PDC Premier League Round-up
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This year’s Premier League saw the top ten players in the world picked to compete. After nine weeks of competition, the two players at the foot of the table have been eliminated. Which leaves the remaining eight players to battle it out over the next six weeks. The top four after week 15 will then compete for the Premier League title at the O2 Arena, in London.
So who has performed the best up until this point? Who has been eliminated? Which players look the most likely to reach the playoffs?
Premier League table after week nine.
Name |
Pts |
Pld | W | D |
L |
|
1 | Phil Taylor |
14 |
9 | 6 | 2 |
1 |
2 | Michael Van Gerwen |
13 |
9 | 5 | 3 |
1 |
3 | Gary Anderson |
13 |
9 | 6 | 1 |
2 |
4 | Adrian Lewis |
12 |
9 | 6 | 0 |
3 |
5 | James Wade |
11 |
9 | 5 | 1 |
3 |
6 | Peter Wright |
10 |
9 | 4 | 2 |
3 |
7 | Raymond Van Barneveld |
7 |
9 | 3 | 1 |
5 |
8 | Robert Thornton |
4 |
9 | 1 | 2 |
6 |
9 | Dave Chisnall |
3 |
9 | 1 | 1 |
7 |
10 | Michael Smith |
3 |
9 | 1 | 1 |
7 |
Phil Taylor leads the way at this stage of the competition. He started off badly, losing against Raymond Van Barneveld in the opening game. But since then Taylor has showed signs of returning to his brilliant best. A 115 average against Dave Chisnall is his best performance up-to-date. There is still room for improvement in Taylor’s game. If he can be more consistent he can definitely challenge for top spot. To sit top of the table while not playing at his best shows how good the man is!
Michael Van Gerwen has played the best darts we have ever seen during this seasons Premier League. A 123 average against Michael Smith set a new world record for the highest average ever recorded. He looks unstoppable at times! Three consecutive draws have seen him slip to second in the table. Van Gerwen is still the man to beat. He is still favourite to top the table, and lift the trophy on play-off night. But the competition is fierce. He will have to find his very best if he is to conquer this year’s Premier League.
Gary Anderson missed the first week of competition due to illness. He began slowly, losing his first two games. Since then he is undefeated. A six game winning streak has helped him climb the table. At times he has been brilliant, but there is still room for improvement. He is well placed in the table to make it to the play-offs. When he hits top gear there is no one better to watch. If he plays like he can, it is hard to imagine him missing out on the top four. I wouldn’t bet against him defending his title.
Adrian Lewis has shown glimpses of what he can do in his opening nine games. He defeated the six players who sit below him in the table, but lost to the three players who sit above him. If he can make it to the playoffs, he will be a dangerous opponent. If Lewis can continue to play like he has, he stands a good chance of making it into the last four. Although he will need to improve if he is to challenge for the title.
James Wade is in fine form. He is currently positioned perfectly to snatch the last remaining playoff spot. A win over Van Gerwen in the opening week got him off to the best possible start. He has given himself a great chance. Wade can win games when he isn’t at his best. That gives him an edge over some of the other players who are looking to make it to finals night. He can sneak a top four finish.
Peter Wright has played consistently well through this year’s Premier League. Unfortunately for him he has not won as many games as he should have done. He is still in with a good chance of making it into the top four. It will be a battle to pinch the last playoff spot. Peter Wright can still make it, although he will need to start getting over the finishing line in games. He will be in contention for the top four.
Raymond Van Barneveld has beaten Taylor this campaign, and also drew with Van Gerwen. But he still finds himself cut-adrift from the rest. There is no doubting Van Barneveld’s ability, it is his consistency that is in question. RVB will find it tough to make the playoffs from the position he finds himself in. If anyone can climb their way back up the table by going on an unbeaten run, its Barney. I wouldn’t rule him out just yet.
Robert Thornton had a disastrous first few weeks. Since then he has improved massively. A win, and a draw on the same night helped him avoid elimination after judgement night. It is good to see him playing well once again. Thornton has no chance of making it into the top four. He would need to win his remaining seven games to do so. He saved himself from elimination, and will now be a dangerous opponent for anyone.
The competition lost Dave Chisnall and Michael Smith on judgement night. Smith has endured a mixed Premier League debut. Rarely showing what he is capable of. Chisnall will be hugely disappointed, especially after doing so well in this competition last year. I expect both men to come back stronger next time around.
It is still all to fight for over the coming weeks! The Premier League continues to get bigger, and better every year.
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