PDC Premier League- Week 2 Bournemouth

ADRIAN LEWIS' brilliant start to the Betway Premier League Darts season continued as he defeated 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor 7-3 in Bournemouth on Thursday, as reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and newcomers Dave Chisnall and Peter Wright remained unbeaten.
Two-time World Champion Lewis followed up last week's heavy victory over Simon Whitlock in Liverpool with another superb display as he saw off Taylor in their all-Stoke battle.

Taylor had been whitewashed in last week's opening night by van Gerwen, and looked on course for another incredible reverse when Lewis took the opening five legs of their clash at the BIC.

Taylor - who had hit two nine-darts as he won Sunday's UK Open Qualifier in Wigan - missed five darts to win the game's opening leg and wasted a further two chances in the fifth as Lewis pulled clear.

The six-time Premier League Darts champion hit back by winning three of the next four legs, taking out a 140 finish in the process, but was unable to claw back to claim a draw as Lewis completed his win on double 16.

 World Champion van Gerwen, meanwhile, continued his strong opening to the defence of his title as he matched Lewis with a second successive win, defeating Robert Thornton 7-5 in Bournemouth.

Thornton had paid the price for missed doubles in his loss to Dave Chisnall in Liverpool and continued to struggle with his finishing as van Gerwen took an early 3-2 lead in their clash on the south coast.

The Scot finished 78 and tops as he moved 4-3 up, but missed a key dart at double top for a 118 finish in the ninth leg as van Gerwen won the next three legs to move 6-4 up, and though Thornton forced a decider, the reigning champion was too strong as he secured both points.


 Newcomers Chisnall and Peter Wright also remain unbeaten following two weeks, after they shared the points in a six-all draw in Bournemouth.

In a game of two halves, Wright raced into a 5-1 lead only for Chisnall to hit four 180s in a three-leg burst to kick-start his challenge as he pulled back to claim a draw.

 Gary Anderson produced a superb performance as he picked up a 7-2 win over Simon Whitlock, leaving the Australian without a point after two weeks and alongside Taylor at the foot of the table.

Whitlock had actually led 2-1 early on, but Anderson broke in the fourth leg and then took out a key 126 on the bull to lead 4-2 as he won six successive legs to sweep to victory with a 98 average and seven doubles from just ten attempts in a clinical display.

 Wes Newton also got off the mark as he hit back from 3-1 and 5-3 down to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 7-5 in their clash in Bournemouth.

Van Barneveld had been superb in seeing off Anderson on the opening night and continued that as he took an early 3-1 lead against Newton, who boosted his challenge with a 149 checkout as he levelled at three-all.

Van Barneveld punished missed doubles from his opponent to win the next two to regain the edge, only for Newton to step in to win the next two after the Dutch ace missed his chances to seal a point, before a 100 finish put the world number eight 6-5 up and tops in the decider completed his comeback.

 The Betway Premier League Darts continues next Thursday with the season's third league night at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, including the all-Scottish clash between Thornton and Anderson.


Betway Premier League Darts
Week Two
BIC, Bournemouth
Wes Newton 7-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Dave Chisnall 6-6 Peter Wright
Gary Anderson 7-2 Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis 7-3 Phil Taylor
Robert Thornton 5-7 Michael van Gerwen
All games are the best of 12 legs - first to seven, or six-all draw.

League Table

After Week Two	P	W	D	L	Legs +/-	Pts
Adrian Lewis	2	2	0	0	+10	4
Michael van Gerwen	2	2	0	0	+9	4
Peter Wright	2	1	1	0	+4	3
Dave Chisnall	2	1	1	0	+2	3
Raymond van Barneveld	2	1	1	0	+3	2
Gary Anderson	2	1	0	1	0	2
Wes Newton	2	1	0	1	-2	2
Robert Thornton	2	0	0	2	-4	0
Phil Taylor	2	0	0	2	-11	0
Simon Whitlock	2	0	0	2	-11	0

