McCoy's PLD Night 11

PHIL TAYLOR suffered his first defeat of the McCoy's Premier League Darts season as World Champion Adrian Lewis came from 4-1 down to win 8-5 in their clash at the BIC in Bournemouth.

Lewis had been the only player to pick up a point against the 15-time World Champion this season following the pair's draw in Manchester on the opening night, and ended Taylor's nine-game winning run in style.

The youngster trailed 4-1 at one stage but clawed his way back level before producing a killer 160 checkout as he won the last four legs without reply.

"I missed a couple of doubles early on in the match and at 4-2 down I could have been level if I'd taken my chances," said Lewis. "I came out firing after the break and finished really well.

"If the 160 didn't go in I probably would have lost the game, but massive shots like that change games.

"I'm not in the Play-Offs yet though, and I've got to treat every game like a final now, starting with Gary Anderson in Liverpool next week."

The victory took Lewis up to fourth in the Premier League Darts table, above Raymond van Barneveld after the Dutchman suffered an 8-5 loss to Simon Whitlock.

Whitlock now sets second on 14 points, three clear of Lewis and James Wade, in the race to claim places in May's Play-Offs at The O2 in London after picking up his third successive win, which included key finishes of 116 and 155 in successive legs.

"The 155 was lovely, as was the 116, and they changed the match," said Whitlock. "I'm not satisfied with being on 14 points, I want at least another two or four points to make sure I'm in the Play-Offs."

Wade, meanwhile, had to settle for a draw in his clash with Andy Hamilton, who remains in contention for a Play-Off spot in his first Premier League season after being joined on eight points by Kevin Painter.

Painter moved off the foot of the table as he ended a five-game losing run with an 8-4 win over reigning champion Gary Anderson, who now sits bottom following the defeat as his hopes of defending his title at The O2 next month were further dented.

"A first win in six games probably sounds quite bad but I feel that I've been playing well recently but I've had players like Barney, Phil and Simon put big averages into me," said Painter.

"I'm on eight points and the Play-Offs are still a possibility for me. I might still finish bottom but I'll keep fighting."

The tournament continues at the Echo Arena, Liverpool next Thursday with the 12th of 14 league nights, with the four games including a rematch of last year's Premier League final between Lewis and Anderson, Hamilton's game with van Barneveld, a crucial clash between Wade and Painter and Taylor's clash with Whitlock.

A limited number of tickets for the McCoy's Premier League Darts in Liverpool remain on sale from the Echo Arena on 0844 8000 400 or via www.echoarena.com.

Click here for McCoy's Premier League Darts Night 11 Photo Gallery

McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week 11
April 19 - BIC, Bournemouth
Raymond van Barneveld 4-8 Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson 4-8 Kevin Painter
James Wade 7-7 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 5-8 Adrian Lewis

Latest League Table

After Week 11	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
Phil Taylor	11	9	1	1	+39	19
Simon Whitlock	11	6	2	3	+6	14
James Wade	11	5	1	5	+1	11
Adrian Lewis	11	4	3	4	-1	11
Raymond van Barneveld	11	4	2	5	-11	10
Kevin Painter	11	4	0	7	-10	8
Andy Hamilton	11	2	4	5	-11	8
Gary Anderson	11	3	1	7	-13	7

Click here for McCoy's Premier League Darts Night 11 Photo Gallery

SIMON WHITLOCK 8-4 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
SIMON WHITLOCK put one foot into the McCoy's Premier League Darts Play-Offs with a fine 8-4 win over Raymond van Barneveld at the BIC in Bournemouth, as the Australian moved onto 14 points in the league table.

Whitlock's sixth victory of the Premier League season means that he sits four points clear of the Dutchman - who opened the night in fourth place - going into the final three weeks of the regular season.

His triumph also dents van Barneveld's hopes of claiming a semi-final place, as the Dutchman failed to recapture the form which saw him win both UK Open Qualifiers held last weekend.

Although van Barneveld took the first leg - landing double 12 following a miss from Whitlock - it was the Australian who took the next five.

After hitting finishes of double ten and tops, Whitlock produced killer checkouts of 116 and 155 to lead 4-1 - with both coming as van Barneveld waited on a finish - before he punished a missed tops from the Dutch ace to land double four in winning a fifth leg.

Van Barneveld took out tops to hit back in leg seven, but missed two darts at double 18 in the next as Whitlock moved 6-2 up.

