Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters: Phil Taylor eliminated by Andy Hamilton in quarters

Phil Taylor was sent crashing out of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters after a 10-8 defeat to Andy Hamilton in the quarter-finals.

The 16-time world champion took a 4-1 lead in the contest but was pegged back and eventually defeated by his fellow Stoke thrower in the inaugural tournament at the Dubai Tennis Centre.

Following Taylor’s hot start, Hamilton produced a stunning response as he reeled off five straight legs to take the advantage at 6-4.

The momentum then swung again as Taylor took the next three legs to edge back ahead, before Hamilton struck a crucial blow by winning three himself to move to the brink of victory.

Although Taylor managed to pull a leg back, Hamilton took out double top for a 14-dart leg to complete the victory.

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld and Premier League winner Michael van Gerwen also progressed to the last four of the event.

Van Gerwen, who will face Hamilton in the semi-finals, defeated Wes Newton 10-7 while his fellow Dutchman van Barneveld hit four ton-plus finishes in the process of seeing off Adrian Lewis 10-6.

Van Barneveld’s semi-final opponent will be James Wade, who edged out Simon Whitlock 10-8.

Darts Stars Touch Down In Dubai

THE stars of the PDC have arrived in Dubai ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters – as they prepare to compete for $250,000 prize money in the inaugural event.

The Dubai Tennis Stadium is being converted into a darts arena ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, which will be held on Thursday May 23 and Friday May 24 at the venue.

The open-air event will see the stage covered by a canopy to reduce any possible airflow, while around 2,000 fans will pack the stadium on each night.

Thursday will see the four Quarter-Final matches take place, with the winners then returning to compete in the Semi-Finals and Final on Friday night.

The draw for the Dubai Duty Free Masters will be made on Wednesday afternoon at a sponsors’ launch, with the top four players at the time of the event’s announcement in January – Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade & Michael van Gerwen – all seeded for the Quarter-Finals.

Simon Whitlock, Andy Hamilton, Wes Newton and Raymond van Barneveld will be drawn out to face the seeds.

Van Gerwen, who has won both the McCoy’s Premier League Darts and European Darts Open titles in the past week, was joined by van Barneveld in travelling to Dubai on Monday, with the six UK-based stars landing in the Middle East on Tuesday.

The five Unicorn-sponsored players, Taylor, van Barneveld, Wade, Hamilton and Newton, visited the Sun & Sand Sport Store in the Dubai Mall (pictured above) where they played darts with customers on Tuesday afternoon.

Michael van Gerwen adds European Open to Premier League title

Fresh from his success in London on Thursday, van Gerwen moved on to Germany where he beat Simon Whitlock 6-2 in Sunday’s final to claim another £20,000 in prize money in what is becoming a superb season.

Van Gerwen won six matches over the weekend, including victories over Terry Jenkins, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright to set-up a final with fellow Premier League star Whitlock.

Whitlock could not live with van Gerwen’s 106 average he threw during the final, as the young Dutchman walked away with yet another victory.

“It’s been a brilliant few days,” said van Gerwen. “I’m a bit tired at the moment but winning is the most important thing, and I’m very glad I saved my best game for the final.

“Simon beat me the last time we played in a final and I knew I needed to play a proper game to beat him, and I think I showed my class with a very good performance tonight.

“The crowd was amazing and even though they were cheering for Simon in the final, they were very nice. Darts is growing in Germany and the crowds are very good here. Every ticket’s sold out and you want to see that.”

Next up for the globe-trotting darts stars is a trip to the Middle East where they will take part in the inaugural Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters next week.

“I’m so happy with my game at the moment and I hope I can continue this form in Dubai as well because I want to do well there,” added van Gerwen.

“I fly to Dubai on Monday and I’ll have a couple of days off when I get over there but I’ll be preparing for the Dubai Masters. I’m looking forward to it and it’s very exciting.”

Whitlock will join van Gerwen, and the likes of Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld in heading to the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, and he added: “I’m looking forward to every tournament I play right now and hopefully I can win in Dubai.”

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Night 14

JAMES WADE claimed the final place in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Offs as he drew with Phil Taylor in Newcastle on Thursday, while Michael van Gerwen ensured he would top the league table with a thrilling display at the Metro Radio Arena.

2009 Premier League champion Wade entered the 14th and final league night holding fourth place but knowing that Robert Thornton and Simon Whitlock could overtake him depending on their results.

After Thornton lost his opening game in Newcastle with a 7-4 defeat to Raymond van Barneveld and Whitlock drew with Adrian Lewis, Wade went into his clash with Taylor knowing that his fate was in his own hands.

The world number four produced a typically determined performance with some key finishes as he held his nerve to claim a draw with Taylor, and the point proved to be enough when Thornton was defeated 7-1 by van Gerwen later in the evening.

Wade will now face van Gerwen in the semi-finals at The O2 next Thursday, while Taylor plays van Barneveld in the other last four clash as the quartet battle for the £150,000 prize and to lift the prestigious trophy in London.

“It was nervy but I did enough and that draw was bigger than any win I’ve had all season,” said Wade. “I feel fresh now and I’m ready for the Play-Offs.

“Michael’s a brilliant player, but I’m also pretty good myself and I think it’s the most even Premier League ever. I don’t think anybody could pick a player to win it.

