CHISNALL MOVES CLEAR IN BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE AS VAN GERWEN DRAWS WITH WRIGHT
DAVE CHISNALL moved a point clear at the top of the Betway Premier League table with a sensational 7-2 win over World Champion Gary Anderson in Exeter on Thursday, as Kim Huybrechts and Stephen Bunting claimed their first victories in the event.
St Helens star Chisnall^s unbeaten start to the season continued as he picked up his fourth win in five matches as he swept aside the new World Champion.
Chisnall landed six 180s and finished seven doubles from 12 attempts in a fine display as he averaged 110.78 to thrill the sell-out 4,500 crowd at the Westpoint Arena.
The 2014 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up established an early 2-0 lead before Scottish star Anderson hit back to 4-2, but Chisnall landed 180s in the next three legs as he stormed to victory.
"It feels great to be top of the table," said Chisnall. "I felt good coming into the game and against the World Champion I knew I had to do something special tonight.
"I played well last week against Kim and I took that on into this week, but played a little bit better and my practice is paying off. Once I got in front there was no looking back.
"People said to me that I needed to get the points early on because I^ve got the top boys going into the last few weeks [before Judgement Night] but I raise my game against the top boys, and that showed tonight.
"This sets me up nicely for the UK Open this weekend."
Chisnall now sits a point clear of Michael van Gerwen, who also remains unbeaten but had to settle for a draw for a second successive week following his stalemate with Peter Wright.
Van Gerwen took out an early 120 finish to break and lead 2-1, only for Wright to reply with checkouts of 101 and 158 as he held a slender lead - but the Dutchman finished 145 in the tenth leg before sharing the final two to take a point.
Van Gerwen had labelled Wright "unprofessional" for stopping and encouraging the crowd to cheer when he needed double top for a 160 finish, but also admitted: "I got frustrated with myself because I didn^t play my game and I wasn^t at my best.
"He had a couple of good finishes but my focus wasn^t there for some reason and I^m a bit gutted. Sometimes you have to be happy with a point but you always want to win.
"I didn^t lose the game and I^m still unbeaten, but I need to play better next time. I^ve got to focus on playing in the UK Open tomorrow now."
Wright added: "It^s another point for me but I^m still not happy with how I^m playing because I^m doing better than this in practice, so it^s frustrating.
"I^ve played three fantastic players in the last three weeks, Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen and got a point off each of them, so I^m happy with that - but I^ll be happier to get a win.
"I^m getting there and I^m a fighter. I^m not going to give up and I^m here to do a job, as these other guys are, so I^m not going to roll over and have my belly tickled by these guys.
"They^re fantastic players but so am I, and I^m not even playing well yet, so watch out! I^ve played three "
Phil Taylor sits in third place on seven points after he extended his unbeaten run to four matches with a 7-5 comeback win over James Wade.
Wade took out 121 as he opened up an early 3-0 lead and the 2009 champion also led 4-1 before Taylor hit top gear to reel off five successive legs - including an 11-darter to break throw - as he took a 6-4 lead.
Wade finished 100 with two double tops to send the game into a decider, but Taylor secured the win in style with a 140 checkout, ending with a superb 106.45 average.
"I^m delighted with that," said Taylor. "James hit a lovely 121 and was playing out of his skin early on, hitting everything - but I wasn^t playing badly and I just had to up it a little.
"I want to push forward now and I don^t want to just be a part of this Premier League, I want to win it. I want to win everything that I go into, and you^re going to have to work hard to beat me because I^m giving it the best I can."
Belgian ace Huybrechts claimed the first win of his debut Premier League season as he edged to a 7-5 win over reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld with an outstanding 170 checkout in the game^s final leg.
Van Barneveld missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish in the third leg of a high-quality contest, winning the leg in ten darts for a 2-1 lead before Huybrechts landed five 180s in the next five legs to power into a 6-2 advantage.
