Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen continues to amaze
Sunday 6 March 2016 14:33, UK
Michael van Gerwen hit the top of the Premier League with another stellar showing, while Phil Taylor looks to be returning to his best - what did we learn from another thrilling night of darts?
How were we going to follow Aberdeen and Van Gerwen's record-breaking 123.4 average? Well the Dutchman dropped a cheeky 116.7 average, the fourth highest in the competition and the sixth highest in history.
Mighty Mike dropped the first leg but found his rhythm soon after, winning seven of the next eight in scintillating style. It wasn't for lack of competition. Peter Wright averaged 109 and didn't miss a double, but Van Gerwen gave the flamboyant Scot very little opportunity to finish a leg.
Having defended his Masters and Dutch Masters titles, Van Gerwen got back to where he feels he belongs in the Premier League with victory over Wright seeing him leapfrog Snakebite to take top spot heading into this weekend's UK Open.
Taylor looks like he is showing signs of being back to his very best following another commanding performance and there was a very welcome first victory of the competition for Michael Smith. But on a raucous night in Exeter, it was Van Gerwen who once again stole the show.
Darts we've never seen
Van Gerwen continued in imperious form, beating Wright 7-2 to take top spot for the first time and another incredible performance led Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle to question whether the Dutchman is overtaking Taylor as the greatest player ever.
"It is debatable because you can't compare the two. Phil Taylor was utterly dominant in an era of good players, but nowhere near the quality of today. Since October 2012, Michael van Gerwen has dominated like Phil Taylor did back in the day. He won 18 tournaments last year and looks like an absolute machine."
No one on this planet has ever played darts like Michael van Gerwen is right now, including Phil Taylor.
Van Gerwen's 116.7 average means that his last two performances are the best of his Premier League career, and he was pleased with his form.
"I'm really glad I brought the confidence through from last week," Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
"You need to be confident and focused otherwise you can't perform at this level. I'm always trying to do my best, and I'll try to do even better next week."
Wayne Mardle was full of praise for the Dutchman, who will face heavy scoring Dave Chisnall in Nottingham next week.
He said: "Michael van Gerwen is becoming unplayable. It's darts like we've never seen. No one on this planet has ever played darts like Michael van Gerwen is right now, including Phil Taylor."
Off the mark
Michael Smith won his first ever Premier League match, beating Raymond van Barneveld 7-5 to keep hopes of a play-off place alive.
It was an edgy affair, with both players missing big opportunities. Smith, who went 3-1 up in the early stages, had chances for a 5-2 lead, but instead saw himself pegged back to 4-4 by the Dutchman.
Nerves were evident in the ninth when Smith, only requiring double top, threw high to allow 'Barney' in to steal the advantage. 'Bully Boy' had the last word though, as he stormed back to grasp victory.
The timing couldn't be better for Smith, as he faces mentor and manager Gary Anderson next week.
Power's point to prove
Taylor kept the pressure on Van Gerwen, beating Adrian Lewis 7-1 in the opening match of the night. 'The Power', whose average of 115 last week was overshadowed by Van Gerwen, followed it up with a 104 in Exeter, giving Lewis no opportunity to build momentum.
It was a tough night for 'Jackpot', who never found his rhythm, missing a few key doubles in the early legs. After an opportunity to take the second leg went begging, Lewis quickly found himself 5-0 down and the contest was effectively over.
Lewis has still never won a match in Exeter but he did avoid the whitewash, taking the sixth leg, before Taylor took the last two, and the six-time Premier League winner was keen to eradicate the memories of watching last year's finals on TV.
Taylor said: "I sat at home, watching the O2 last year, and I was gutted. I've been practicing hard, changed a few things, and I'm hoping for the O2. That's what I'm after."
Friendship with no benefits
James Wade kept pressure on those at the top of the table, beating close friend Dave Chisnall 7-4. Both players missed clinical opportunities, and Wade put the faults down to their friendship away from the oche.
"I spend a lot of time with Dave throughout the season," Wade told Sky Sports.
"It's hard to play a true friend, and that's why I think Dave didn't play as well tonight, and maybe why I didn't play as well as I can."
The win was important for Wade who, despite posting good numbers, had lost his last two matches. The result keeps him just two points from the top.
A champion's grit
Reigning Premier League champion and two time champion of the world Gary Anderson notched his second win of the season against an erratic Robert Thornton, claiming a 7-4 win as both players failed to punish the other's mistakes.
Anderson found himself 3-0 down, having failed to make a double in seven attempts. However the 'Flying Scotsman' dug deep, punishing Thornton's inaccuracies to win seven of the next eight legs and take the game despite a sub-90 average.
Both players have struggled for form, and it doesn't get any easier for the 'Thorn', who faces Phil Taylor in Nottingham next week.
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