2019 Unibet Premier League Night 12

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MICHAEL VAN GERWEN stormed to the top of the Unibet Premier League table as Gerwyn Price delighted the Cardiff crowd.

Van Gerwen v Cross: The Greatest Show In Darts?

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Christopher Kempf takes a look at the rivalry between Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross.

Pundits' Predictions Night 12

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OUR six pundits have submitted their predictions for Night 12 of the 2019 Premier League in Cardiff.

2019 Unibet Premier League Cardiff Preview

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THE 2019 Unibet Premier League continues with Night 12 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Thursday.

Price Prepared For Warm Welsh Reception

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GERWYN PRICE is ready to embrace the warm reception of the Welsh crowd in Cardiff on Thursday.

Fans' Predictions League Night 12

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IT'S time to put your darts knowledge to the test again in the Fans' Predictions League ahead of Night 12.

Top Four Aim For Gurney

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DARYL GURNEY is setting his sights on securing a place in the Unibet Premier League Play-Offs next month.

2019 Unibet Premier League Night 11

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ROB CROSS and Michael van Gerwen extended their status at the top of the Unibet Premier League table with victories in Liverpool.

2019 Unibet Premier League Liverpool Preview

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THE 2019 Unibet Premier League continues with Night 11 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Table-Topper Cross Feeling Fresh For Run-In

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ROB CROSS is feeling fresh for the Premier League run-in ahead of his meeting with Peter Wright in Liverpool.

Glen Durrant lifted the Unibet Premier League title in Coventry on Thursday after defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the final.

Durrant became the sixth player to taste Premier League glory with his triumph at the Ricoh Arena, and the first since Michael van Gerwen in 2013 to win the tournament in their debut season.

The 49-year-old had already made history as the third player to top the league phase, and in the Play-Offs Durrant delivered with victories over Gary Anderson - after surviving four missed match darts from the Scot - and Aspinall to scoop one of the biggest crowns in darts.

The Middlesbrough ace had claimed the £25,000 league winner's bonus last month, and scooped the £250,000 top prize for the biggest pay-day of his career.

"It's unbelievable," said an emotional Durrant. "This supersedes everything I've achieved before.

"Tonight I feel like the best player in the world and I've never had that feeling before.

"I'm feeling absolutely fantastic, I'm ecstatic. This means an awful lot to my family, friends and supporters.

"It's a mammoth achievement and it makes my move over to the PDC worthwhile.

"The game against Gary will go down as one of the worst games in Premier League Play-Offs history but I knew I couldn't play that badly twice.

"I stepped my game up massively for the final and I knew I had to to beat Nathan, who is a consummate professional and will go on to achieve many great things in darts."

The 16th staging of the Premier League, which began in Aberdeen in February, reached its climax on Thursday as Durrant and Aspinall played out the first final between two debutants since the tournament's inception in 2005.

There was nothing to separate the pair after the opening 12 legs of the final were all won on throw, but two legs later Durrant punished five missed doubles from Aspinall to go 8-6 up.

A 127 checkout followed for Durrant but Aspinall, who beat Peter Wright 10-7 in the semi-finals earlier in the night, replied with a 96 checkout to stop the rot.

However, Aspinall was unable to find a break of throw as Durrant closed out the win on his favourite double 16 to claim the title and £250,000 top prize.

"Obviously, I'm absolutely mortified to lose," said Aspinall. "After beating the World Champion I felt I had another gear and that I was going to win the final, but credit to Glen.

"He came top of the Premier League, he's probably been the best player throughout the competition and he deserves to win it.

"It's still been a great debut year for me and I'll be back next year to go one better."

Anderson had seen his hopes of claiming a third Premier League title ended when he saw four darts for victory against Durrant go begging in their semi-final, including three in a dramatic deciding leg.

Wright also lost out in the semi-finals following a season which had seen him achieve a nine-dart finish during the league phase before finishing second in the final table.

Unibet Premier League Play-Offs
Thursday October 15
Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Semi-Finals

Glen Durrant 10-9 Gary Anderson
Nathan Aspinall 10-7 Peter Wright

Final
Glen Durrant 11-8 Nathan Aspinall