Betway Premier League Aberdeen Preview

Michael van Gerwen - Betway Premier League (PDC)

THE battles for the final Betway Premier League Play-Off place and the League Winners' Bonus will both conclude as the league season ends at the GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Following over three months of competition across the UK, Ireland and Netherlands, the final league night sees four key matches taking place in Aberdeen.

Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright are still competing for the £25,000 League Winner's Bonus, while Phil Taylor and Dave Chisnall are in contention for the final Play-Off place.

The night opens as Chisnall meets James Wade, with the world number five needing a big victory over the 2009 Premier League champion if he is to put the pressure on Taylor.

Chisnall is now unbeaten in his past six matches after making a late Play-Off charge, but admits: "I'm relying on other results but I'm still in with a chance and it should be exciting.

"It's been good in recent weeks and I've been feeling great. I've been playing well for a while now so we'll see what happens this week and hopefully I can play well again.

"James is a top quality player, one of the best finishers in the game and I can't give him a chance. I've given people some chances recently and they've take it and I can't afford to do that with James."

A heavy win for Chisnall would then put the pressure on Taylor as the six-time Premier League champion bids to mark his farewell season before retirement with a Play-Off appearance.

"I'm in a good position but I've still got to perform," said Taylor, who overcame Van Gerwen last week in Sheffield. "I'm trying to get to The O2 and if I get there then it will be fantastic to be involved.

"I'm not banking on anything because Adrian could come out and put in a massive performance - there's no pressure on him now that he can't qualify."

Second-placed Peter Wright then takes on Raymond van Barneveld - with the in-form Scot entering the final league night on a high after whitewashing Van Gerwen on Sunday on his way to a third European Tour title of 2017.

Wright sits a point behind Van Gerwen in his bid to top the league table, and having secured a top-four finish for the first time is now bidding to make history as only the third player to top the regular season's standings.

"I'm feeling really good," said Wright. "It's nice not to have the pressure on, having qualified with two weeks to go, but I still want to finish top - Michael's the best player in the game at the moment but I'm trying to push him.

"I need to beat Barney to try and get that top spot and I'm looking at the two points.

"Playing Barney in Scotland will be huge because the crowd treat him like one of their own. It should be a fantastic match with loads of noise from the crowd and singing because Aberdeen's a great crowd so I'm looking forward to it."

Van Gerwen, meanwhile, knows that a win in his clash with third-placed Gary Anderson will ensure that he tops the league table for a fifth straight year.

The reigning Premier League champion hit a world record TV average of 123.40 in last year's visit to Aberdeen against Michael Smith, and is aiming to reproduce that form in a repeat of January's World Championship final.

"Last year was fantastic in Aberdeen and it's a great memory for me, but I have to focus on this week's game because Gary's in good form," said Van Gerwen.

"He's won his last couple of matches so I know I've got to prepare myself. My aim was to finish top and it's still in my hands, so I'll do everything I can to achieve it this week."

Two-time Premier League champion Anderson, meanwhile, is eagerly anticipating the return to his native Scotland as he bids to enter the Play-Offs with a third successive win.

"I've got wins when I've needed to in the last two weeks and it's all about getting into the top four, but it will be really good to play Michael," said Anderson.

"If I turn up, Michael knows what game he's going to get, and it's the same the other way around too.

"He's in my country now and I'm looking forward to it. I played Barney in Holland this year and it was great to see the support behind him, and hopefully it will be the same for me too this week.

"We don't get too many events in Scotland so it's always good to get back up there because the crowds are brilliant."

Thursday's Betway Premier League night will be held at the GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen, and televised live on Sky Sports from 7pm.

UPDATE: May 10 - A small number of tickets have become available and can be purchased by calling 08444 77 9000 or online via www.ticketmaster.co.uk/AECC

Click here to see the Betway Premier League Play-Offs Permutations

Betway Premier League
Night 15 - Thursday May 11 - GE Oil & Gas Arena, Aberdeen

Dave Chisnall v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Peter Wright v Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
Tickets: Sold Out

Betway Odds
Tournament Winner – After Night 14

1/2 Michael van Gerwen
4/1 Peter Wright
11/2 Gary Anderson
10/1 Phil Taylor
80/1 Dave Chisnall

Night 15 Match Odds
4/5 Dave Chisnall
7/2 Draw
5/2 James Wade

4/5 Phil Taylor
7/2 Draw
5/2 Adrian Lewis

4/5 Peter Wright
7/3 Draw
5/2 Raymond van Barneveld

4/5 Michael van Gerwen
7/2 Draw
3/1 Phil Taylor

Odds correct at time of writing and courtesy of www.betway.com. Odds subject to fluctuation.