Van Barneveld hit 180s in the next two as he reduced the gap to 6-4, taking out 72 and then punishing misses from Whitlock in two visits to win the tenth on double two.

However, the Australian hit a 180 and an 82 finish to win his seventh leg of the game before sealing the victory with a 14-darter.

"The way Raymond has been playing, and with what he did at the weekend, I probably wasn't expected to win that match but I pulled out a couple of nice finishes which turned the match in my favour," said Whitlock.

"The 155 was lovely, as was the 116, and they changed the match."

He added: "I'm not satisfied with being on 14 points, I want at least another two or four points to make sure I'm in the Play-Offs."

Van Barneveld - who wore a new shirt designed in the traditional colours of his home town, Den Haag - admitted: "I had a lot of chances and they didn't go in, it wasn't my night and Simon played well and hit some crucial finishes, the 155 and 116 in particular.

"I had a great weekend in Barnsley but it cost me a lot of energy and I was very tired and didn't play my game. Simon let me in a couple of times but they didn't go in.

"It's not changed much in the league table. Even if I'd won tonight I had to win next week and the following week [to make the Play-Offs]."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - van Barneveld posts double 12 to take the first leg after Whitlock missed one chance to break.
1-1 - Whitlock opens with a 180 and takes out double ten to finish a 14-darter.
1-2 - Whitlock misses tops for a 93 finish to break, but when van Barneveld cannot take out double eight for a 96 checkout the Australian returns to post tops with his third dart.
1-3 - Whitlock finishes 116 on tops to move two legs clear.
1-4 - The Australian produces a brilliant 155 checkout to break van Barneveld's throw for a second time in the game.
1-5 - Whitlock misses double 18 to take out 110 before van Barneveld is off-target on tops for a 117 checkout, allowing the pony-tailed ace to return and hit double four to move four legs clear at the break.
2-5 - van Barneveld hits back by posting double top at the first time of asking.
2-6 - Whitlock misses two darts at double ten, but van Barneveld is off-target with two darts at double 18 to allow him off the hook for a third time.
3-6 - van Barneveld finishes 72 on double 16 to win a third leg and keep his hopes of victory alive.
4-6 - van Barneveld hits a 180 to leave 61, and returns following a missed double 18 from Whitlock only to miss a dart at double four. Whitlock, though, fails to hit the double at the second time of asking and double two keeps the Dutchman in the hunt.
4-7 - Whitlock lands a 180 and takes out 82 to ensure at least a point.
4-8 - Whitlock opens with a 140 and hits a 136 to leave 40 before landing double ten for a 14-darter to seal victory.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	4-8	Simon Whitlock
19	100+	12
3	140+	12
2	180	2
29.59	Ave1	29.92
88.77	Ave3	89.75
72	High Finish	155,116
1	Breaks of Throw	3
4/10 - 40%	Finishing %	8/24 - 33%

KEVIN PAINTER 8-4 GARY ANDERSON
KEVIN PAINTER sent reigning McCoy's Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson to the bottom of the league table as he ended a five-game losing run at the BIC in Bournemouth.

Painter had dropped to the foot of the ladder with five straight losses, but jumped above Anderson to keep alive his own hopes of reaching the Play-Offs at The O2 next month.

Anderson never recovered from a slow start as Painter took leads of 3-0 and 5-1 before holding off the Scot's fightback to claim a Premier League double over the current champion.

Painter took an immediate break of throw in the opening leg following two missed doubles from Anderson and doubled his lead before winning the third with a superb 11-darter, which included a 180 and double 16.

Anderson took out 61 on double 18 to get off the mark in the fourth, but Painter finished a key 101 to win the next before landing double eight for a 5-1 cushion.

Painter also returned from the break with a 180 as he left 81 after nine darts in the seventh leg, but Anderson took out a brilliant 140 finish for a 12-darter to win his second leg of the game.

The pair traded double top finishes in the next two legs before double 16 from Painter ensured that he would take at least a point from the game.

Anderson pulled back to 7-4 by landing double eight, but his hopes of a comeback were dashed as Painter landed a 180 in the next to pull clear before sealing victory on double one.

"A first win in six games probably sounds quite bad but I feel that I've been playing well recently but I've had players like Barney, Phil and Simon put big averages into me," said Painter.

"I'm on eight points and the Play-Offs are still a possibility for me. I might still finish bottom but I'll keep fighting and it's great to be involved in the Premier League and I've enjoyed every week.

