2018 Premier League

[BlueSpark]

Hoping MvG takes the trophy back to Antwerp tonight.

[Ginge]

Combo breaker

Both players to get 4+ 180's in each match (including final) is 5/1 with Skybet, last year it fell one short (wright got 3 in the semi), so worth another go. Depends if Cross is alright , I guess.

Booooooooommmm!

[Robson]

Ginge is a lively fella - Im taken though bud - Married to my dear lady for 20 years - Happy shooting elsewhere bud - The Green Machine is already home -

Robson

[Mgt]

Mvg seems to mean business tonight.

[Ginge]

Ginge is a lively fella - Im taken though bud - Married to my dear lady for 20 years - Happy shooting elsewhere bud - The Green Machine is already home -

Robson

He is already home?

Where would that be then? Munich?

[Robson]

Ginge is a lively fella - Im taken though bud - Married to my dear lady for 20 years - Happy shooting elsewhere bud - The Green Machine is already home -

Robson

He is already home?

Where would that be then? Munich?

You could argue with your own shadow Mr Ginge - Im turning in for the night - Have a late cold one on me bud

Robson

[Mgt]

112.37 in a final over 15 legs and you still feel it could have been a lot better. Discouraging seems to be the word.

[Ginge]

"Michael Smith is from Leeds"

[BlueSpark]

2 correct scores (including the final) and the winner of the other.
Must have pissed the comp this week surely.

[Ginge]

2 correct scores (including the final) and the winner of the other.
Must have pissed the comp this week surely.

I'll have a look mate when I get back home to Inverness tomorrow.

[Black Velvet]

Michael Smith is from Leeds

FTFY

[ssjsa]

Is ssjsa okay?

comms : the appreciate beats the master!

Battle of the Michaels in the final.

Seems like ando a bit off form?

Absolutely fine Devo. Have been watching on Sky+ as didn't finish work until 8pm, but now caught up.

MVG was magnificent in that final, and overall a decent night for Bullyboy who trousers 125k.

Gary was off his game tonight, and in all fairness got exactly what he deserved.

[devosteve]

I think comms said that Smith has won 130 grand in total from all his world championship appearances.tonight he wins 120.

Biggest game of his career.

[ssjsa]

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN retained his Betway Premier League title with a stunning 11-4 win over Michael Smith.

The Dutchman produced a stunning 112.37 average, the highest in this year’s tournament, to win the Premier League crown for a third year in a row.

Van Gerwen beat Rob Cross 10-6 in his semi-final earlier in the evening to reach a sixth consecutive final, before clinching the £250,000 first prize - plus a £25,000 league leader's bonus after topping the regular season's league table for a sixth straight year.

“I think I played a phenomenal game,” said Van Gerwen, who hit seven 180s in the final.

“I know I had a big job to do to win the game but I was focussed on doing something extra – I wanted to break the record average but I fell just short.

“There was a lot of pressure on me to perform but I think I coped with it well and ran out a deserved winner.

“I had to be at my best to beat Michael, he is one of the big boys now.

“It means a lot to me to win this tournament, I had to work hard for this over the last 16 weeks and to win it again is amazing.”

Van Gerwen was clinical on the doubles, hitting 11 from 16 attempts, and was on course to average 118 going into the final break.

Meanwhile, Smith battled hard to keep himself in the tie, producing stunning finishes of 125 and 104, along with six maximums.

“I want to thank the fans and everyone who supported me,” said Smith, who was making his debut Play-Offs appearance.

“Michael was just too good tonight, I tried my best but it just wasn’t enough on the night.

“Even at 8-2 down I was battling to win legs, which I might not have done before this year when I might’ve thrown the towel in.

“I will be back next year, determined to go one better and lift the title.”

Van Gerwen plays World Champion Rob Cross in the openig semi-final, before former World Youth Champion Michael Smith takes on two-time Premier League winner Gary Anderson.

Van Gerwen became the first man through to the final with a comfortable 10-6 win over Cross.

The three-time Premier League champion fired in nine 180s as he threw an impressive 103.65 average to win through to his sixth consecutive Premier League final.

The Dutch ace kicked off the night with a 180 in his opening visit as he hit a 12-dart leg to take a 1-0 lead, then both players exchanged holds of throw to make it 2-1.

Van Gerwen went into cruise control over the next three legs to move into a 5-1 lead, averaging 111 in the process, before Cross have himself a lifeline with a first break of the Dutchman’s throw in the match to reduce the deficit to 5-2.

