McCoy's PLD Half-Term Report

THE league phase of the McCoy's Premier League Darts reached its half-way stage with the seventh night at The O2 in Dublin last week, and we look back on the first half of the campaign.

The tournament saw it's fifth nine-dart finish hit when Phil Taylor achieved the feat in week two at the AECC in Aberdeen.

Taylor also hit a Premier League record average of 117.35 in his week three victory over Simon Whitlock in Exeter, and tops the league table after remaining unbeaten following seven games.

This is how some of the McCoy's Premier League Darts stars assessed their first seven weeks:
Phil Taylor - first in league table
"I'm delighted with how it's gone so far. The results last week went for me, because now other players have to win three or four games to catch me up, so it's taken the pressure off me.

"With another couple of wins I think I'll have qualified, and that's what you want to do. You want to get through to the last four and that's the aim at the moment.

"I'm going to make sure I keep trying harder and keep getting better, and that's what I'm doing - and I've still got another gear!"

Raymond van Barneveld - second in league table
"I'm very happy to be second in the league. All the guys are playing such good darts at the moment and every week is a final.

"I'm relaxed. I've been doing some meditation and breathing exercises and that's helping.

"When I got the Wildcard I was over the moon, and I said to a few people that I want to prove a few people wrong who said that I was finished.

"To be second in the league after seven games proves I can still play the game, and I'm looking forward to the next seven weeks.

"I'm aiming to be in the top four, and playing the final and winning this tournament would be a dream."

Simon Whitlock - third in league table
"Eight points is a great total for the first half; I think you're going to need 14 to get through to the Play-Offs - it's been 14 I think every year I've played in it so I'm slightly in front at the minute.

"My scoring's there, I've got to hit some more doubles. Consistency is the key, to be consistent on hitting your scores and then hitting your doubles."

Gary Anderson - fourth in league table
"I'm still in the hunt and although it's pretty tight my leg difference is okay, and that could come into it.

"I think this will be the tighest Premier League I've seen but I'm looking forward to the next eight weeks - I'm counting on seven and if I make the eighth week then it's a bonus.

"Last week, even though I lost, was probably the best I've played in the seven weeks, so it's getting there."
* Gary Anderson was speaking before being ruled out of week eight

Adrian Lewis - seventh in league table
"To go to the last game of the first half to get a win shows how tough the field is. I've turned the corner with getting my first win and I think there'll be no stopping me now.

"I know there's a lot more to come and I can go from strength to strength. I felt a lot more confident in myself and my form's coming back.

"I'm treating every game as if it's a final but I don't think there's any reason I can't go on to finish in the top two."

Andy Hamilton - bottom of league table
"I think I've played well - no-one's smashed me on that board and I've given a good account of myself. It's only my own inexperience which has shown, but the Premier League is a big thing for me, and for any player.

"It's a big learning curve and I'm learning every week.

"In the first half I've been learning and in the second half I want to pick up a few more points. I want to be solid, and the results will come."

Key Stats following Week Seven

Taylor has a tournament average of 109.45 following the first half of the league season, with Raymond van Barneveld posting the second-highest total with 100.04, which was increased last week with his brilliant 107.22 average in Dublin.

Van Barneveld has jumped up to second in the league table after winning three of his last four games, moving him ahead of Simon Whitlock on leg difference, with the Australian having picked up two wins and a draw in his last three matches.

Whitlock has hit the tournament's highest finish so far with a 164 in week six against Anderson, who has landed only one ton-plus checkout and nine 180s less than at the same stage last year.

Taylor has hit the most ton-plus finishes with nine, one more than Kevin Painter and two ahead of James Wade, who lost his opening three games but won three in a row.

World Champion Adrian Lewis has hit the most 180s with 35 - six more than van Barneveld - but had to wait until week seven in Dublin to pick up his first victory of the season.

League Table Following Week Seven

 

P

W

D

L

+/-

Pts

Phil Taylor

7

6

1

0

+29

13

Raymond van Barneveld

7

3

2

2

+2

8

Simon Whitlock

7

3

2

2

+1

8

Gary Anderson

7

3

0

4

+2

6

Kevin Painter

7

3

0

4

-3

6

James Wade

7

3

0

4

-9

6

Adrian Lewis

7

1

3

3

-9

5

Andy Hamilton

7

1

2

4

-13

4


Form
Phil Taylor DWWWWWW
Raymond van Barneveld DDLWLWW
Simon Whitlock DWLLWWD
Gary Anderson LWWWLLL
Kevin Painter WLWLWLL
James Wade LLLWWWL
Adrian Lewis DDDLLLW
Andy Hamilton WLDLLLD

Overall Statistics

League Points

Legs Played

Legs Won

Legs Lost

LWAT

Average

Taylor

13

81

55

26

20

109.45

Barneveld

8

94

48

46

17

100.04

Whitlock

8

89

45

44

14

96.85

Anderson

6

82

42

40

14

92.45

Painter

6

89

43

46

17

90.55

Wade

6

89

40

49

10

94.97

Lewis

5

87

39

48

11

95.58

Hamilton

4

89

38

51

9

93.96

* LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw

Scoring Statistics

100+

140+

180

100+ Finishes
Taylor

94

74

26

9 (147, 132, 131, 120, 110, 107, 104, 102, 100)
Barneveld

112

72

29

4 (145, 126, 120, 109)
Whitlock

109

70

26

4 (164, 152, 118, 104)
Anderson

110

59

19

1 (128)
Painter

109

63

13

8 (157, 134, 128, 127, 123, 118, 114, 110)
Wade

118

64

21

7 (154, 126, 121, 118, 114, 110, 107)
Lewis

101

42

35

5 (140, 138, 130, 106, 100)
Hamilton

97

48

22

1 (150)

League Table Comparison
After Seven Weeks

2011

Pts

2012

Pts

Taylor

12

Taylor

13

Barneveld

10

Barneveld

8

Anderson

8

Whitlock

8

Lewis

7

Anderson

6

Whitlock

6

Painter

6

Jenkins

5

Wade

6

Webster

4

Lewis

5

Wade

4

Hamilton

4


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