The Dutchman took the next three legs to keep alive his hopes of snatching a point before he fired in a 180 in the game^s deciding leg to leave 145 - but Huybrechts denied him a chance to claim a draw by slamming home the maximum checkout.
"That^s one of my best finishes ever to win a match and it was a brilliant game which is great for my confidence," said Huybrechts, who had averaged 107 in defeat to Chisnall a week ago.
"I^m feeling good on stage, enjoying it and when I enjoy myself I can play good darts. I knew that if I could continue my form then I^d get some points eventually, and luckily I got the two points tonight.
"It^s my first win and an important one because if Raymond would have won today it would have put a lot of pressure on me, so I^m really delighted - I^m the happiest man in darts after that!"
Bunting also enjoyed his first victory in the Premier League as he defeated Adrian Lewis 7-3 to bounce back from three successive losses.
After losing the opening leg, Bunting won five in a row - including an 11-darter and a 104 finish - to put himself into a commanding 5-1 lead.
Lewis pulled back to 5-3, but Bunting landed 180s in the next two as he picked up both points.
"It^s a massive boost for my confidence and I know there^s still improvement to be made but this is a good win," said Bunting. "I^m confident in my ability and I know what I can do.
"It^s been well documented that I^ve changed my darts and people are blaming that, but my darts are fine, they^re flying on the practice board and it was only a matter of time before I got a win, and I want to build on this.
"Until you get your first win you can never relax and it^s always special walking out on this stage - but I can^t wait for the next games now."
The Betway Premier League continues next week at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, with the games including van Gerwen^s clash with Taylor and a huge game at the bottom of the table between Huybrechts and Wright.
Tickets can still be purchased by calling 0843 373 3000 or online via www.capitalfmarena.com.
Betway Premier League
Night Five, Thursday March 5
Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Raymond van Barneveld 5-7 Kim Huybrechts
James Wade 5-7 Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis 3-7 Stephen Bunting
Peter Wright 6-6 Michael van Gerwen
Dave Chisnall 7-2 Gary Anderson
MATCH INFORMATION
Raymond van Barneveld v Kim Huybrechts
1-0 - The reigning Betway Premier League champion opens in style with a 14-dart leg, landing a 180 and finishing 60 on tops.
1-1 - Huybrechts levels by finishing 72 on tops.
2-1 - RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD MISSES DOUBLE 12 FOR A NINE-DART FINISH! The Dutchman opens with two 180s, and adds a treble 20 and the treble 19 on the 141 finish, only to miss double 12, matching Huybrechts^ miss for a perfect leg a week ago. However, van Barneveld returns to land double 12 to win the leg with an impressive ten-darter.
2-2 - Huybrechts fires in a maximum as he levels, landing double six for a 13-darter.
2-3 - Huybrechts opens with his second 180 of the game, and though he misses the bull for a showpiece 125 finish, van Barneveld^s miss at double 16 to complete a 108 combination allows him back in on double eight for a 14-darter to break.
2-4 - The Belgian lands a 180 for a third successive leg before hitting double four to move two legs clear.
2-5 - Huybrechts kicks off the leg with two 180s to set up his own chance of a nine-darter, and though he misses a seventh perfect dart, he returns to win the leg in 11 darts on double eight for another break.
2-6 - Huybrechts maintains an average of over 107 for a second successive week, as double 18 seals him a minimum of a point.
3-6 - Double top sees van Barneveld win his first leg in six.
4-6 - The Dutchman takes out 71 to break throw.
5-6 - Huybrechts lands a 180, but van Barneveld finishes 60 on tops to send the game into a deciding leg.
5-7 - van Barneveld fires in his fourth 180 of the game to leave 145, only for Huybrechts to finish a sensational 170 checkout to claim his first Betway Premier League victory.
James Wade v Phil Taylor
1-0 - Wade takes out 38 on double 19 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - The 2009 champion finishes 121 to break throw on double 14 to move two legs up.
3-0 - Wade pins double top to win a third successive leg.
