Premier League Darts heads to Nottingham this week, with an epic clash between Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor the main attraction. However, relegation pressure is also starting to mount, as just one point separates bottom of the table Peter Wright from fifth-placed James Wade.
Stephen Bunting v Dave Chisnall
Dave Chisnall is flying high at the top of the Premier League Darts table following a convincing win over World Champion, Gary Anderson, last week. Chisnall will be out for revenge against fellow St Helens lad, Stephen Bunting, too, after Bunting narrowly beat Chizzy in the UK Open in Minehead on Saturday.
Bunting earned his first ever Premier League Darts win last week, when he saw off Adrian Lewis. It’s been a tough start for the debutant having had to face the likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld in his first four weeks, but he could now start to climb the table and away from the relegation zone with some favourable fixtures in the coming weeks.
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Defending champion, Raymond van Barneveld, hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to the Premier League Darts season, winning just one of his opening five matches. Last week was particularly disappointing for Barney as he suffered a 7-5 defeat to Kim Huybrechts. A win here for the Dutchman will be vital as he looks to climb the table and avoid any potential for a relegation shock.
James Wade, returning to the competition following his absence last year, has fared reasonably well in the opening five weeks, winning once and drawing twice. A win here would be a massive boost in his hunt for a play-off spot.
Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen
The top two in the world face off once again, just days after Michael van Gerwen won his first UK Open title.
Mighty Mike destroyed The Power in this competition last year, with the Dutchman winning 7-0. Taylor will be eager for revenge this time around, as he seeks to win Premier League Darts for the first time since 2012.
It’s always a must-watch when these two meet, but who will come out on top in the clash of the titans this time around?
Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
In a repeat of the 2011 World final, Gary Anderson takes on Adrian Lewis with both having their sights firmly set on a play-off place.
The pair both struggled last week, suffering defeats to Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting respectively, with Anderson keen to return to the kind of form that saw him oust Phil Taylor in week one.
Kim Huybrechts v Peter Wright
Peter Wright had a fantastic UK Open at the weekend, beating three former World Champions on his way to the final before bowing out to Michael van Gerwen.
The Premier League Darts table doesn’t make great reading for Wright – who is currently winless and bottom. But that doesn’t tell the whole story, with Snakebite drawing his last three matches against Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. Expect the Scotsman to rise.
He won’t have it easy against Huybrechts though, who earned his first win last week in style with a 170 checkout against Barney.