“I still haven’t played great, and apart probably from five games where I played well and in other games I rode my luck and got through them. I’ll prepare right for the Play-Offs and I’m looking forward to it.”

Van Gerwen ensured that he would end his debut Premier League season at the head of the table with a sensational display to defeat Robert Thornton 7-1 in a game which took less than 15 minutes.

Thornton could still have ousted Wade from fourth had he whitewashed the Dutchman, but that prospect was ended inside 90 seconds as van Gerwen took the opening leg.

He also won the next five legs – hitting four 180s in the process – to lead 6-0 and then had a dart at tops for a 113 finish as Thornton hit tops to get himself off the mark.

Van Gerwen, though, opened the next leg with scores of 180 and 177, and though he missed out on a nine-dart finish he went on to seal victory with a 105.35 average to confirm that he would become the first player other than Taylor to top the Premier League table following the weekly rounds.

“It was a big target for me and it’s a very special moment for me,” said van Gerwen. “It means a lot to me and you can see how difficult it is to finish top because nobody has ever done it other than Phil.

“It was important to win tonight with a very good game, and I can look forward to playing James in the semi-finals now. He’s a quality player who knows exactly how to win games, but I just want to play my own game, like I did tonight.

“I think I’ve done very well in the last 14 weeks but we have one big week left and I’ve got two more games to win – and I want to win them both.”

Van Barneveld finished a point behind his fellow countryman on 23 league points as he secured a return to the Play-Offs in style with a brace of 7-4 victories against Thornton and Whitlock.

“I couldn’t do any more than win both games,” said van Barneveld, who was cheered on by Newcastle United’s Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul. “I’ll congratulate Michael on finishing top because he’s deserved it over 14 weeks.

“To have the number one and two in the league from Holland is a good result but I have to focus on the Play-Offs now. It’s a totally different game now but all four players in the semi-finals deserve to be there.

“I’ve had many years where I’ve been in the Premier League semi-finals and not reached the final, so my first target is Phil Taylor. It’s a really hard task and it seems he always plays his best game against me, but if I play my best game I can beat anyone I want.

“Hopefully next week it will be a good battle and I’ll practice hard for it. I’m battling, my head is right and I believe in myself again, and if you believe in yourself then anything is possible.”

Reigning champion Taylor, meanwhile, finished third in the final league table and will face van Barneveld in the semi-finals as he bids to claim a seventh McCoy’s Premier League Darts title.

After hitting back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 against Wade, Taylor went on to grab a point as he showed his versatility around the board by hitting five scores of above 170 in the contest.

“It was an exciting match to be involved in and I knew what it meant for James,” said Taylor. “I could feel the tension in that last leg because he needed the draw.

“It was different for me because I’d already qualified, but it’s a different mindset next week because you either win, or you’re out.

“I’m still picking my form up and I’ve got a few days now to finalise everything for the Play-Offs and I’ll be there or thereabouts. It’s been a tough 14 weeks so I’m pleased just to get through, and anyone who has qualified for the semi-finals deserves it.”

Two-time World Champion Lewis, meanwhile, ended the season with a flourish by defeating Andy Hamilton and drawing with Whitlock, although he still ended the season in eighth place, two points adrift of Hamilton.

“It’s been a really disappointing season but I’m delighted to get a win against Andy and to draw with Simon,” said Lewis, who hit a 170 finish in his clash with Whitlock.

“I wanted to end the season on a high and my form’s starting to come back – but it’s just too late and I wish I could start the season again now to be honest. I can look forward now to the UK Open and I think I’ll be hard to beat there.”

Thursday’s results in Newcastle brought the league phase of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts season to a close, with the revamped format having seen Gary Anderson and Wes Newton relegated following nine weeks before the battle for Play-Off places went all the way to the 14th night.

Van Barneveld and Taylor will open the Play-Offs at The O2 next week, before van Gerwen faces Wade as the quartet contest repeats of the World Championship semi-finals held less than six months ago.

The winners will then contest the final for the right to leave The O2 carrying the prestigious trophy and a £150,000 first prize.

Van Gerwen is the 11/10 favourite to win the McCoy’s Premier League Darts title with Coral, the official bookmaker of the event, with Taylor priced at 7/4, van Barneveld 11/2 and Wade the 8/1 outsider.

Van Gerwen is priced at 3/10 by Coral to defeat Wade, who is 5/2 to reach the final, while Taylor is the 4/9 favourite to defeat van Barneveld, who is 7/4 to win through to his first Premier League Darts final.

The night at The O2 will also feature the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship final between St Helens’ Michael Smith and Kettering’s Ricky Evans, who will be playing for a £10,000 first prize as the Under-21’s event concludes with the best-of-11 leg decider between the Premier League’s semi-finals and final.

Tickets for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 16 are still available by calling 0844 856 0202 or by visiting www.axs.com.

Watch Live
All McCoy’s Premier League Darts nights will be shown live on Sky Sports HD from 7pm.
Coverage is also live through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East and Fox Sports in Australia.
LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers can also watch live coverage at LIVEPDC.TV, along with highlights on a 24-hour delay.

