McCoy's PLD Night Eight

JAMES WADE completed only the third whitewash in the history of the McCoy's Premier League Darts, seeing off Simon Whitlock 8-0 on Thursday, as World Champion Adrian Lewis took one win from his two games at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

Wade, the 2009 Premier League champion, produced a clinical display to see off the Australian, who was limited to only three darts at a double in a below-par display.

The win moves Wade up to second in the league table following an intriguing night in Cardiff, which saw Lewis compete twice on the night in the absence of reigning champion Gary Anderson, who was attending his father's funeral in Scotland.

The evening had also begun with an emotional minute's applause in memory of the late two-time World Champion Jocky Wilson, who passed away last Saturday, as the seven players and former stars Rod Harrington and Keith Deller led the tributes on stage.

Lewis and Hamilton returned to the stage for the night's opening match, and it was the latter who took an 8-4 victory as he punished a string off missed doubles from the World Champion in establishing a 5-1 advantage which he would never lose.

The win was Hamilton's first since the opening night of the season, and he admitted: "I've been playing well throughout the Premier League but fortunately I hit my doubles tonight.

"There were some big finishes there which I had to take out and I did that well. It's all about handling that pressure, and I can be a force to be reckoned with if I keep doing this during the second half of the season."

Lewis returned to the stage for the night's final game, and turned the tables on van Barneveld by hitting finishes of 160, 110 and 106 in taking a superb 8-2 win over the Dutchman.

"I'm pleased to come out of the night with two points," said Lewis. "I was setting my sights on playing Raymond and then when Gary unfortunately lost his father I found out that I'd play twice and that's difficult to prepare for.

"Andy Hamilton took his chances really well in the first game and fair play to him, but I did the same against Raymond."

Phil Taylor recorded his seventh successive victory and continued his unbeaten run this season with a superb 8-2 defeat of Kevin Painter, competing the victory with a ten-dart finish and averaging over 113.

Taylor is now 11/2 with official betting partner William Hill to remain unbeaten throughout the final six weeks of the league season, and he added: "It's my objective to win every match and to win the final.

"The other players just want to make the top four but I'm looking at the final because I want the trophy back from Gary Anderson."

Wade has now been installed as the 15/2 second favourite to win the McCoy's Premier League Darts - behind William Hill's 1/2 favourite Taylor - and the left-hander admitted after his whitewash win: "It's a good win for me and it could be important when we get to the Play-Offs.

"I could see Simon was struggling but I had to get the job done."

The McCoy's Premier League Darts continues at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham next week, while Anderson is now scheduled to play twice in Sheffield on April 12 to make up his game in hand.

Click here for McCoy's Premier League Darts Night Eight Photo Gallery

McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Eight
March 29 - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Adrian Lewis 4-8 Andy Hamilton
James Wade 8-0 Simon Whitlock
Kevin Painter 2-8 Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld 2-8 Adrian Lewis

Latest League Table

Following Week Eight	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
Phil Taylor	8	7	1	0	+35	15
James Wade	8	4	0	4	-1	8
Raymond van Barneveld	8	3	2	3	-4	8
Simon Whitlock	8	3	2	3	-7	8
Adrian Lewis	9	2	3	4	-7	7
Gary Anderson	7	3	0	4	+2	6
Kevin Painter	8	3	0	5	-9	6
Andy Hamilton	8	2	2	4	-9	6

Click here for McCoy's Premier League Darts Night Eight Photo Gallery

ANDY HAMILTON 8-4 ADRIAN LEWIS
ANDY HAMILTON defeated World Champion Adrian Lewis 8-4 to claim his first victory since the opening week of the McCoy's Premier League Darts at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

Hamilton dominated throughout the pair's rematch of January's World Championship final as he gained revenge for that Alexandra Palace defeat and began the second half of the Premier League season in style.

Hamilton made Lewis pay for a string of missed doubles as he took a 5-1 lead, and despite a rally from the World Champion he held on to take the points.

Lewis actually took the game's opening leg on double five, but Hamilton levelled on tops and punished missed doubles in the next four to take command.

