Betway Premier League Judgement Night

NEWTON SUFFERS ELIMINATION FROM BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS AS CHISNALL & THORNTON SURVIVE

WES NEWTON was knocked out of the Betway Premier League Darts on Thursday night as Dave Chisnall secured his own survival on Judgement Night with a 7-5 triumph at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena.

The pair went into the league's crucial ninth night bidding to avoid elimination alongside Simon Whitlock, but Newton was sent packing for a second successive year as he suffered a narrow defeat.

Chisnall made a superb start by winning the game's opening two legs, only for Newton to win the next four as he took command in moving 4-2 up - only to then miss three darts in each of the next two legs as his opponent levelled.

The next two were shared before a crucial break of throw put Chisnall 6-5 up and secured him the point which sealed his survival - before he hit double five to claim victory and knock out the Fleetwood ace.

"It was one of the toughest games I've ever played and we both felt the pressure, so I'm over the moon to have survived," said Chisnall, who is appearing in his first Premier League Darts season.

"We're great friends and I felt a bit for Wes, but when he went 4-2 up he let me back in. Once I got the sixth leg I knew I could relax and I got the last leg, and to get both points could be important for me now at the end of the season.

"I believe that I can get into the top four if I can hit my doubles because when I've been missing they've not been far away, and I feel really comfortable on the Premier League stage now."

Newton admitted: "It's very disappointing but I've got to take it on the chin, and I'll come back stronger from this.

"Dave came out firing and I had a bad start, but I got back into it and took control of the game at 4-2 up, and then had three darts to win each of the next two legs and all of a sudden it was four-all.

"There was a lot of pressure on that game for both of us and I've found it really tough this season. This is the elite of the game and it's a learning curve - you're up there week-in, week-out in front of massive crowds and hopefully it will make me a better player in the future.

"I'm so grateful to be given the chance to be in the Premier League and it's not worked out, but I'll go back to the drawing board and do my best in the TV events for the rest of the year."

Newton's defeat meant that Robert Thornton, who also entered Judgement Night on six league points but with better Leg Difference than his basement rivals, survived into the second phase of the campaign despite a defeat to Phil Taylor.

Thornton went down 7-4 as Taylor's revival continued with a dominant display, with the six-time Premier League champion moving up to fifth in the league table with a 102 average.

"The top four will start to get nervous now because I'm getting there," said Taylor. "I'm still not 100 percent but I've got to keep working on it and it's all coming together.

"I'm looking forward to the next few weeks and I'm enjoying it at the moment. It's set up nicely because at one point I didn't think I'd even get through Judgement Night, so I want to kick on from here."

Michael van Gerwen consolidated his status at the top of the table with a draw against Simon Whitlock, as the Australian bowed out of the tournament with arguably his best display of the season.

Whitlock took out finishes of 170 and 116 as he took a 6-2 lead, only for van Gerwen to follow up finishes of 100, 164 and 126 by hitting back to claim a point.

"I found it really difficult to get into the game, so I'm glad that I got the result at the end and that I'm still on top of the table," said van Gerwen. "You could see how good Simon is tonight because he hit some great finishes and played really well, and it was a tough match.

"My main target is to get into the Play-Offs and I'm doing really well, and I want to keep this going now. Finishing top would be great but it's all about winning the trophy in the Play-Offs too and that will be the aim."

Whitlock had already been assured of elimination going into Judgement Night, having lost his opening four games of the campaign.

"I think that was my best performance of the season and I wanted to finish the Premier League on a high," said the 2012 finalist. "I'm a bit disappointed not to win the game now, but I've got a chance to go and work on my game now.

"I'm working very hard with my new darts and feeling very confident right now, and I've just got to look forward to the rest of the year and be positive."

Peter Wright sits a point behind van Gerwen in the league table after he bounced back from last week's defeat to the Dutchman with a 7-5 win over Gary Anderson.

The game's opening ten legs all went with the throw before Anderson missed three crucial doubles in the 11th, allowing Wright to finish 71 to break and move 6-5 up before he landed double five to claim both points.

"It's always a hard game against Gary because he's a fantastic player and someone that I look up to, so I'm very happy to get the win against him," said Wright.

"The way the match was going, I knew it was going to be tough to break Gary because he was starting nearly every leg with 180 or 140, but it came down to one leg where I hit a 180 to put him under pressure and he missed those three darts at a double and gave me a shot at the 71.

"I want to keep the pressure on Michael in the league table and keep enjoying the Premier League because it's been a fantastic experience so far."

The night's other game saw Raymond van Barneveld draw for a fifth successive week, as he hit back from 4-1 down to share the points with Adrian Lewis as the pair maintained their status inside the top four.

"Maybe I was a little bit lucky but I'll take a draw tonight," said van Barneveld. "Adrian gave me a chance in the last leg and I took it.

"This was my 125th match in the Premier League and I think it was one of my worst performances, so I'm pleased to have come out with a draw because I didn't even think I played my B game.

"It's amazing to have five draws on the spin, and it's five points gained. I'm in the top four, but from now I have to turn these draws into wins."

The remaining eight players will now face each other one more over the next seven league nights, before the top four progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 22.

Sheffield's Motorpoint Arena will host the tenth league night next Thursday, with tickets still available through 0114 256 5656 or online at www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk.