3-1 - Taylor finishes 84 on double eight to claim his first leg of the game.
4-1 - Wade once again lands tops as he moves three legs clear again, with both players averaging over 104 per visit.
4-2 - Double ten sees Taylor reply to claim his second leg.
4-3 - Taylor opens with 177 and 140 before taking the leg on double 16 for an 11-darter to break back.
4-4 - Taylor finishes 65 in two darts as he levels the contest.
4-5 - Taylor initially misses double 15 for a 110 finish, but Wade is off-target with two darts at double ten to allow the 16-time World Champion back in, as he lands double 15 to claim a key break and move ahead.
4-6 - For the second time in the game, Taylor kicks off the leg with a 177 before finishing 65 on tops to secure a point and move a leg away from the win.
5-6 - Wade finishes 100 with two double tops to send the game into a decisive 12th leg.
5-7 - Taylor claims victory in style with a superb 140 checkout, completing a superb fightback from 4-1 down to end with a 106.48 average.
Adrian Lewis v Stephen Bunting
1-0 - Lewis pins double 12 at the first time of asking to take the opening leg.
1-1 - Bunting finishes 52 on double 16 to level.
1-2 - Bunting breaks throw with a brilliant 11-darter, finishing 81.
1-3 - Bunting returns from missing double four for a 128 finish to land double two.
1-4 - Bunting fires in a 180, and when Lewis misses double eight and four the St Helens ace steps in to take out 104 for another break.
1-5 - Lewis misses a further three darts at doubles, allowing Bunting back in on double five to claim his fifth successive leg.
2-5 - Lewis lands his first 180 of the game before finishing double eight to claim his second leg of the game.
3-5 - Lewis fires in a 171 score of three treble 19s to leave 95, before finishing the checkout with treble 19 and double 19 to break.
3-6 - Bunting opens with a 180 before hitting double six to secure his second point of the season, having previously drawn with James Wade on the opening night.
3-7 - Double 12 gives Bunting his first Betway Premier League triumph.
Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
1-0 - van Gerwen opens the game with a 180 but misses the bull to break throw, allowing Wright to hit the middle double to take out 85 for the lead.
1-1 - van Gerwen misses a further three darts at doubles before landing double one to level.
1-2 - The Dutchman finishes 120 to break throw and move ahead.
2-2 - Wright takes out 101 on double 16 to level matters with a break.
3-2 - Wright finishes 85 for the second time in the match, this time on tops as he moves ahead.
3-3 - Tops allows van Gerwen to level the game.
4-3 - Wright takes out 42 on double 16 to regain the edge.
4-4 - Wright opens with a maximum but misses tops for a 160 finish, allowing van Gerwen in to pin double 16.
5-4 - Wright takes out a brilliant 158 finish to avoid a potential break.
5-5 - van Gerwen levels with a superb 145 finish.
6-5 - Wright initially misses three darts at doubles across two visits, but van Gerwen misses two darts at tops to break throw and claim a point as the Scot returns on double four to ensure at least a draw and his third point of the season.
6-6 - van Gerwen opens the deciding leg with a 180 before finishing tops to take a point.
Dave Chisnall v Gary Anderson
1-0 - Chisnall lands a 180 to leave 24 before pinning double 12 to claim the opening leg.
2-0 - Anderson opens with a 180 but misses tops to take out 76, allowing Chisnall to finish 78 on double ten to break throw.
2-1 - Chisnall lands a maximum but Anderson breaks back by taking out 90.
3-1 - Chisnall kicks off the leg with a 180 before breaking once more with double eight.
4-1 - Chisnall misses the bull for a 167 finish, but he returns on double eight to move three legs clear.
4-2 - Anderson takes out 65 to hit back with his second leg of the game.
5-2 - Chisnall^s superb display continues as he produces a 180 and a double 16 finish.
6-2 - Chisnall lifts his average to an outstanding 111 as he lands a 180 to leave 100 before finshing the combination in two darts to remain unbeaten this season.