Lewis had hit a 180 in leg three but wired two darts at double 18 as Hamilton finished 74, and he then took out 84 in the fourth, double 16 in the fifth and double eight to move 5-1 up.

Lewis hit a 177 in setting up double 16 as he won the seventh, with Hamilton landing double six for the next before the World Champion defied a 180 from his opponent to hold his nerve on double eight to pull back to 6-3.

He also gave himself a chance to pull back further in the tenth, hitting a 180 but missing three darts at double 18 and nine as Hamilton produced a killer blow with a 106 checkout.

Lewis hit another maximum in the next, which he won on double top to keep his hopes alive, Hamilton replied in kind with his second 180 of the game before sealing victory on double ten.

"Adrian scored well but couldn't finish and I took advantage," said Hamilton. "I've been playing well throughout the Premier League but fortunately I hit my doubles tonight.

"There were some big finishes there which I had to take out and I did that well. It's all about handling that pressure, and I can be a force to be reckoned with if I keep doing this during the second half of the season.

"I'm playing good darts and I'm a big-stage player, and I'm getting to get used to the big crowds in the Premier League now."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Lewis initially misses four darts at a double before landing double five to lead.
1-1 - Hamilton posts tops to level.
1-2 - Lewis wires two darts at double 18, and Hamilton finishes 74 on tops to break.
1-3 - Lewis this time misses the bull for a 124 finish and Hamilton takes out 84 in two darts with a treble 16, double 18 combination.
1-4 - Lewis opens with a 177 but misses a second dart at double top when needing 100, and Hamilton lands double 16 to break again.
1-5 - Hamilton lands a 177 of his own, and is given a reprieve when he misses three darts at double 16 as Lewis misses the bull on 80, and Hamilton returns to hit double eight for a four-leg lead.
2-5 - Lewis hits a 177 to leave 42 and lands double 16 to hit back.
2-6 - Hamilton finishes double six to edge closer to victory.
3-6 - Hamilton hits a 180 to leave 54, but Lewis holds his nerve to post double eight.
3-7 - Lewis hits scores of 180 and 130 to leave 36 after 12 darts, but misses double 18 twice and a dart at double nine, and Hamilton punishes him by taking out 106 on double 16.
4-7 - Lewis lands a third 180 of the game to leave 46, and hits tops to keep his hopes alive.
4-8 - Hamilton hits his second 180 of the game and seals victory on double ten.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	4-8	Andy Hamilton
10	100+	15
12	140+	7
3	180	2
32.68	Ave1	31.78
98.03	Ave3	95.33
46	High Finish	106
0	Breaks of Throw	2
4/19 - 21%	Finishing %	8/16 - 50%

JAMES WADE 8-0 SIMON WHITLOCK
JAMES WADE completed only the third whitewash in the history of the McCoy's Premier League Darts, seeing off Simon Whitlock 8-0 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Thursday.

The 2009 champion showed a ruthless streak to demolish the Australian, who was limited to only three darts at a double in the contest.

The victory was Wade's fourth of the season, and moves him above Whitlock into the Play-Off places as he recorded the biggest Premier League win since Phil Taylor's whitewash of Wayne Mardle in 2008.

Whitlock began well by hitting 180s in the first two legs, but was left waiting on a finish as Wade took out double ten and tops to lead 2-0, before a 76 finish put him in command.

Whitlock missed the bull for an 82 combination in the fourth, allowing Wade back to follow up an earlier 180 with double six, and he then finished tops in two successive legs to lead 6-0 at the break, the latter completing a sparking 13-darter.

Wade returned to set up a potential nine-darter with back-to-back 180s, but missed a seventh dart at treble 20 and went on to miss a host of darts at a double, giving Whitlock a chance to steal the leg with a dart at the bull.

Whitlock, though, could not convert the opportunity and Wade returned to hit double one to move 7-0 up, and he added a further maximum to open the eighth leg before hitting double five to finish 90 for a 12-darter in sealing the whitewash.

"I'm really pleased with how I played but it's not nice as a professional to beat another player 8-0," said Wade. "I could see Simon was struggling but I had to get the job done.