"I thought I played alright tonight. My finishing was in and out at times and I thought I was going to lose my way a little bit halfway through but I nicked a 101 finish when Gary was coming back into it and it changed the game."

Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Painter punishes early missed doubles from Anderson to land tops and break throw.
0-2 - The Players Championship winner doubles his lead.
0-3 - Painter produces a brilliant 11-darter, featuring a 180, to move three legs clear.
1-3 - Anderson posts double 18 for a 61 finish to get off the mark.
1-4 - Anderson sets up 24 but Painter finishes a superb 101 on double 16 to break for a third time in the game.
1-5 - Painter posts double eight to lead by four legs at the interval.
2-5 - Painter opens with a 180 and leaves 81 after nine darts, but Anderson takes out a superb 140 checkout to hit back.
2-6 - Painter misses two darts at tops, but Anderson is unable to take out 143 and allows his opponent back in to win a sixth leg.
3-6 - Painter misses darts at double 16, eight and four and the reigning champion hits tops.
3-7 - Painter lands double 16 to ensure he will take at least a draw.
4-7 - Anderson keeps his hopes alive by landing double eight.
4-8 - Painter hits a 180 to leave 24, and although he misses three darts to win the leg he returns to win the game on double one.

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	4-8	Kevin Painter
16	100+	16
10	140+	12
0	180	3
28.34	Ave1	30.22
85.01	Ave3	90.65
140	High Finish	101
1	Breaks of Throw	3
4/12 - 33%	Finishing %	8/19 - 42%

JAMES WADE 7-7 ANDY HAMILTON
ANDY HAMILTON battled to a second successive McCoy's Premier League Darts draw as he denied former champion James Wade a vital victory in their clash at the BIC in Bournemouth.

Wade, the 2009 Premier League winner, took a further step towards a place in this year's Play-Offs by securing a point from a tight battle, but was left frustrated as Hamilton took a draw in the deciding leg of the contest.

There was never more than one leg between the pair throughout the game, with Hamilton breaking throw in the opening leg despite a 180 from Wade, who landed another maximum in hitting back to level.

The remaining 12 legs would all go with the throw, although both players had chances to break at times without landing the key double.

Hamilton was punished for a missed double 16 in leg three as Wade took out 58 on tops, before the Stoke ace finished an improvised 40 with a double one, double 19 combination to level.

Wade took out double 12 to win the fifth before Hamilton replied with a 13-darter, only to miss double eight for a 136 checkout in leg seven to allow the left-hander to finish 86 in two darts.

Hamilton also missed double eight for a 136 finish in the next, but returned to hit double four and level at four-all.

The next three legs were all won with ton-plus finishes, as Wade took out 116 and 124 and Hamilton checked out 123 on double nine.

Hamilton also missed the bull for a 164 finish in the 12th leg, but returned to land double 16 to ensure the final two legs would be decisive.

Wade hit a 180 and tops to take the 13th for a 7-6 lead as he ensured a point, and a 180 left 61 in the decider - but Hamilton was first to a double and landed tops with his third dart for a point.

"I think I played well but a draw was a fair result," said Hamilton. "I've battled for points all the way through the season and I never gave in again.

"I could have broken James a couple of times and you pay for mistakes like that, so I'm happy to have taken a draw. It's another point and I'm still fighting - I'm putting points on the board and I'll give it my best again next week against Barney."

Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Wade hits a 180 and is first to a finish but misses double four for a 61 checkout and Hamilton lands double 18 to break.
1-1 - Wade lands another maximum and takes out 80 on double ten to break back.
2-1 - Hamilton misses double 16 for a 110 finish and Wade lands tops to take the lead.
2-2 - Hamilton hits back to level the game, initially missing tops before returning to finish 40 with an improvised double one, double 19 combination.
3-2 - Double 12 sees Wade regain the lead.
3-3 - Hamilton lands tops for a 13-darter to square the match at the interval.
4-3 - Hamilton misses double eight for a 136 checkout and Wade clinically posts 86 in two darts to win the seventh leg.
4-4 - Hamilton again misses double eight to finish 136, but this time returns to take the leg and square the game.
5-4 - Hamilton lands a 180 but is unable to take out 148 and Wade pins a 116 checkout on tops to move back ahead.
5-5 - Hamilton finishes 123 on double nine to level matters once more.
6-5 - Wade betters Hamilton's checkout by taking out 124 on double 11 to regain the lead with a 12-darter.
6-6 - Hamilton misses the bull for a 164 checkout, but when Wade is off-target with two darts at double ten to break and the World Championship finalist lands double 16 to level.
7-6 - Wade opens with 140 and 180 before hitting tops to secure at least a point.
7-7 - Hamilton is first to a finish and leaves 40 after 12 darts, with Wade landing a 180 to set up 61 only to see the Stoke ace hit tops with his third dart to secure a draw.