Get Involved
Stay in touch with the McCoy’s Premier League Darts through the PDC’s official Facebook and Twitter page, and join the conversation using the #McCoysPLD hashtag.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week 14
May 9 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Andy Hamilton 5-7 Adrian Lewis
Robert Thornton 4-7 Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis 6-6 Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor 6-6 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 7-1 Robert Thornton
Simon Whitlock 4-7 Raymond van Barneveld

Play-Offs
May 16 – The O2, London
McCoy’s Premier League Darts Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
Best of 15 legs

PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship Final
Ricky Evans v Michael Smith
Best of 11 legs

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Final
van Gerwen/Wade v van Barneveld/Taylor
Best of 19 legs

Final League Table

	P	W	D	L	+/-	LWAT	Pts
Michael van Gerwen – Q	16	11	2	3	+34	39	24
Phil Taylor – Q	16	8	4	4	+22	40	20
Raymond van Barneveld – Q	16	10	3	3	+24	41	23
James Wade	16	7	3	6	+6	31	17
Robert Thornton	16	6	3	7	-7	31	15
Simon Whitlock	16	7	1	8	-9	33	15
Andy Hamilton	16	6	0	10	-11	30	12
Adrian Lewis	16	4	2	10	-27	25	10
Relegated
Wes Newton	9	2	1	6	-14		5
Gary Anderson	9	2	1	6	-18		5

McCoy’s Premier League Night 14 Preview

THE final place in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Offs will be up for grabs as the league season concludes in Newcastle on Thursday – with James Wade, Robert Thornton and Simon Whitlock fighting to claim a spot in the Play-Offs.

With Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld all securing their Play-Off places with wins in Liverpool last week, the remaining semi-finalist will be decided on the 14th league night.

While 2009 Premier League champion Wade travels to the Metro Radio Arena in fourth place, Scottish star Thornton knows that victories in his two games in Newcastle will see him leapfrog the left-hander to seal a semi-final finish in his debut season.

Wade lost both of his matches in Liverpool but sits on 16 points, one ahead of Thornton, and takes on Taylor in Newcastle in his final league game as he aims to reach the semi-finals for the fifth time in six seasons.

“It would have been nice to have qualified already but I will prepare myself to go and get the job done on Thursday,” said Wade. “It hasn’t gone my way in the last few weeks but I’m in the best position of the three fighting for the last spot at the moment.

“In the end it will be about who has the most points over 14 weeks, not just what happens in one night. If I’ve got more points than four other players, then I’ll deserve a place in the semi-finals.”

Wade drew with Taylor in Exeter in their last meeting, and added: “I’m looking forward to playing Phil, we had a good game last time out and I expect it to be the same in Newcastle.”

Thornton, meanwhile, will play van Barneveld in the night’s second game before later returning to face van Gerwen as he seeks a double of wins over Dutch opposition.

“It’s great that it’s still in my own hands,” said Thornton. “All through the season I’ve just taken it one game at a time, and that’s what I’ll do on Thursday.

“I don’t fear anybody and I’m just enjoying being up on the big stage taking on these players. If I do manage to do enough to get into the Play-Offs it would be a massive achievement.

“I won a Players Championship last Saturday so that’s a boost to my confidence and if I can take the form which I showed there into the Premier League then I’ll be happy because I’ll take some beating.”

Whitlock, meanwhile, sits two points adrift of Wade and one point shy of Thornton as he prepares for a double-header against Adrian Lewis and van Barneveld at the Metro Radio Arena.

“It would be huge if I can qualify,” said Whitlock. “I nearly went out on Judgement Night but I set myself a goal after that of making the semi-finals and I’ve still got a chance.

“I feel really confident and I’m looking forward to Thursday night. I’ve played some really good darts in the last month or so and I believe I can do it.”

Although van Gerwen currently sits three points clear of Taylor and van Barneveld going into the final league night, he could still be overtaken as the final league leader by the five-time World Champion should he win both of his games in Newcastle.

“It would be fantastic if I can finish top and it would mean a lot to me,” said van Barneveld. “I want to win every single match and it will be tough this week but I’ll do my best.

“Making sure I was in the Play-Offs was the most important thing and I’ve done that, but if you come out at the top of the table then it means you’re the most consistent player over the last three months.”

Taylor, meanwhile, ends the league season against Wade having turned his campaign around with four wins and a draw from his last five games.

“I’m looking forward to this week and I’m having a big push to get ready for the Play-Offs,” said Taylor. “I want to win and win well against James to make sure I’m ready for the semi-finals.”

The night’s other fixture sees Adrian Lewis – who will finish bottom – take on Stoke rival Andy Hamilton, who could still end the season above Whitlock as the players battle for additional prize money based on finishing positions.

“I want to finish as high as possible and it would be brilliant to finish the season with a win,” said Hamilton. “We can both relax and hopefully we’ll have a superb game.

“Adrian’s shown some flashes of his best recently, but I proved last week against James Wade that I can play some great darts too and I want to take that into this week.”

A small number of tickets for Thursday’s McCoy’s Premier League Darts at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle are still available by calling 0844 493 6666 or by visiting www.metroradioarena.co.uk.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will be screened live on Sky Sports 3HD from 7pm on Thursday, as well as live on RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East, Fox Sports in Australia and through www.LIVEPDC.TV.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week 14
May 9 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis
Robert Thornton v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld

The Fight For Fourth – What Can Happen:
James Wade – Would qualify in fourth should Thornton and Whitlock lose both matches, but will have to wait for other results regardless of his game with Phil Taylor.
Robert Thornton – if Thornton wins both of his matches, he will finish fourth.
Simon Whitlock – needs Thornton not to win both matches if he is to challenge for fourth.

