PIER PRESSURE FOR QUARTET ON McCOY'S PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS' JUDGEMENT NIGHT IN BRIGHTON
TWO players from four contenders will be relegated from the McCoy's Premier League Darts in Brighton on Thursday night, as Adrian Lewis, Simon Whitlock, Wes Newton and Gary Anderson fight for their futures in the tournament.
The first phase of this year's ten-player tournament will come to a close as the bottom two players in the league table following week nine at the Brighton Centre are eliminated.
Anderson and Newton are locked on five points at the foot of the table going into Judgement Night, but are only a point behind Australian ace Whitlock and two adrift of Lewis, who lost his first four games but is now unbeaten in his last four.
Lewis kicks off Thursday night's drama when he plays Raymond van Barneveld, and the two-time World Champion knows that a draw or a win against the Dutchman will secure his status in the Premier League.
Newton and Anderson, meanwhile, will need to take a minimum of a point from their games with Andy Hamilton and James Wade to bring Whitlock into the equation.
Newton's 7-4 win over Anderson in Glasgow last week saw him jump above the Scot on Leg Difference, and he went on to claim the £20,000 first prize in the Easter weekend's European Darts Trophy event in Germany.
"After the weekend, my confidence is good and I can't wait for Thursday," said Newton. "There's a lot of scenarios which could happen, but at the end of the day I've got to go up there and win - and if I don't do that, it's immaterial.
"Being in the Premier League's been the highlight of my darts career, I've loved every minute and I don't want to be relegated, and whatever happens I think I'll be a better player in the future for bring in the Premier League this year.
"I'll focus on my game because I can score with the best players and if I take my chances I think I can beat anybody. It's going to be really tough against Andy, but it's a game I think I can win and I need to win.
"I'll give it my all on Thursday, and winning in Germany is a perfect build-up to it. My confidence is good and I can't wait."
2011 Premier League champion Anderson, meanwhile, must also avoid defeat when he meets another former winner, James Wade, in their game.
The Scot missed 25 attempts at a double in his defeat to Newton in Glasgow, and has finished only 28% of his doubles throughout the season with 37 from 134 darts.
"My finishing has been what's cost me and it's been so frustrating," admitted Anderson. "In practice they've been going in fine but when I get up on stage I've struggled.
"I know that I can score as well as anyone in the game, and you can see that in how many chances I've given myself this season. I'll give it my best shot against James on Thursday because it's down to me and hopefully I can get the win and stay in the Premier League."
Lewis will open Thursday's action in Brighton against Raymond van Barneveld, and despite losing his opening four games has moved up to eighth in the table with three victories and a draw since.
Lewis needs only to pick up a point against the Dutchman to survive for the remaining weeks of the event, and said: "I've given myself a great chance by going unbeaten for four weeks.
"I'm very proud because my form was shocking at the start of the Premier League, but I can feel it coming back in patches.
"I've got no choice against Raymond - if you don't play your best you're in trouble. We always have great games but I think I'll get the job done."
Should Newton and Anderson take a draw or a win from their matches, they would bring Whitlock into the battle when the Australian star takes on Michael van Gerwen in the night's final game.
"My fate's in my own hands and I just have to prepare to beat Michael and not worry about the other games," said Whitlock. "It's a massive night because nobody wants to be the first to be relegated from the Premier League and it's been a brilliant season so far.
"I've played some great matches so to find myself in this position shows how close it's been, and any player who survives will still have a really good chance of making the Play-Offs in May too!"
Van Gerwen is one of four players locked on ten points at the head of the league table, alongside Wade, van Barneveld and league leader Phil Taylor - whose meeting with Robert Thornton is the only clash which has no bearing on the relegation race in Brighton.
The game is, though, a repeat of their meeting in the 2012 UK Open final, when Thornton defeated Taylor to claim his first major PDC title, and the Scot is riding high after his thrilling win over Whitlock in Glasgow last which, which moved him onto nine points.
"It will be great and I'm looking forward to it," said Thornton. "I can relax now knowing that the pressure's off and I'm safe.
"After last week and the past few weeks, I think I can push for a Play-Off spot and to be in the top four. I'll be up for it and I'm loving the Premier League - it seems to have brought the best out of me.
"I've got nothing to prove. He knows I can beat him and I know he can beat me, so it's all about who brings their best game on the night."
The McCoy's Premier League Darts Judgement Night will be screened live on Sky Sports 1HD from 7pm on Thursday.
Coverage is also live on RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, Fox Sports in Australia, OSN across the Middle East and through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass subscribers.
McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Nine – “Judgement Night”
April 4 - The Brighton Centre
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Robert Thornton
Wes Newton v Andy Hamilton
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Simon Whitlock
Latest League Table
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
+/- |
Pts |
|
|
Phil Taylor |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
+12 |
10 |
|
Michael van Gerwen |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
+12 |
10 |
|
James Wade |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
+9 |
10 |
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
+6 |
10 |
|
Robert Thornton |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
+5 |
9 |
|
Andy Hamilton |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
8 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
-7 |
7 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
8 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
-11 |
6 |
|
Wes Newton |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
-12 |
5 |
|
Gary Anderson |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
-14 |
5 |
Relegation Race
Adrian Lewis (7pts) - if Lewis wins or draws he is safe.
Simon Whitlock (6pts) - is safe with a win or if Newton & Anderson lose.
Wes Newton (5pts) - must draw or win to bring Whitlock into race.
Gary Anderson (5pts) - must draw or win to bring Whitlock into race.
Coral Match Odds
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
7/4 – Adrian Lewis
7/2 – Draw
EVS – Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Robert Thornton
1/2 – Phil Taylor
4/1 - Draw
7/2 – Robert Thornton
Wes Newton v Andy Hamilton
13/8 – Wes Newton
7/2 - Draw
11/10 – Andy Hamilton
Gary Anderson v James Wade
9/4 – Gary Anderson
4/1 - Draw
8/11 – James Wade
Michael van Gerwen v Simon Whitlock
1/2 – Michael van Gerwen
4/1 - Draw
7/2 –Simon Whitlock
All odds correct at 5pm on April 2 and courtesy of www.coral.co.uk.
Coral are the Official Betting Partner of the McCoy's Premier League Darts.