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Betway Premier League Darts
Week Nine - Judgement Night
April 3, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Gary Anderson 5-7 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 6-6 Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis 6-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Wes Newton 5-7 Dave Chisnall
Phil Taylor 7-4 Robert Thornton

League Table

Match Information
Gary Anderson v Peter Wright
1-0 - Wright hits a 180, but misses four darts at doubles to win the opening leg as Anderson escapes from earlier misses to post double ten.
1-1 - A 177 from Wright is followed by a 180 from Anderson, before double three puts the colourful World Championship finalist level.
2-1 - Wright misses the bull for a 161 finish, and Anderson takes out 64 on tops to hold throw again.
2-2 - Double eight sees Wright level once again.
3-2 - Anderson lands another 180, and finishes 80 on tops to move back ahead.
3-3 - Wright finishes 40 to level once more, with a sixth successive leg going with the throw.
4-3 - Anderson opens with two 180s to set up the possibility of a nine-dart finish, and though he is unable to complete a perfect leg he returns to finish an 11-darter on double 12.
4-4 - Tops allows Wright to level once again.
5-4 - The pair trade 180s before Wright misses double 19 for a 118 finish to break, with Anderson returning from earlier misses to land double four.
5-5 - Double 16 sees Wright hit back to square the contest once more.
5-6 - Anderson misses two darts at tops and one at double ten, allowing Wright to follow up an earlier 180 by finishing 71 on tops to break and secure a point.
5-7 - Wright misses double ten to take out 140, but has enough cushion to return and land double five to claim the win.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Simon Whitlock
1-0 - van Gerwen opens the game with a 180, and finishes tops for a 100 finish to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Whitlock lands a 180 and double 19 as he levels.
1-2 - The Australian hits a second maximum of the contest before finishing 116 on tops for a break of throw.
1-3 - Double ten sees Whitlock move two legs clear.
2-3 - van Gerwen fires his challenge with a brilliant 164 checkout.
2-4 - Whitlock initially misses the bull but returns to pin double eight to regain his cushion.
2-5 - Whitlock kicks off with his fourth 180 of the game before taking out 64 on double eight to break throw again.
2-6 - Whitlock lands a sensational 170 finish to ensure he will claim at least a point.
3-6 - van Gerwen wins his third leg of the game with a third ton-plus finish as he takes out 126 on double six.
4-6 - Whitlock misses double top and ten for the win, and van Gerwen takes out 65 on tops to continue his fightback.
5-6 - The Dutchman sends the game into a deciding leg by pinning double top.
6-6 - van Gerwen claims a draw by finishing 70 on double nine.


Match Stats

Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - Lewis is first to a double in a scrappy opening leg, before double one sees him eventually draw first blood.
1-1 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 as he levels.
2-1 - Double eight sees Lewis edge back ahead.
3-1 - Lewis breaks throw with a 14-darter.
4-1 - The Stoke ace sets up tops with a 170 score as he lands another 14-dart finish.
4-2 - van Barneveld hits back on double 12.
4-3 - Double top sees van Barneveld break to reduce the gap to one leg.
4-4 - van Barneveld hits a 180 to leave 85, and finishes the combination on double eight.
5-4 - Tops sees Lewis move back ahead as he wins his first leg in four.
5-5 - Lewis misses four darts at double top, ten and five, and van Barneveld steps in to land double 16 to level.
6-5 - Lewis takes out 80 on tops to secure a point from the game.
6-6 - Lewis fires in his first 180 of the game, and when van Barneveld is unable to take out 110, the Stoke ace steps in - only to miss double top in double one, before also missing double 19 to claim the win as the Dutchman takes out 70 on double eight for his fifth draw in the past five weeks.

Raymond van Barneveld Video Interview


Match Stats

Wes Newton v Dave Chisnall
0-1 - Chisnall claims an early break of throw on double four.
0-2 - Chisnall's confident start continues as he posts double 18.
1-2 - Newton hits back by finishing 87 with a nerve-settling two darter to get off the mark.
2-2 - Newton breaks by finishing 90 on double 15 to level.
3-2 - The Fleetwood ace initially misses the bull to take out 124 before returning on double eight to move ahead.
4-2 - Newton wins a fourth successive leg, initially missing tops for a 151 finish before punishing a miss at double 16 from Chisnall by returning to land double ten.
4-3 - Chisnall lands a 180, and when Newton misses three darts at double 12, the St Helens man lands double eight to break back.
4-4 - Chisnall punishes three more misses from Newton by taking out double 12 to level.
5-4 - Chisnall opens with a 180 but misses the bull to finish 112, and Newton lands double two to move back ahead.
5-5 - Chisnall hits another 180 before double four sees him square the game again.
5-6 - Double top sees Chisnall break to secure a minimum of a draw - securing his Betway Premier League status.
5-7 - Chisnall is first to a finish as both players leave 40 - and the St Helens man lands double five with his third dart to knock Newton out of the tournament.
* Wes Newton is eliminated alongside Simon Whitlock.

Dave Chisnall Video Interview


Match Stats

Phil Taylor v Robert Thornton
1-0 - Taylor lands double eight to win the game's opening leg.
1-1 - Thornton finishes tops to level.
2-1 - Taylor takes out 68 on double four to move back in front.
3-1 - Taylor opens with a 180, and punishes three missed doubles from Thornton across two visits by landing double eight to break for the first time.
4-1 - Taylor finishes 108 to move three legs clear on double 16.
4-2 - Taylor misses the bull to win a fourth successive leg, and Thornton replies on tops.
5-2 - Taylor regains his three-leg leg lead.
5-3 - Taylor opens with a 180, but Thornton replies in kind as he hits back.
6-3 - Taylor lands a 180 and finishes tops to secure at least a point from the game.
6-4 - Taylor misses two match darts, and Thornton posts double 12 to stay in the game.
7-4 - Thornton hits a 180, but misses a dart at tops in double five before also missing double 15, and Taylor finishes 68 on double 16 to wrap up the points.


Match Stats