To Reach Play-Offs – Odds Courtesy Coral
4/6 – James Wade
9/4 – Robert Thornton
9/2 – Simon Whitlock

Latest League Table

	P	W	D	L	+/-	LWAT	Pts
Michael van Gerwen (Q)	15	10	2	3	+28	36	22
Phil Taylor (Q)	15	8	3	4	+22	39	19
Raymond van Barneveld (Q)	14	8	3	3	+18	36	19
James Wade	15	7	2	6	+6	30	16
Robert Thornton	14	6	3	5	+2	30	15
Simon Whitlock	14	7	0	7	-6	31	14
Andy Hamilton	15	6	0	9	-9	29	12
Adrian Lewis	14	3	1	10	-29	21	7
Relegated
Wes Newton	9	2	1	6	-14		5
Gary Anderson	9	2	1	6	-18		5

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Night 13 Results

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld all booked places in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Offs with wins at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Thursday – but the fight for the final spot will be decided in Week 14 after James Wade suffered a double of defeats.

Dutch star van Gerwen continued his brilliant debut Premier League season by becoming the first player to be mathematically certain of a top-four finish when he picked up a 7-4 win over Andy Hamilton.

The 24-year-old remains three points clear at the top of the table after winning his tenth game of the campaign, and he said: “It’s a very important win and I’m really happy to be through to the Play-Offs now.

“It’s been a dream of mine to be at The O2 in the semi-finals. I’m doing very well but it would be amazing if I can finish top of the league table too because nobody other than Phil Taylor’s ever done that.

“I’ve got one game left in Newcastle next week so that would be a big step for me.”

Click here to see video reaction from Michael van Gerwen

Reigning champion Taylor, meanwhile, picked up a fourth win in his last five matches as he gained revenge for his Week Nine loss to Robert Thornton with a 7-2 defeat of the Scot.

Taylor swept through the game’s first four legs without reply, taking out a 164 checkout in the process, and though Thornton finished 138 as he hit back to 5-2, the World Champion proved too strong.

“I’m really pleased with that win and we both enjoyed that match,” said Taylor. “Robert’s been one of the best players this season so it’s a massive bonus to beat him.

“He’s a cracking player and he’s full of confidence, and every time I knocked him down he was bouncing back up – his 138 was great!

“My form’s still coming good and I’m really up for the Premier League. I’m working hard, practising well and trying my socks off to win the title.”

Van Barneveld, meanwhile, sealed his Play-Off place with a strong performance to defeat Adrian Lewis 7-4, averaging 102 and producing some superb finishing.

The pair shared the game’s opening four legs, but van Barneveld took out 106 and 91 in a run of three successive legs as he took command, crucially punishing six missed doubles from Lewis as he broke in another leg.

Lewis took two legs to pull back to 5-4, but van Barneveld landed tops and then finished 96 to seal the triumph.

“I’m delighted to be through to the Play-Offs and it’s so far, so good for me,” said van Barneveld. “My game’s really good at the moment and I’m feeling confident, and I think I’m having a good Premier League so far.

“The first target was not to be relegated and then we all focused on making the Play-Offs, and it’s great for me to be back in there again. I’ve done a lot of hard work and it’s paying off, particularly with my doubles because I feel very comfortable with my finishing.”

The fight for fourth place in the league table, though, will only be decided in Newcastle on the final league night next Thursday after 2009 champion James Wade lost to both Simon Whitlock and Andy Hamilton in Liverpool.

Whitlock kept alive his slim Play-Off hopes with a 7-4 win over the left-hander, taking out four ton-plus checkouts which included a 130 finish to open the game and a 116 combination to seal the triumph.

“This win keeps me alive and it means everything to me to still be in with a shout of reaching the Play-Offs in the final week,” said Whitlock.

“I love the McCoy’s Premier League and I want to be successful. I’d love to be there for the Play-Offs and it would be a dream to make the final again after being there last year, so I’ll fight all the way in Newcastle.”

Hamilton’s earlier defeat to van Gerwen had ended any feint hopes he had of reaching the top four for a second successive season, but he returned to the stage to defeat Wade 7-2 with a 100 average in the night’s final contest.

“There was a lot more pressure earlier on in the game against Michael and although I had my chances I didn’t take them,” said Hamilton, a semi-finalist 12 months ago. “I was more relaxed against James and that probably showed in my performance.

“I want to win my final game next week and hopefully finish as high up the table as I can do. I played some great darts against James and I’d like to take that into next week’s game with Adrian.”

Wade remains in fourth place in the league table on 16 points going into next Thursday’s decisive league night at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena, where he plays Taylor.

Thornton sits just a point behind and crucially has a game in hand, although he will face both van Barneveld and van Gerwen in Newcastle, while Whitlock – who has 14 points – plays Lewis and van Barneveld.

Tickets for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle are still available by calling 0844 493 6666 or by visiting www.metroradioarena.co.uk.

Watch Live
All McCoy’s Premier League Darts nights will be shown live on Sky Sports HD from 7pm.
Coverage is also live through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East and Fox Sports in Australia.
LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers can also watch live coverage at LIVEPDC.TV, along with highlights on a 24-hour delay.