MATCH INFORMATION
Wes Newton v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - Newton initially misses two darts at tops, but is able to return and land double ten to draw first blood.
1-1 - van Barneveld finishes 74 on double eight to level.
1-2 - The Dutchman opens with a 180, and when Newton misses the bull to finish 167, he returns to land double 18 to take out 83 and break.
1-3 - Double 16 sees van Barneveld win a third successive leg.
2-3 - Newton pins double 12 at the third time of asking as he hits back.
3-3 - van Barneveld misses double 19 to finish 95, and Newton breaks to level with a sensational 149 checkout.
3-4 - Newton misses the bull to move back ahead, and is also off-target with darts at double eight and four on his return as van Barneveld steps in on double eight to break back.
3-5 - Newton opens with a 177, but misses the bull once again to finish 167, with van Barneveld taking out 61 on double four to move two legs clear once again.
4-5 - van Barneveld misses double 14 to finish 148, and Newton capitalises by landing double 11.
5-5 - Newton lands a 180 before having a shot at 106 when van Barneveld misses the bull - with the Fleetwood ace missing tops for the combination, only to see the Dutchman miss two darts at double eight to allow him back on to level with double ten.
6-5 - Newton adds another maximum, before finishing 100 on double ten for a 12-darter as he earns a minimum of a point from the game.
7-5 - Newton is first to a finish against the throw in the final leg, and takes out 60 on tops to complete his fightback.

Match Stats

Wes Newton	7-5	R v Barneveld
12	100+	13
7	140+	7
1	170+	0
2	180	1
91.36	Average	89.69
149	High Finish	83
3	Breaks of Throw	2
7/20 - 35%	Checkout %	5/12 - 42%

Dave Chisnall v Peter Wright
0-1 - A scrappy opening leg sees the pair struggle with their doubles, as Chisnall misses six darts to win the leg before Wright returns on double one to break throw.
0-2 - Wright opens with a 177 and finishes 48 on double 16 to move two legs up.
1-2 - Chisnall pins double 12 to win his first leg of the game.
1-3 - Double 16 sees Wright regain his cushion.
1-4 - Wright initially misses double 12 and six, but Chisnall agonisingly wires three darts at tops as the World Championship finalist returns to land double one for the second time in the game as he breaks to move three legs up.
1-5 - Double six sees Wright pull further clear.
2-5 - Chisnall hits back by landing double 16.
3-5 - Chisnall opens with a 180 and breaks for the first time, initially missing five darts at double 18 and nine only to return to punish four misses from Wright by pinning double nine to reduce the gap to two legs.
4-5 - Chisnall sets up a possible nine-darter with two 180s, and though he misses out on a perfect leg, he finishes 82 on double 16 for an 11-darter as he pulls back to trail by only one leg.
4-6 - Chisnall posts his fourth 180 in three legs, but crucially stumbles on a finish by failing to give himself a shot at a double with six darts at 120, allowing Wright to recover from missing the bull for a 132 finish by returning to land double eight to secure a point.
5-6 - Chisnall lands a 174 score, and finishes 56 on double ten to keep his hopes of grabbing a draw alive.
6-6 - Against the throw, Chisnall is first to a finish as he leaves 50, and he lands tops at the first time of asking to complete a fine comeback and claim a point.

Match Stats

Dave Chisnall	6-6	Peter Wright
15	100+	15
6	140+	8
1	170+	1
4	180	0
92.40	Average	83.83
82	High Finish	48
2	Breaks of Throw	2
6/22 - 27%	Checkout %	6/21 - 29%

Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
1-0 - Anderson kicks off the match with a 180 before winning the leg on double 16, having missed the bull for a 161 finish for a 12-darter in his previous visit.
1-1 - Whitlock opens the leg with a 180 and finishes 98 on double 19 to level.
1-2 - The Australian adds another 180, and though he initially misses the bull for a 164 combination, Whitlock returns to post double eight to break throw.
2-2 - Whitlock lands his third maximum in as many legs, but is punishing for failing to set up a double as Anderson levels on double ten.
3-2 - The Scot takes out 68 to move back ahead.
4-2 - Anderson lands a maximum and finishes 126 on the bull for a second break of throw as he wins a third straight leg.
5-2 - Anderson misses tops for a 120 finish, but Whitlock is unable to post double 16 to take out 68 and the Scot returns on double ten to move three legs clear.
6-2 - Anderson posts a 180 to leave 45, and when Whitlock misses the bull for a 170 finish, the 2011 champion posts tops to ensure his first point of the season with a fifth consecutive leg.
7-2 - Anderson completes a superb victory by landing tops, ending the game with a 98-plus average and 70 percent on his doubles.

