Michael van Gerwen goes head-to-head with Dave Chisnall in a battle for top spot

Michael Van Gerwen and Dave Chisnall will face-off in a battle for top spot on night 15 of the Premier League in Brighton.

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Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall

The Dutchman has led the table since the early weeks of the season, but will be knocked off the summit if he loses to Chisnall on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports.

In the final fixtures before the play-offs, Van Gerwen is pitted against his closest rival, who trails by just one point after a superb 7-1 win over Stephen Bunting. The top four players have already secured places on the season-ending night at the O2, but plenty of pride is attached to the status of Premier League leader.

'Chizzy' displayed his scoring power in his one-sided mauling of Bunting, ending with an average of over 104. He currently boasts the highest number of 180s at 54, three more than Van Gerwen, and a meeting between this exciting pair should supply fireworks. 

The Dutchman's aura of invicibility has slipped in the closing weeks, with defeats coming against Raymond van Barneveld, Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis. But 'Mighty Mike' still holds the best scoring and checkout averages, and was too hot for Chisnall during a 7-4 win in week seven.

Phil Taylor v James Wade

‘The Power’ has failed to reach the play-offs for the first time in his career after last week’s 7-5 defeat by Gary Anderson. Despite a scoring average of over 101, Taylor still toppled out of the tournament after failing to complete a crucial 102 checkout against the Scotsman. Only Michael van Gerwen has scored more heavily than Taylor throughout the season, but he has paid the price for uncharacteristic wayward finishing.

Wade also slipped out of contention on his return to the competition and has gone six weeks without a win. The Aldershot man sits in seventh place and will look back with frustration on his six draws throughout the campaign, the most in the tournament.

Raymond van Barneveld v Stephen Bunting

‘Barney’ is the hottest player in the tournament, having powered into the play-offs with a string of five wins and two draws since ‘Judgement Night’ in week nine. A sluggish start had left the defending champion in desperate trouble, but his red-hot form will have caused concern to all his play-off rivals. He holds recent wins over Van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall and Taylor, but admitted that fatigue had taken its toll in last week’s 6-6 draw with Wade.

Bunting will be hoping to end his erratic season on a high with a win over the Dutchman. The debutant has shown flashes of brilliance, including a 7-3 win over Chisnall in week six. But has also learned harsh lessons in a string of heavy defeats and ‘Chizzy’ gained revenge with a 7-1 hammering last week.

Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson

Anderson again displayed his steely composure during that tense encounter with Taylor in Newcastle. The world champion has snatched crucial points with his timely finishing and edged out ‘The Power’ in the closing legs to book his play-off place. But the Scot’s form has stuttered recently, with just two wins coming in the last six weeks. One of those triumphs, however, was against Van Gerwen and he inflicted a 7-1 rout on Lewis when they met in week six.

Any faint hopes that Lewis held of reaching the play-offs were extinguished last week, despite his dazzling 7-5 win over Van Gerwen. Offering a glimpse of his best form, ‘Jackpot’ maintained an average of nearly 109 during his victory over the Dutchman. But the Stoke thrower left himself too much work after a disappointing start, going seven weeks without a win before ‘Judgement Night’. 

Watch this week's Premier League matches at 7pm on Sky Sports 1.