Match Stats

James Wade	7-7	Andy Hamilton
22	100+	13
10	140+	9
4	180	2
33.10	Ave1	33.47
99.30	Ave3	100.41
124,116	High Finish	123
1	Breaks of Throw	1
7/11 - 64%	Finishing %	7/18 - 39%

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-5 PHIL TAYLOR
PHIL TAYLOR suffered his first defeat of the McCoy's Premier League Darts season as World Champion Adrian Lewis came from 4-1 down to win 8-5 in their clash at the BIC in Bournemouth.

Lewis had been the only player to pick up a point against the 15-time World Champion this season following the pair's draw in Manchester on the opening night, and ended Taylor's nine-game winning run in style.

The youngster trailed 4-1 at one stage but clawed his way back level before producing a killer 160 checkout as he won the last four legs without reply.

Taylor dominated the game's early stages, winning the opening leg on tops and hitting a 180 in the second, which Lewis took in 13 darts.

Taylor then matched that to win the third before landing another maximum in leg four, capitalising on a miss at tops from Lewis on a 98 finish to hit double eight before repeating the feat in the next to leg 4-1.

Taylor could also have won the sixth leg, but missed double 18 for a 116 checkout as Lewis finished double six to hit back before he landed double 12 and double two to pounce on further misses from the world number one.

Taylor landed a 180 and finished tops to lead 5-4 with a 13-darter, but was left reeling by a superb finale from Lewis.

The World Champion showed his class, firstly by levelling in 13 darts after hitting his second 180 of the match before winning a key 11th leg, with Taylor posting a 180 to leave 60 only to see Lewis power in a 160 checkout to lead for the first time.

He then took out 72 in two darts with Taylor waiting on 32, and left his former practice partner sat on the same score in the next as he sealed a precious triumph on double 18.

"I missed a couple of doubles early on in the match and at 4-2 down I could have been level if I'd taken my chances," said Lewis. "I came out firing after the break and finished really well.

"If the 160 didn't go in I probably would have lost the game, but massive shots like that change games.

"I think the 160 was a key shot in the match and I don't think Phil recovered from that, I put the pressure on him and I believed in my own ability.

"Phil's the best player in the world but you've got to forget what he's won, go up there and try your best. I showed I've got a lot of bottle and that's what wins me matches.

"I'm not in the Play-Offs yet though, and I've got to treat every game like a final now, starting with Gary Anderson in Liverpool next week."

Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Taylor misses tops for a 106 finish, but when Lewis is unable to finish double 16 for a 99 checkout he returns to hit the double.
1-1 - Taylor posts a 180 but Lewis levels on tops.
2-1 - Double eight from Taylor sees him hit a 13-darter.
3-1 - Taylor hits a 180 to leave 41, only to miss the single nine and give himself only one dart at a double, which he misses on double eight. Lewis, needing 98, hits single 20 and double 19 but misses tops and Taylor returns to hit double eight and break.
4-1 - Lewis misses double 16 for a 106 finish to break back and Taylor lands double eight to hold throw and move three legs clear.
4-2 - Taylor misses double 18 for a 116 checkout and Lewis posts double six to hit back going into the break.
4-3 - Taylor hits a 180 to be first to a finish, but narrowly misses double 16 and eight, and Lewis lands double 12 to break throw.
4-4 - Lewis opens with a 180, and when Taylor just misses double 18 for a party-piece 136 checkout - hitting treble 20 and double top to leave 36 - the World Champion returns to post double 19 and level.
5-4 - Taylor lands a 180 and posts tops to regain the lead in 13 darts.
5-5 - Lewis kicks off the leg with a 180 and hits back with a 13-darter of his own which is finished on tops.
5-6 - Taylor hits his fifth 180 of the game to leave 60, but Lewis brilliantly takes out 160 to break throw and lead.
5-7 - Taylor leaves himself 32 but Lewis finishes 72 in two darts to ensure at least a point.
5-8 - Lewis is unable to finish 106 but Taylor misses three darts at double 16 and Lewis finishes double 18 to end the world number one's winning streak.

Match Stats