"It's not nice to beat someone by that score, or for someone to not be involved in the game like Simon wasn't there tonight - but then I thought back to being 6-0 down against Simon last time we played and I know he'd have tried to beat me 8-0.

"I'm probably not as ruthless as other players but that's not in my nature. It's a good win for me though and it could be important when we get to the Play-Offs."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Whitlock hits a 180 but Wade lands double ten with his third dart to hold throw, with the Australian sat on 40.
2-0 - Whitlock posts another maximum but Wade breaks throw on double top.
3-0 - Wade wins a third successive leg by taking out 76 on double eight.
4-0 - Wade leaves 81 with his first 180 of the game before missing two darts at double 12, but Whitlock misses the bull for an 82 checkout and the left-hander posts double six with his third dart to break for a second time.
5-0 - Wade finishes tops to win a fifth successive leg.
6-0 - The left-hander lands double top to move six legs clear at the interval.
7-0 - Wade opens with back-to-back 180s, and although a nine-dart finish goes begging he eventually wins the leg on double one.
8-0 - The 2009 champion completes only the third whitewash in the eight-year history of the Premier League by opening with a 180 and hitting double five.

Match Stats

James Wade	8-0	Simon Whitlock
11	100+	6
5	140+	2
4	180	2
32.32	Ave1	26.93
96.97	Ave3	80.79
90	High Finish	-
4	Breaks of Throw	-
8/22 - 36%	Finishing %	0/3 - 0%

PHIL TAYLOR 8-2 KEVIN PAINTER
PHIL TAYLOR completed a McCoy's Premier League Darts double over Kevin Painter with a thrilling 8-2 victory at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, as he continued his relentless charge in the tournament.

The 15-time World Champion extended his unbeaten record to eight matches this season with a seventh successive victory, averaging a superb 113.30.

Taylor had hit a nine-darter in defeating Painter in Aberdeen, and twice hit six perfect darts in this game, having to settle eventually for a ten-darter which completed a comprehensive triumph.

Taylor secured an immediate break of throw with a 14-dart finish in the opeing leg, and hit scores of 180, 132 and 165 in taking the second.

He then finished double 12 for a second successive 13-darter in moving 3-0 up before kicking off the fourth with a 174, as Painter replied with a 180 but missed tops to get on the scoreboard as Taylor moved 4-0 up.

Painter landed another maximum to leave 20 as he got off the mark with a 13-darter in the fifth, and he finished 70 in the next to break Taylor's throw and pull back to 4-2.

A two-dart 76 from Taylor saw him regain his advantage in the seventh, and a 13-darter completed on tops moved him 6-2 up before he kicked off leg nine with back-to-back 180s.

He missed a seventh dart at treble 20, setting up 81 as Painter returned to miss tops for a 76 finish and allow the world number one back for an 11-darter as he finished the combination in two darts on double 12.

Taylor then set up a second nine-dart chance by kicking off the next leg with a 174 followed by a 180, this time hitting the treble 20 when needing 147 only to miss the treble 17.

He would, though, land treble 18 to leave 16 and, with Painter way back, hit double eight for a sensational ten-dart finish to complete a fine win.

"I'm delighted with that win and it's another step for me towards making sure I'm in the Play-Offs," said Taylor. "It's about winning and I've done that, but it's great to do it so well because Kevin pushes you all the way.

"He never gives in, he tries on every dart and it's the sign of a true professional. I loved every minute."

Taylor is now 11/2 with official betting partner William Hill to remain unbeaten throughout the final six weeks of the league season, and he added: "It's my objective to win every match and to win the final.

"The other players just want to make the top four but I'm looking at the final because I want the trophy back from Gary Anderson."

Painter admitted: "I went into the game positive and I'm disappointed I didn't play a little bit better.

"I could have nicked another couple of legs and if it had been three-all at the break it might have been different, but when Phil's in that mood, you're not going to win.

"I've got my two games against him out of the way now and I can try to push on from next week onwards. I've not played too badly there but I need to hit a few more doubles."

Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Taylor breaks throw to win the opening leg.
0-2 - Taylor opnens with a 180 and lands double six to move two legs clear.
0-3 - Taylor lands double 12 for a second break of throw.
0-4 - Taylor kicks off the leg with a 174 before Painter hits 180 and a 121, but he misses a second double top for a 100 finish and Taylor takes a fourth straight leg.
1-4 - Painter hits another 180 to leave 20, and lands double ten to get off the mark.
2-4 - Painter takes out 70 on double 18 to break throw and reduce the gap to just two legs.
2-5 - Taylor breaks throw again by finishing 76 on double eight.
2-6 - Taylor misses tops for a 125 finish but has enough of a cushion to return and hit the bed at the second time of asking.
2-7 - Painter opens with scores of 140 and 180, with Taylor bettering that with two maximums to set up a potential nine-dart finish. He misses a seventh treble 20, and after Painter misses tops for a 76 finish the world number one takes out 81 in two darts to move one leg away from the win.
2-8 - Taylor opens with 174 and 180 to set up a nine-darter again, this time hitting the treble 20 on 147 but missing the treble 17 - although he hits treble 18 to leave 16, hitting double eight for a ten-darter to seal victory!

Match Stats

Kevin Painter	2-8	Phil Taylor
15	100+	13
4	140+	9
3	180	4
31.46	Ave1	37.77
94.38	Ave3	113.30
70	High Finish	81
1	Breaks of Throw	4
2/4 - 50%	Finishing %	8/14 - 57%

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-2 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
ADRIAN LEWIS bounced back from his earlier defeat to Andy Hamilton at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff with a fine 8-2 McCoy's Premier League Darts win over Raymond van Barneveld.

The World Champion had been punished for a poor finishing display in the night's opening match in Wales, as he stepped in to play twice in the absence of Gary Anderson, who was attending his father's funeral.

Lewis, though, made amends with three ton-plus finishes and an 11-darter in a fine display against the Dutch great.

Lewis set the tone for the encounter in the opening leg, with van Barneveld hitting a 180 to leave 58 only to see the Stoke youngster bring the sell-out Cardiff crowd to its feet with a 160 checkout.

He then punished a missed double 14 from van Barneveld to win the second on double five before finishing 90 in two darts for an 11-darter to lead 3-0.

Lewis then landed a maximum in the fourth leg, but missed five darts at a double to allow van Barneveld in on double eight to get off the mark, before the Dutchman produced an 11-darter of his own to pull back to 3-2.

Lewis, though, took a key sixth by hitting a 180 and double ten to lead 4-2 at the interval, and then took out 106 after the restart to move three legs clear.

Finishes of double 16 and 110 put him into a 7-2 lead, and he went on to seal victory by finishing 70 in two darts on double eight.

"I'm pleased to come out of the night with two points," said Lewis. "I was setting my sights on playing Raymond and then when Gary unfortunately lost his father I found out that I'd play twice and that's difficult to prepare for.

"Andy Hamilton took his chances really well in the first game and fair play to him, but I did the same against Raymond.

"The 160 in the opening leg was important because he'd hit a 180 to leave a finish and I knew the 160 had to go in, and I didn't look back.

"I knew I was playing well - even against Andy my darts which missed were around the wire - and I know my form's coming back, and I felt comfortable."

Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - van Barneveld hits a 180 but Lewis produces a brilliant 160 checkout to break throw and lead.
0-2 - van Barneveld misses double 14 for a 121 finish and Lewis takes out double five to double his advantage.
0-3 - Lewis clinically finishes 90 on double 18 in two darts.
1-3 - van Barneveld breaks back, with Lewis hitting a 180 in being first to a finish only to miss five darts at a double to let the Dutchman in on double eight.
2-3 - van Barneveld htis a 180 and finishes 85 in two darts to pull back to within a leg.
2-4 - Lewis opens with a 180 and lands double ten to regain his two-leg cushion at the interval.
2-5 - Lewis finishes 106 to break throw for a third time.
2-6 - Double 16 puts Lewis two legs away from victory.
2-7 - Lewis takes out 110 with an improvised treble five, treble 19 and double 19 combination.
2-8 - Lewis finishes 70 in two darts to secure a superb victory, finishing with a final average of 99.98.

Match Stats