Get Involved
Stay in touch with the McCoy’s Premier League Darts through the PDC’s official Facebook and Twitter page, and join the conversation using the #McCoysPLD hashtag.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week 13
May 2 – Echo Arena, Liverpool
Michael van Gerwen 7-4 Andy Hamilton
James Wade 4-7 Simon Whitlock
Robert Thornton 2-7 Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld 7-4 Adrian Lewis
James Wade 2-7 Andy Hamilton

Week 14
May 9 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Revised Order of Play
Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis
Robert Thornton v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld

Latest League Table

After Week 13	P	W	D	L	+/-	LWAT	Pts
Michael van Gerwen (Q)	15	10	2	3	+28	36	22
Phil Taylor (Q)	15	8	3	4	+22	39	19
Raymond van Barneveld (Q)	14	8	3	3	+18	36	19
James Wade	15	7	2	6	+6	30	16
Robert Thornton	14	6	3	5	+2	30	15
Simon Whitlock	14	7	0	7	-6	31	14
Andy Hamilton	15	6	0	9	-9	29	12
Adrian Lewis	14	3	1	10	-29	21	7
Relegated
Wes Newton	9	2	1	6	-14		5
Gary Anderson	9	2	1	6	-18		5

McCoy’s Premier League Night 13 Preview

PLACES in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Offs could be settled on Thursday when the penultimate league night of the season takes place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

With Adrian Lewis now out of the running for a top-four finish, seven of the eight stars head to Liverpool knowing that the Play-Offs in a fortnight are still within reach.

Andy Hamilton and Simon Whitlock, though, must leave the Echo Arena unbeaten if they are to keep their challenges for spots at The O2 running into next Thursday’s final league night.

Robert Thornton, meanwhile, can keep alive his hopes of marking his debut season with a semi-final place should he complete a league double over reigning champion Phil Taylor.

Such a result would also create history, with no other player in the previous eight years of the Premier League having defeated Taylor twice in a league season – and Thornton, who won 7-4 when the pair met in Brighton last month, admits that the six-time champion will be out for revenge.

“He’ll be out for my blood!” said Thornton. “I’m just going to go up on stage and do my best and enjoy myself, and whatever happens will happen.

“You’ve got to thrive playing against the best players and I’ve done that for most of this season. If you don’t play at your best then they’ll run riot against you.”

Despite sitting fifth after 12 weeks, reigning UK Open champion Thornton could still cap his fine debut season by winning a Play-Off place, with Thursday’s clash with Taylor to be followed in Newcastle next week by games against Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen.

“It’s going to be tough,” he admitted. “I’ve got Phil this week and then Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen in the last week, so it’s going to be interesting.

“I had to do it like this when I won the UK Open. You’ve got to come up against the best to get through but I’ll be the underdog in the next couple of weeks and I’ll enjoy it.”

Taylor can secure his own Play-Off place with a 7-0 or 7-1 win over Thornton in Liverpool, having turned his faltering season around with three wins and a draw over the past fortnight.

“It’s been a great couple of weeks for me and it would be fantastic if I can qualify for the Play-Offs in Liverpool,” said Taylor. “The Premier League’s a marathon and it’s important to peak at the right time.

“My results have improved and so have my performances. I know I’ll need to play well against Robert because he’s having a great season and he was superb when we last played in Brighton.”

League leader Michael van Gerwen needs only a point from his game with Andy Hamilton in the night’s opening fixture to ensure his place in the Play-Offs.

Van Gerwen had suffered only his third defeat of the season last Thursday, when he went down 7-5 to Whitlock, but bounced back to win a fifth UK Open Qualifier out of eight events on Sunday.

“Winning on Sunday was good preparation for me because I’ve got a couple of tough weeks ahead in the Premier League,” said the Dutchman.

“Last week was disappointing for me and I don’t like losing, but it’s part of the game and you can’t win for 14 weeks in a row. I missed too many doubles but it’s a new game this week and I’ve got to make sure I win against Andy.”

Hamilton, meanwhile, has to win both of his games – against van Gerwen and Wade – and hope that Thornton fails to defeat Taylor if he is to keep alive his feint hopes of a Play-Off place going into the final league night.

The Stoke ace has lost his last four games, and admitted: “I’ve not performed for the last couple of weeks and I deserved what I’ve got, but I’m going to keep fighting.

“It’s going to be hard to turn it around but games against Michael and James will bring the best out of me – they’ve got to!

“Having been in the semi-finals last year, the chance to be there again is driving me on but I know it’s going to be even harder to get there now. Last year the table was a lot closer and this year the top four or five have pulled away from the bottom three.”

2009 champion Wade could also seal a Play-Off place should he win both of his games on Thursday as he faces Whitlock and Hamilton, with van Barneveld looking to follow up his brilliant win over the left-hander last week with another victory against Lewis.

“There are no easy matches and Adrian’s been playing some good darts but not getting results,” said van Barneveld. “Everyone in this tournament is a top player so it’s going to be hard.

“Making the semi-finals is the aim and if I can play like I did against James last week then I don’t have to fear anyone.”

Tickets for Thursday’s McCoy’s Premier League Darts at the Echo Arena in Liverpool are still available by calling 0844 8000 400 or visiting www.echoarena.com.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will be shown live on Sky Sports 2HD from 7pm, and live worldwide through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East, Fox Sports in Australia and through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week 13
May 2 – The Echo Arena, Liverpool
Michael van Gerwen v Andy Hamilton
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Robert Thornton v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
James Wade v Andy Hamilton

Play-Off Permutations
Michael van Gerwen v Andy Hamilton
A win or draw means van Gerwen has qualified for Play-Offs. He may also qualify despite a defeat depending on later results.
Hamilton must win to keep his Play-Off chances alive.

