat on a double after nine darts.

Despite this, Cullen was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish after succumbing to table-topper Clayton in the last four, in a repeat of last week’s final.

The Welshman fought back from 4-2 down to defeat Gary Anderson in the evening’s curtain-raiser, defying a 101 average from the spirited Scot to prevail in a deciding leg.

The reigning Premier League champion then recovered from 3-1 adrift to topple Cullen and reach his eighth final of the season, firing in four 180s in the process.

The Cazoo Premier League roadshow now heads to the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin for the Play-Offs on June 13, with Clayton bidding to retain his title.

The 47-year-old will face Cullen in the opening semi-final, before former champions Van Gerwen and Wade collide – having finished second and third respectively. 

The Cazoo Premier League is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).

2022 Cazoo Premier League
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Thursday May 26
Quarter-Finals

Jonny Clayton 6-5 Gary Anderson
Joe Cullen 6-4 Peter Wright
Michael Smith 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Gerwyn Price 6-4 James Wade

Semi-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Joe Cullen
Michael Smith 6-3 Gerwyn Price

Final
Michael Smith 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Click here to view match stats from all Night 16 matches.

Night 17 - Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
Monday June 13
Semi-Finals

Jonny Clayton v Joe Cullen
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade

Final
Clayton/Cullen v Van Gerwen/Wade

Drawboard