7-2 - A sixth 180 of the game pushes Chisnall before he finishes tops for a 14-darter to move a point clear at the top of the table with a 110.78 average.
St Helens star Chisnall^s unbeaten start to the season continued as he picked up his fourth win in five matches as he swept aside the new World Champion.
Chisnall landed six 180s and finished seven doubles from 12 attempts in a fine display as he averaged 110.78 to thrill the sell-out 4,500 crowd at the Westpoint Arena.
The 2014 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up established an early 2-0 lead before Scottish star Anderson hit back to 4-2, but Chisnall landed 180s in the next three legs as he stormed to victory.
"It feels great to be top of the table," said Chisnall. "I felt good coming into the game and against the World Champion I knew I had to do something special tonight.
"I played well last week against Kim and I took that on into this week, but played a little bit better and my practice is paying off. Once I got in front there was no looking back.
"People said to me that I needed to get the points early on because I^ve got the top boys going into the last few weeks [before Judgement Night] but I raise my game against the top boys, and that showed tonight.
"This sets me up nicely for the UK Open this weekend."
Chisnall now sits a point clear of Michael van Gerwen, who also remains unbeaten but had to settle for a draw for a second successive week following his stalemate with Peter Wright.
Van Gerwen took out an early 120 finish to break and lead 2-1, only for Wright to reply with checkouts of 101 and 158 as he held a slender lead - but the Dutchman finished 145 in the tenth leg before sharing the final two to take a point.
Van Gerwen had labelled Wright "unprofessional" for stopping and encouraging the crowd to cheer when he needed double top for a 160 finish, but also admitted: "I got frustrated with myself because I didn^t play my game and I wasn^t at my best.
"He had a couple of good finishes but my focus wasn^t there for some reason and I^m a bit gutted. Sometimes you have to be happy with a point but you always want to win.
"I didn^t lose the game and I^m still unbeaten, but I need to play better next time. I^ve got to focus on playing in the UK Open tomorrow now."
Wright added: "It^s another point for me but I^m still not happy with how I^m playing because I^m doing better than this in practice, so it^s frustrating.
"I^ve played three fantastic players in the last three weeks, Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen and got a point off each of them, so I^m happy with that - but I^ll be happier to get a win.
"I^m getting there and I^m a fighter. I^m not going to give up and I^m here to do a job, as these other guys are, so I^m not going to roll over and have my belly tickled by these guys.
"They^re fantastic players but so am I, and I^m not even playing well yet, so watch out! I^ve played three "
Phil Taylor sits in third place on seven points after he extended his unbeaten run to four matches with a 7-5 comeback win over James Wade.
Wade took out 121 as he opened up an early 3-0 lead and the 2009 champion also led 4-1 before Taylor hit top gear to reel off five successive legs - including an 11-darter to break throw - as he took a 6-4 lead.
Wade finished 100 with two double tops to send the game into a decider, but Taylor secured the win in style with a 140 checkout, ending with a superb 106.45 average.
"I^m delighted with that," said Taylor. "James hit a lovely 121 and was playing out of his skin early on, hitting everything - but I wasn^t playing badly and I just had to up it a little.
"I want to push forward now and I don^t want to just be a part of this Premier League, I want to win it. I want to win everything that I go into, and you^re going to have to work hard to beat me because I^m giving it the best I can."
Belgian ace Huybrechts claimed the first win of his debut Premier League season as he edged to a 7-5 win over reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld with an outstanding 170 checkout in the game^s final leg.
Van Barneveld missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish in the third leg of a high-quality contest, winning the leg in ten darts for a 2-1 lead before Huybrechts landed five 180s in the next five legs to power into a 6-2 advantage.
The Dutchman took the next three legs to keep alive his hopes of snatching a point before he fired in a 180 in the game^s deciding leg to leave 145 - but Huybrechts denied him a chance to claim a draw by slamming home the maximum checkout.