James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Whitlock must draw or win to keep his Play-Off chances alive.
A Wade win means he can qualify for Play-Offs if he also defeats Hamilton later in the night.

Robert Thornton v Phil Taylor
A 7-0 or 7-1 win for Taylor means he qualifies for Play-Offs.
Thornton’s Play-Off hopes will stay alive going into Night 14 regardless of the result.

Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
Van Barneveld cannot seal his qualification for the Play-Offs, regardless of the result.
Lewis cannot qualify for the Play-Offs.

James Wade v Andy Hamilton
Any permutations based on this game depend on earlier results.

Coral Match Odds
Michael van Gerwen v Andy Hamilton
1/3 – Michael van Gerwen
5/1 – Draw
5/1 – Andy Hamilton

James Wade v Simon Whitlock
EVS – James Wade
7/2 – Draw
7/4 – Simon Whitlock

Robert Thornton v Phil Taylor
4/1 – Robert Thornton
9/2 – Draw
4/9 – Phil Taylor

Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
4/9 – Raymond van Barneveld
9/2 – Draw
4/1 – Adrian Lewis

James Wade v Andy Hamilton
8/15 – James Wade
4/1 – Draw
7/2 – Andy Hamilton
All odds correct at 10am on May 1 and courtesy of www.coral.co.uk.
Coral are the official betting partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts.

Van Gerwen’s Five Alive With Whitewash!

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN took victory in a fifth Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier in eight events this year by whitewashing Mervyn King in just ten minutes in Sunday’s final.

The Dutch star’s domination of the qualifying tournaments for June’s UK Open in Bolton saw him pick up another £6,000 title, taking his winnings across the eight Qualifiers to £35,600!

Van Gerwen also took the title in style, defeating Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney, Dutchman Jerry Hendriks, English youngster Chris Aubrey, Germany’s Bernd Roith and Canada’s Ken MacNeil for the loss of only 11 legs as he reached the quarter-finals.

There, he edged past Ronnie Baxter 6-4 before coming from 5-2 down in the semi-finals to defeat Adrian Lewis in a deciding leg, with the two-time World Champion being punished for four missed match darts in the game’s eighth leg.

Van Gerwen then swept to a whitewash victory in the final as he saw off King in only ten minutes and 38 seconds.

Having opened the final with a 74 finish, he punished two missed doubles from King in the second to break in 13 darts on tops, and followed up a 180 with double ten to move 3-0 up.

He added further maximums in the next two legs as he took a 5-0 cushion before landing two 180s in the sixth leg, and when King missed a dart at double 16 to keep his hopes alive van Gerwen secured another triumph by hitting double four.

King’s performance on the day, which earns him £3,000, was his best on the circuit since he reached the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix final last October – when van Gerwen again denied him a title.

He saw off McCoy’s Premier League Darts stars James Wade, Wes Newton and Robert Thornton on the day, as well as defeating Connie Finnan, Steve Brown, Dave Place and Jason Hogg on his way to the decider.

Hogg’s semi-final appearance was his best-ever on the PDC circuit since he turned professional at Qualifying School in January, and followed his run to the last eight 24 hours earlier.

Lewis reached the semi-finals for the second time in 2013 in a fine day which saw him pick up wins over Brett Claydon, Vincent van der Voort, Simon Whitlock, Kevin Thomas, Mark Dudbridge and Matthew Edgar before being punished for missing four match darts against van Gerwen.

Matthew Edgar won through to the quarter-finals for the first time on the PDC ProTour, and he was joined in the last eight by Baxter, Thornton and Brendan Dolan.

Bristol’s Andy Parsons, a newcomer to the PDC in 2013, capped off a weekend which also saw him qualify for the European Darts Open event by reaching the Last 16 to earn himself a UK Open debut in Bolton in June.

Runs to the same stage for Mark Dudbridge, Antonio Alcinas and Steve Farmer saw them secure UK Open places in the last of the eight qualifiers, with World Youth Champion James Hubbard and Dean Winstanley both also winning through to Bolton with their displays on Sunday.

The top 96 players, plus ties on £600, from the final UK Open Order of Merit now progress to play in the Speedy Services UK Open Televised Finals in Bolton from June 6-9, alongside the 32 Speedy Amateur Qualifiers.

Denis Ovens, a semi-final in the UK Open for the last three years, was the highest profile player to miss out on qualification for Bolton, while four-time champion Phil Taylor will come in at the second round stage on Thursday June 6.

Two-time UK Open champion James Wade, 2004 winner Roland Scholten, former Bolton finalists Vincent van der Voort and Colin Osborne and world number nine Justin Pipe will all enter in the first round, where they are drawn alongside the amateurs in ‘The FA Cup of Darts’.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Night 12

PHIL TAYLOR and Robert Thornton picked up double victories in the McCoy’s Premier League Darts at The NIA on Thursday, as Adrian Lewis’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals were ended in Birmingham.

Reigning champion Taylor defeated both Lewis and Simon Whitlock in Birmingham to move up to second in the league table and take a huge step towards securing his Play-Off place in three weeks’ time.

He averaged 105.24 and hit finishes of 129 and 108 in a comprehensive 7-2 win in his Stoke derby against Lewis, who found himself 5-0 down in the blink of an eye.

