RVB: "This is probably one of the best nights of my career. I have to win a couple more matches but to win on both nights in Rotterdam, that means the world to me"
Saturday 21 April 2018 13:12, UK
Raymond van Barneveld produced a brilliant display to stun world number one Michael van Gerwen and keep his Premier League Play-Off hopes alive on a thrilling night in Rotterdam.
The second night of the Premier League double-header at Rotterdam Ahoy began with comprehensive wins for Michael Smith and Gary Anderson, before Rob Cross and Peter Wright shared the spoils in a tight tussle.
Van Barneveld then stole the headlines with a thrilling victory over his fellow countryman Van Gerwen, before Daryl Gurney demolished Simon Whitlock to move to within three points off the play-off places.
Van Barneveld rolled back the years to edge out Van Gerwen in a pulsating Dutch Derby in Rotterdam.
Barney led from the outset and defied a late fightback from MVG to prevail in a thriller, to inflict Van Gerwen's second defeat in as many nights on home soil.
The five-time world champion kicked off proceedings with a two-dart 64 kill for a 14-dart break, before eventually doubling his lead via D4.
The next three legs all went with throw, before MVG missed double 13 for a 12-dart break back, and Van Barneveld found D4 for the third time in the contest to lead 4-2.
Van Gerwen responded by piling in a sumptuous 145 finish, but Barney regained his cushion via D10, before following up three 140's by nailing a classy 81 finish on the bullseye to guarantee himself a point.
MVG conjured up a 12-darter of his own to stay alive, before sinking tops to force a decider.
However, Van Barneveld wasn't to be denied; cleaning up 68 in two darts to clinch a historic win over 'The Green Machine', to the delight of a packed house at the Ahoy.
The five-time world champion admitted: "This is probably one of the best nights of my career. I have to win a couple more matches but to win on both nights in Rotterdam, that means the world to me."
Wright salvaged a draw, which for long periods seemed unlikely, but it still leaves him adrift of the top four.
Cross, who sits in third, was 4-1 ahead against Wright who beat Van Gerwen 24 hours earlier.
'Snakebite' launched a comeback, missing a dart for a 6-5 lead, but eventually scraped a point that leaves him five points short of the play-off spots.
Smith arrested a two-match losing streak by demolishing Whitlock in the night's opener.
'Bully Boy' brilliantly rattled off seven consecutive legs, after Whitlock went 1-0 up, to reassert himself in the play-off race.
A 160 finish was the highlight for Smith, who averaged 97.75 and fired in six maximums to maintain his position in the top four, which he has held all season.
Anderson made it three wins from three in Rotterdam after brushing aside Gurney in a brutal display.
'The Flying Scotsman' fired in a majestic 170 finish to move 2-1 ahead, before converting clinical 77 and 88 checkouts to extend his lead to 4-2.
Anderson followed up visits of 180 and 171 with an 11-darter to lead 6-2, but the Scot then spurned two match darts as Gurney took out 68 to stay alive.
However, the two-time Premier League champion was undeterred; piling in his fifth maximum and sealing victory on D2, to triumph with a 110.46 average.
Whitlock suffered his second 7-1 drubbing of the evening in a miserable double-header for 'The Wizard'.
Gurney stormed into a 4-0 lead and although Whitlock avoided the whitewash, 'Super Chin' averaged 99.20 to breeze to victory and remain in play-off contention.
The 2018 Premier League will be back for more action next Thursday as we head to the Manchester Arena for week 13. Coverage gets under way from 7pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event. Two weeks of tungsten action will then continue in Birmingham, and Aberdeen through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.
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