"That^s one of my best finishes ever to win a match and it was a brilliant game which is great for my confidence," said Huybrechts, who had averaged 107 in defeat to Chisnall a week ago.
"I^m feeling good on stage, enjoying it and when I enjoy myself I can play good darts. I knew that if I could continue my form then I^d get some points eventually, and luckily I got the two points tonight.
"It^s my first win and an important one because if Raymond would have won today it would have put a lot of pressure on me, so I^m really delighted - I^m the happiest man in darts after that!"
Bunting also enjoyed his first victory in the Premier League as he defeated Adrian Lewis 7-3 to bounce back from three successive losses.
After losing the opening leg, Bunting won five in a row - including an 11-darter and a 104 finish - to put himself into a commanding 5-1 lead.
Lewis pulled back to 5-3, but Bunting landed 180s in the next two as he picked up both points.
"It^s a massive boost for my confidence and I know there^s still improvement to be made but this is a good win," said Bunting. "I^m confident in my ability and I know what I can do.
"It^s been well documented that I^ve changed my darts and people are blaming that, but my darts are fine, they^re flying on the practice board and it was only a matter of time before I got a win, and I want to build on this.
"Until you get your first win you can never relax and it^s always special walking out on this stage - but I can^t wait for the next games now."
The Betway Premier League continues next week at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, with the games including van Gerwen^s clash with Taylor and a huge game at the bottom of the table between Huybrechts and Wright.
Tickets can still be purchased by calling 0843 373 3000 or online via www.capitalfmarena.com.
Betway Premier League
Night Five, Thursday March 5
Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Raymond van Barneveld 5-7 Kim Huybrechts
James Wade 5-7 Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis 3-7 Stephen Bunting
Peter Wright 6-6 Michael van Gerwen
Dave Chisnall 7-2 Gary Anderson
MATCH INFORMATION
Raymond van Barneveld v Kim Huybrechts
1-0 - The reigning Betway Premier League champion opens in style with a 14-dart leg, landing a 180 and finishing 60 on tops.
1-1 - Huybrechts levels by finishing 72 on tops.
2-1 - RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD MISSES DOUBLE 12 FOR A NINE-DART FINISH! The Dutchman opens with two 180s, and adds a treble 20 and the treble 19 on the 141 finish, only to miss double 12, matching Huybrechts^ miss for a perfect leg a week ago. However, van Barneveld returns to land double 12 to win the leg with an impressive ten-darter.
2-2 - Huybrechts fires in a maximum as he levels, landing double six for a 13-darter.
2-3 - Huybrechts opens with his second 180 of the game, and though he misses the bull for a showpiece 125 finish, van Barneveld^s miss at double 16 to complete a 108 combination allows him back in on double eight for a 14-darter to break.
2-4 - The Belgian lands a 180 for a third successive leg before hitting double four to move two legs clear.
2-5 - Huybrechts kicks off the leg with two 180s to set up his own chance of a nine-darter, and though he misses a seventh perfect dart, he returns to win the leg in 11 darts on double eight for another break.
2-6 - Huybrechts maintains an average of over 107 for a second successive week, as double 18 seals him a minimum of a point.
3-6 - Double top sees van Barneveld win his first leg in six.
4-6 - The Dutchman takes out 71 to break throw.
5-6 - Huybrechts lands a 180, but van Barneveld finishes 60 on tops to send the game into a deciding leg.
5-7 - van Barneveld fires in his fourth 180 of the game to leave 145, only for Huybrechts to finish a sensational 170 checkout to claim his first Betway Premier League victory.
James Wade v Phil Taylor
1-0 - Wade takes out 38 on double 19 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - The 2009 champion finishes 121 to break throw on double 14 to move two legs up.
3-0 - Wade pins double top to win a third successive leg.
3-1 - Taylor finishes 84 on double eight to claim his first leg of the game.
4-1 - Wade once again lands tops as he moves three legs clear again, with both players averaging over 104 per visit.
