Premier League Darts: Five talking points from Dublin
Saturday 20 February 2016 21:56, UK
Peter 'Snakebite' Wright is top of the Premier League after the third week provided thrills and spills in Dublin.
Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor also registered victories but there was not good news for everyone in the Premier League.
Here are five talking points after the Irish arrows.
Can Wright maintain his lead?
Streaking away at the front of the Premier League pack can be notoriously treacherous. This year, 'Snakebite' is the only player to possess a 100 per cent record after three games, leading to the inevitable question of whether he can be pegged back.
Wright would be wise to remember that there are no prizes for topping the league table heading into The O2 Arena play-offs in May. You have to go back three years to remember when Michael van Gerwen won the league phase then lifted the overall prize.
Wright's early season form is a key indicator that he can mix it with the big boys on a consistent basis, making him a legitimate threat to become Premier League champion, but there is no pressure on him to maintain his No 1 spot heading into Judgement Night.
MVG-Lewis duel heats up
Van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis are young enough to suggest that they could share the next truly great oche rivalry. When many of the current Premier League cast have hung up their arrows, Van Gerwen and Lewis will still be slinging darts as 30-somethings.
In Dublin, they stole the show with the night's most entertaining clash, which will probably be remembered as a mere footnote in their eventual history. Van Gerwen prevailed 7-4 after rampaging into a two-leg lead with a 125 average. Another lung-busting run handed the Dutchman a four-leg streak which powered him over the finishing line, and to the No 4 spot in the league table. You get the sense that Van Gerwen and Lewis will share many more great Premier League matches.
Live Premier League Darts
Why isn't the Scotsman flying?
After three weeks, reigning champion Gary Anderson sits second-bottom in the Premier League having suffered a humbling defence of his crown so far. 'The Flying Scotsman' has been grounded by illness then a pair of defeats and finds himself with an uphill task to battle back into play-off contention.
Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle is in no doubt that Anderson will eventually come good, saying: "I'm not concerned about Gary, he is too good. He is going to make the play-offs, there are not four players in this tournament better than him."
Anderson has fallen foul of world No 1 Van Gerwen and Taylor so the context of his back-to-back defeats hardly constitutes a crisis. But time is ticking, and Anderson will need some points on the board sharpish.
Smith is made of stern stuff
They don't call Michael Smith the 'Bully Boy' for nothing. The Premier League debutant had endured a nightmare campaign until Thursday night in Dublin, losing his first three fixtures at the tournament. And the trouble with the Premier League is that a dangerous opponent lurks around the corner in every city.
Smith arrived in Ireland opposed by perennial contender Dave Chisnall but put up a valiant struggle to earn a draw, posting his first point of the season. Chizzy had led 2-0 and it spelled trouble for Smith but he gritted his teeth and mounted a comeback, even leading 6-5 before being forced to share the spoils. Finally he's over the first big hurdle and the next arrow he throws will hopefully be his most relaxed so far.
Barney rolls on
Van Barneveld can often be relied upon to throw his finest arrows against top opposition but the chink in his armour can be a vulnerability when it comes to maintaining consistency. He faced Robert Thornton in Dublin, an opponent he was overwhelmingly favoured to defeat, and he duly won 7-5.
No fuss, no frills. It is the sort of win that too often eludes Van Barneveld, who usually can't help but get drawn into back-and-forth thrillers which are difficult to replicate on a weekly basis. The veteran Dutchman has quietly slipped up to No 3 in the Premier League table, leaving Thornton winless.
Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday from Aberdeen, live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm.