Taylor returned to the stage to produce an equally impressive display against Australian ace Whitlock later in the night, picking up a 7-4 win which saw him throw more than 15 darts just once in the 11 legs.

“It was two crucial wins from a tough night,” admitted Taylor, who averaged 105 and 103 in the two games. “To beat Adrian first was hard, and Simon really hung in well in our game so I’m delighted to have come out on top.

“I’ve been working hard on my game, doing everything I should be doing and I’m trying to peak at the right time.

“You can’t win this Premier League over five or six weeks, you’ve got to do it over five months and you can’t be brilliant every week. My averages are creeping up now and it’s proving to be a fantastic Premier League.

“Just to get into the top four will be an achievement and everyone’s looking at that now.”

Whitlock had earlier picked up a 7-5 win over Michael van Gerwen, who led 5-3 at one stage before seeing the Australian take the final four legs to claim a key victory which keeps alive his top-four hopes.

Van Gerwen, who was celebrating his 24th birthday in Birmingham, remains three points clear at the head of the league table but must wait at least one more week before mathematically securing his Play-Off place.

Scottish ace Thornton, meanwhile, followed up a 7-4 win over Andy Hamilton with a 7-5 defeat of Lewis to move a point adrift fourth-placed Wade as he reignited his Play-Off challenge.

The Scot ended a two-game losing run as he landed three 180s in seeing off Hamilton, before hitting checkouts of 120, 152 and 145 as he came from 4-3 down against Lewis to claim a narrow 7-5 win.

“Both wins were a bit scrappy, but you’re going to have weeks like that and I’m quite happy that they went my way,” said the UK Open champion.

“I’d lost in the past couple of weeks and though I wasn’t playing that badly, I missed a lot of doubles, but Adrian and Andy gave me second chances at doubles and I took them.

“Over the next two weeks I’ve got Phil Taylor in Liverpool and then Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen in Newcastle, so it’s going to be very interesting. I’ll give it my best and hopefully I can get a few more points and make the top four.”

Lewis’ hopes of reaching the Play-Offs were ended by his double defeat in Birmingham as he remained three points adrift at the foot of the table below Hamilton, whose chances of a top-four finish are hanging by a thread after three successive losses.

“I’m just trying too hard to win and I shouldn’t do that, I should relax and play the game,” admitted Hamilton.

“It’s going to be hard to turn it around but I’ll keep giving it 100 percent and I’m looking forward to next week – I’m not finished yet.”

The night’s other game saw Raymond van Barneveld produce a sublime performance to defeat James Wade 7-2, leapfrogging the 2009 champion in the table in the process as he moved third, level on 17 points with Taylor.

Van Barneveld admitted afterwards that Wade’s pre-match prediction that he “won’t lose” the game had fired the Dutchman up, as he hit five 180s, finishes of 116 and 101 and ended the contest with an average of 104.

“At the end of the game, James shook my hand and said I played a fantastic game,” said van Barneveld. “I don’t know why he said what he did before the game, but I have to thank him for it because it sharpened me up!

“For the first time this season, I felt so confident. The darts went in magnificently and I’m so happy with that, my doubles were very good.

“I’m really pleased with my game and proud tonight. I’ve got three matches left, and I really believe that I’m going to make that top four.”

The tournament continues next Thursday with the penultimate league night, which will be held at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Tickets are still available by calling 0844 8000 400 or visiting www.echoarena.com.

Click here to see video reaction from Raymond van Barneveld on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Watch Live
All McCoy’s Premier League Darts nights will be shown live on Sky Sports HD from 7pm.
Coverage is also live through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East and Fox Sports in Australia.
LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers can also watch live coverage at LIVEPDC.TV, along with highlights on a 24-hour delay.

Get Involved
Stay in touch with the McCoy’s Premier League Darts through the PDC’s official Facebook and Twitter page, and join the conversation using the #McCoysPLD hashtag.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week 12
April 25 – NIA, Birmingham
Phil Taylor 7-2 Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock 7-5 Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton 7-4 Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld 7-2 James Wade
Phil Taylor 7-4 Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis 5-7 Robert Thornton

Latest League Table

After Week 12	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
Michael van Gerwen	14	9	2	3	+25	20
Phil Taylor	14	7	3	4	+17	17
Raymond van Barneveld	13	7	3	3	+15	17
James Wade	13	7	2	4	+14	16
Robert Thornton	13	6	3	4	+7	15
Simon Whitlock	13	6	0	7	-9	12
Andy Hamilton	13	5	0	8	-11	10
Adrian Lewis	13	3	1	9	-26	7
Relegated
Wes Newton	9	2	1	6	-14	5
Gary Anderson	9	2	1	6	-18	5

McCoy’s Premier League – Week 12 Preview

THE battle for McCoy’s Premier League Darts Play-Off places continues at Birmingham’s NIA on Thursday, with Phil Taylor, Simon Whitlock, Adrian Lewis and Robert Thornton facing crucial nights in their bid for a top-four finish.

The 12th night of league action will see six matches held at the Midlands arena, with birthday boy Michael van Gerwen needing only one point to mathematically secure his Play-Off place next month.

The players placed second and third in the table, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld, clash in a contest which could prove significant for the winner, while their rivals in the hunt for top four spots meet in other key games.