4-2 - Double ten sees Taylor reply to claim his second leg.
4-3 - Taylor opens with 177 and 140 before taking the leg on double 16 for an 11-darter to break back.
4-4 - Taylor finishes 65 in two darts as he levels the contest.
4-5 - Taylor initially misses double 15 for a 110 finish, but Wade is off-target with two darts at double ten to allow the 16-time World Champion back in, as he lands double 15 to claim a key break and move ahead.
4-6 - For the second time in the game, Taylor kicks off the leg with a 177 before finishing 65 on tops to secure a point and move a leg away from the win.
5-6 - Wade finishes 100 with two double tops to send the game into a decisive 12th leg.
5-7 - Taylor claims victory in style with a superb 140 checkout, completing a superb fightback from 4-1 down to end with a 106.48 average.
Adrian Lewis v Stephen Bunting
1-0 - Lewis pins double 12 at the first time of asking to take the opening leg.
1-1 - Bunting finishes 52 on double 16 to level.
1-2 - Bunting breaks throw with a brilliant 11-darter, finishing 81.
1-3 - Bunting returns from missing double four for a 128 finish to land double two.
1-4 - Bunting fires in a 180, and when Lewis misses double eight and four the St Helens ace steps in to take out 104 for another break.
1-5 - Lewis misses a further three darts at doubles, allowing Bunting back in on double five to claim his fifth successive leg.
2-5 - Lewis lands his first 180 of the game before finishing double eight to claim his second leg of the game.
3-5 - Lewis fires in a 171 score of three treble 19s to leave 95, before finishing the checkout with treble 19 and double 19 to break.
3-6 - Bunting opens with a 180 before hitting double six to secure his second point of the season, having previously drawn with James Wade on the opening night.
3-7 - Double 12 gives Bunting his first Betway Premier League triumph.
Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
1-0 - van Gerwen opens the game with a 180 but misses the bull to break throw, allowing Wright to hit the middle double to take out 85 for the lead.
1-1 - van Gerwen misses a further three darts at doubles before landing double one to level.
1-2 - The Dutchman finishes 120 to break throw and move ahead.
2-2 - Wright takes out 101 on double 16 to level matters with a break.
3-2 - Wright finishes 85 for the second time in the match, this time on tops as he moves ahead.
3-3 - Tops allows van Gerwen to level the game.
4-3 - Wright takes out 42 on double 16 to regain the edge.
4-4 - Wright opens with a maximum but misses tops for a 160 finish, allowing van Gerwen in to pin double 16.
5-4 - Wright takes out a brilliant 158 finish to avoid a potential break.
5-5 - van Gerwen levels with a superb 145 finish.
6-5 - Wright initially misses three darts at doubles across two visits, but van Gerwen misses two darts at tops to break throw and claim a point as the Scot returns on double four to ensure at least a draw and his third point of the season.
6-6 - van Gerwen opens the deciding leg with a 180 before finishing tops to take a point.
Dave Chisnall v Gary Anderson
1-0 - Chisnall lands a 180 to leave 24 before pinning double 12 to claim the opening leg.
2-0 - Anderson opens with a 180 but misses tops to take out 76, allowing Chisnall to finish 78 on double ten to break throw.
2-1 - Chisnall lands a maximum but Anderson breaks back by taking out 90.
3-1 - Chisnall kicks off the leg with a 180 before breaking once more with double eight.
4-1 - Chisnall misses the bull for a 167 finish, but he returns on double eight to move three legs clear.
4-2 - Anderson takes out 65 to hit back with his second leg of the game.
5-2 - Chisnall^s superb display continues as he produces a 180 and a double 16 finish.
6-2 - Chisnall lifts his average to an outstanding 111 as he lands a 180 to leave 100 before finshing the combination in two darts to remain unbeaten this season.
7-2 - A sixth 180 of the game pushes Chisnall before he finishes tops for a 14-darter to move a point clear at the top of the table with a 110.78 average.