Michael van Gerwen draws 6-6 with Gary Anderson in Premier League Darts opener
Friday 3 February 2017 08:31, UK
Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, the world’s top two ranked players, slugged out a high-quality draw on the opening night of Premier League Darts on Thursday.
The anticipated rematch from last month's World Darts Championship final, which Van Gerwen won, was played at a typically thunderous pace and ended all-square at 6-6.
A brilliant 130 checkout by Anderson, followed by a well-earned salute to the Newcastle crowd, was the crucial moment as he drew level with Van Gerwen at 4-4.
Anderson gave himself an outside chance of pinching a victory after going 6-5 up with a 114 finish, but defending champion Van Gerwen gritted his teeth to earn a point in the final leg.
Phil 'The Power' Taylor won his first televised match since announcing that 2017 would be his final year on the circuit.
Six-time Premier League winner Taylor had enough left in the tank to prevail 6-3 against Dave Chisnall, who managed checkouts from 160 and 134 but couldn't spoil the legend's night.
Adrian Lewis missed crucial doubles to concede a comfortable lead to Raymond van Barneveld, who stole a 7-5 win.
Van Barneveld, who eliminated Lewis from last month's World Darts Championship, missed his first 10 doubles but then the Stoke thrower's profligacy took over - he poorly missed with a 5-1 lead up for grabs.
Van Barneveld strung four legs together to drag himself back into the contest and, leading 6-5, was gifted the final leg after Lewis twice missed double nine.
Kim Huybrechts made an unsuccessful first appearance since being re-invited back into the Premier League, losing 7-5 to James Wade.
Huybrechts showed enough to suggest he belongs but, having broken back for 3-3, fluffed his lines with 25 left on the board as he tried to sneak ahead for the first time.
Instead, 2009 champion Wade took a fortunate 4-3 lead and never looked back, even fending off a 134 finish from the Belgian.
Jelle Klaasen also came up short on his first match since his Premier League recall, falling 7-4 to Peter 'Snakebite' Wright.
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