Fourth-placed Phil Taylor, the reigning champion, doubles up in Birmingham with games against Stoke rival Adrian Lewis and 2012 runner-up Simon Whitlock.

Taylor ended a two-game losing run by picking up a win and a draw in Dublin last week, and is hoping that he can enjoy similar success as he plays twice for a second time in Birmingham.

“It was a difficult night in Dublin and it will be tough again in Birmingham, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Taylor.

“I’ve not been at my best recently but I’m doing a lot of work to improve my game. I’m trying a few things and it’s not quite right yet, but I’ll keep trying.”

Taylor sits two points clear of Robert Thornton and three ahead of Andy Hamilton and Simon Whitlock going into the final three league nights.

Thornton also doubles up in Birmingham, as he takes on Hamilton and Lewis, and said: “I’ll just take each game as it comes and give it my best shot.

“All the way through the season I’ve just gone up there to try and enjoy the matches, and if my darts go in then it’s great, if not then so be it. I’m loving the Premier League and it seems to have brought the best out of me.”

Whitlock has won his last two matches since avoiding the threat of elimination on Judgement Night, and is eagerly awaiting his double header against van Gerwen and Taylor.

“I’ve got the number one and two in the world and I’m going to try and do some damage!” said the Australian. “I’ll be trying to beat them both, and I can’t wait.

“I know I can beat both these guys, I’ve done it many times before, and if I can win the first game, get some momentum and confidence for the second one, I believe I can do it.”

The world number five was last year’s Premier League runner-up, and has his sights set on ensuring a return to The O2 on May 16 – but warned: “You’ve got to play one match at a time.

“I need to get at least six points out of my next five matches to have a chance of reaching the Play-Offs but I’m going in the right direction.”

Birthday boy van Gerwen, who turns 24 on Thursday, sits four points clear of Wade at the top of the table and requires only a point to be certain of a Play-Off place.

“I think I’ll be in the Play-Offs now but I need to make sure of it,” said the World Grand Prix champion. “I’ve got three games left and I want to win all three, starting with Simon.

“We always have good games but the last time we played, he beat me 6-1 in the final of a UK Open Qualifier a couple of weeks ago. I missed a lot of doubles in that game and he deserved to win, but I want to get my revenge in Birmingham!

“I always said I was going to be difficult, especially for my first season in the Premier League, but I’m having an amazing year.”

2009 Premier League champion Wade, meanwhile, is looking to further cement his top-four place when he meets Raymond van Barneveld – and is in bullish mood ahead of their second-versus-third encounter.

“I won’t lose to him,” said Wade. “We drew the last time we played and I was awful – I had gastroenteritis and hadn’t slept for two days and I still got a draw.

“People are saying he’s having a great year but I don’t see that with Barney. I don’t see that his averages are there – I see that he’s been getting the right results with small averages and small performances.

“He isn’t playing that great – look at the scoresheets, the averages and the finishing percentages – and I look forward to playing him.”

Van Gerwen is now the 5/4 favourite to win the McCoy’s Premier League title with Coral, the official betting partner of the tournament.

Taylor is the 9/4 second favourite, with Wade rated at 5/1, van Barneveld priced at 6/1, Thornton 20/1 to cap his debut season with the title, Whitlock 25/1 and Lewis and Hamilton now the outsiders at 100/1.

Tickets for Thursday’s McCoy’s Premier League Darts at the NIA are still available by calling 0844 338 8000 or visiting www.theticketfactory.com.

The McCoy’s Premier League Darts will be screened live on Sky Sports 1HD from 7pm on Thursday, and also broadcast live through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East, Fox Sports in Australia and through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts
Week 12
April 25 – NIA, Birmingham
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock v Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton v Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton

Coral Match Odds
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
2/5 – Phil Taylor
9/2 – Draw
9/2 – Adrian Lewis

Simon Whitlock v Michael v Gerwen
4/1 – Simon Whitlock
9/2 – Draw
4/9 – Michael van Gerwen

Robert Thornton v Andy Hamilton
11/10 – Robert Thornton
7/2 – Draw
13/8 – Andy Hamilton

Raymond v Barneveld v James Wade
13/10 – Raymond van Barneveld
7/2 – Draw
11/8 – James Wade

Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
4/9 – Phil Taylor
9/2 – Draw
4/1 –Simon Whitlock

Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton
13/10 – Adrian Lewis
7/2 – Draw
11/8 – Robert Thornton
All odds correct at 11am on April 24 and courtesy of www.coral.co.uk.
Coral are the official betting partner of the McCoy’s Premier League Darts.

Latest League Table

	P	W	D	L	+/-	LWAT	Ave	Pts
Michael van Gerwen	13	9	2	2	+27	32	99.25	20
James Wade	12	7	2	3	+19	28	96.78	16
Raymond van Barneveld	12	6	3	3	+10	31	98.50	15
Phil Taylor	12	5	3	4	+9	30	99.60	13
Robert Thornton	11	4	3	4	+2	25	98.48	11
Andy Hamilton	12	5	0	7	-8	23	94.56	10
Simon Whitlock	11	5	0	6	-8	23	93.94	10
Adrian Lewis	11	3	1	7	-19	18	91.46	7
Relegated
Wes Newton	9	2	1	6	-14	15	91.38	5
Gary Anderson	9	2	1	6	-18	13	95.47	5

* Andy Hamilton and Simon Whitlock are split on Tournament Average.