It didn’t turn out to be the turning point that Cross was hoping for as Van Gerwen broke straight back to restore his four leg lead by pinning double ten.

Relentless Van Gerwen hit his second 11-dart leg of the game, taking out 96 on double 18 to extend his lead to 7-2.

Cross held throw to go into the break 7-3 down, and showed he hadn’t given up yet as he broke the Van Gerwen throw on double 16 to reduce the arrears to 7-4.

The world number one went within a leg of victory by taking out out 128 for a 9-4 lead, before Cross held and then broke the Van Gerwen throw with a superb 118 checkout.

The Dutch World Cup star stemmed the tide as he broke the Cross throw with a 15-dart leg to seal his place in the final and end the reigning World Champion’s hopes of glory at The O2.

“I feel like I might’ve tried a bit too hard early on in the match,” said Cross, who was playing in just his fourth televised semi-final.

“My first dart wasn’t going right all night, which let Michael run riot and do what he does best.

“The Premier League has been a massive learning curve for me and I’m confident that I will do even better in the tournament next year if I’m selected.

“This is still just the beginning for me, I’ve got so much more to give and I know that I will be back playing my best darts in the near future.”

Smith claimed the biggest win of his career with an impressive 10-6 triumph over his close friend and mentor Anderson to reach his first senior televised PDC final.

On his debut Play-Offs appearance Smith smashed in eight maximums and two ton-plus checkouts to book his place in the final with Van Gerwen.

The St Helens star settled from the start, hitting a 100 finish to hold in the first leg, then doubling his advantage with another 15-dart leg to break the Anderson throw.

The Scot broke straight back to halve the deficit, and then hit back-to-back maximums but missed chances to hold and the Englishman punished to lead 3-1.

Anderson clawed his way back into the game, finding tops to break the Smith throw and trail 4-3, before finding tops again to level at 4-4.

Smith edged closer to one of the biggest wins of his career, reeling off the next three legs to take a commanding lead, including a 120 checkout in leg 11.

Anderson held to close the gap to two and trail 8-6, before the former Youth World Champion went one leg from glory with a 12-dart leg.

An emotional Smith found tops to wrap up the win and set up a final clash with Van Gerwen, ending Anderson’s hopes of a third Premier League crown in the process.

“Michael played a good game tonight and he deserved to win,” admitted Anderson, who qualified for The O2 for a fifth successive year.

“The way I’ve played this year it was a bonus for me to reach the semi-finals.

“I’ve had some good games and some bad games, but overall I think I did alright in this year’s Premier League.”

The Unibet Premier League will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from 7pm on Thursday, and aired worldwide through the PDC's international broadcast partners and for PDCTV-HD Subscribers outside of the UK, Ireland & Netherlands.

In addition, the Unibet Premier League will feature radio commentary throughout the season on talkSPORT and talkSPORT2. For further details of coverage, please visit www.talksport.co.uk.

Unibet Premier League Play-Offs
Thursday May 17 (7pm)
The O2, London
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Rob Cross
Michael Smith 10-6 Gary Anderson
Best of 19 legs

Final
Van Gerwen 11-4 Smith
Best of 21 legs

[ssjsa]

Unibet Premier League Play-Offs
Thursday May 17 (7pm)
The O2, London
Semi-Finals

Michael van Gerwen (103.65) 10 (19) 6 (96.04) Rob Cross
Michael Smith (97.49) 10 (19) 6 (95.35) Gary Anderson

Final
Michael van Gerwen (112.37) 11 (21) 4 (97.01) Michael Smith

[ssjsa]

Stats from tonight's matches, courtesy of TheRedbit180.

[DavidB]

So MvG won did he, now that’s a surprise...

[ssjsa]

2 correct scores (including the final) and the winner of the other.
Must have pissed the comp this week surely.

Well done Sparky.

Think you may be right.

Also think DutchFrank has overtaken me in the overall competition tonight, but will have to wait until Ginge does the official tables tomorrow.

MVG going for bull first on the 107 checkout in the penultimate leg against Cross may well have been the difference.

[ssjsa]

Data from TheRedBit180 showing MVG took his foot off the gas.

First 10 legs:

Average: 122.24
First 9: 130.37
Doubles: 72.73%

5 Legs after the TV break:

Average: 96.49
First 9: 102.13
Doubles: 60.00%

[ssjsa]

Not bad tonight.