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	7-2	Simon Whitlock
10	100+	8
5	140+	4
0	170+	0
3	180	3
98.13	Average	90.05
126	High Finish	98
3	Breaks of Throw	1
7/10 - 70%	Checkout %	2/6 - 33%

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
1-0 - Taylor hits a 180 to leave 40, but misses five darts at doubles as Lewis returns from initially missing two darts at tops to hit the bed in his next visit to lead.
2-0 - Lewis finishes 67 on tops to break throw and double his lead.
3-0 - Lewis misses two darts at tops, but has enough cushion to return and land double ten to win a third consecutive leg.
4-0 - Lewis lands a 180 to leave 52, and when Taylor is unable to take out 52, tops sees the reigning European Champion break throw again.
5-0 - Lewis again hits a maximum, and when Taylor misses two darts at double 16 to take out 83, the younger Stoke ace posts double nine to win a fifth leg.
5-1 - Taylor, who was whitewashed last week by Michael van Gerwen, hits double ten to claim his first leg of the tournament.
5-2 - Both players leave 140, with Lewis missing double ten to complete the combination only for Taylor to take out the finish to break throw and continue his revival.
6-2 - Taylor leaves 82 but fails to give himself a dart at a double, and Lewis finishes 88 on double seven to ensure a point from the game.
6-3 - The pair trade 180s before Taylor finishes double 16 to maintain his hopes of hitting back for a draw.
7-3 - Both players hit maximums once again, with Lewis' 180 leaving 41 before he steps in to post double 16 to complete the victory and remain unbeaten following two weeks.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	7-3	Phil Taylor
14	100+	12
3	140+	7
0	170+	0
4	180	3
100.57	Average	98.27
88	High Finish	140
4	Breaks of Throw	2
7/15 - 47%	Checkout %	3/12 - 25%

Robert Thornton v Michael van Gerwen
1-0 - van Gerwen is first to a double, but misses tops and double ten to allow Thornton to avoid a break by landing double 14 at the first time of asking.
1-1 - van Gerwen posts a 180, and when Thornton wires the bull to finish 164, the Dutchman steps in to this time hit tops as he levels.
2-1 - Thornton returns from missing two darts at double 16 to return and hit the bed to complete a 13-dart leg.
2-2 - van Gerwen levels by posting double 16.
2-3 - Thornton misses five darts at double top, ten and five, and van Gerwen steps in on tops to punish him with a break of throw.
3-3 - Thornton breaks back to level, with van Gerwen missing double 18 to finish 116 as the Scot takes out 78 on tops.
4-3 - Thornton hits double ten to move back ahead, punishing van Gerwen for a sloppy error as he bursts his score when needing 180 by hitting three treble 20s!
4-4 - The Dutch ace levels, hitting a 180 to have enough breathing space to return from three misses at double 16 by landing double eight.
4-5 - Thornton misses a dart at tops to finish 118, and is made to pay as van Gerwen finishes 78 on double 12 to break and move ahead.
4-6 - van Gerwen secures a minimum of a point by finishing 301 in six darts, hitting a 180 before taking out 121 on double 18.
5-6 - van Gerwen lands another 180, but misses one dart for the match - at the bull for a 130 finish - to punish four missed doubles from Thornton, who lands double one to send the game into a decider.
5-7 - van Gerwen punishes a sloppy final leg from Thornton in being first to a finish, as double 16 secures his second successive win.

Match Stats

Robert Thornton	5-7	M v Gerwen
17	100+	15
11	140+	7
0	170+	0
0	180	5
90.23	Average	95.83
78	High Finish	121
1	Breaks of Throw	2
5/23 - 22%	Checkout %	7/16 - 44%