Premier League Darts 2015 Results: Scores, Standings and Analysis from Newcastle
Phil Taylor will not feature in the playoffs of the Premier League Darts for the first time in the tournament’s history after Gary Anderson beat him in Newcastle.
In a repeat of the previous World Championship final, Anderson picked up an 8-6 win over The Power, condemning him to sixth place in the overall standings. Sky Sports Darts confirmed Taylor’s elimination:
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Taylor’s defeat means the final four will be Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall and Raymond van Barneveld.
Here’s a closer examination of the action from the north-east and a look at the standings following the night's four matches, per PDC Darts:
Power Sent Packing
In truth, even had Taylor picked up a win here over Anderson, he still would have faced a massive uphill struggle to qualify for the semi-finals. Throughout this tournament his accuracy just hasn’t been there, and at the age of 54, there will be plenty asking whether the 16-time world champion can continue playing this kind of intensive format.
Reigning world champion Anderson had plenty of words for encouragement in the aftermath of this match, however: “For me, Phil Taylor is the top darts player in the world, always has been,” said the Scot, per Sky Sports. “But like I say, he'll be back.”
As we can see here courtesy of PDC Darts, Anderson just about had the edge over Taylor in terms of general play:
It wasn’t defeat here that cost The Power, though. His form simply hasn’t been good enough in the previous games leading up to this do-or-die encounter, and although he relishes the big occasion, there was too much pressure on him here.
But writing off a man of his proven calibre would be especially naive. If anything, this shock will prompt Taylor to spend more time on the practice board, and it would be no surprise to see the star from Stoke-on-Trent back at his very best in major tournaments later this year.
Chisnall Closes Gap at the Top
Adrian Lewis produced a stunning performance in his match with Van Gerwen, beating the table-topping Dutchman 7-5 in a thrilling encounter. Mighty Mike seemed to have this one wrapped up when he had a two-point lead at 5-3, but the man known as Jackpot rattled off four legs in succession to take the victory.
Craig Overton of Somerset CCC paid tribute to Lewis’ fight back on his Twitter feed:
It was a result which means the gap at the top of the table stands at just one point, as Chisnall picked up a dominant 7-1 victory over Stephen Bunting earlier in the night.
The man from St. Helens has been absolutely sensational throughout this campaign, showcasing nerves of steel on the big stage. After playing in this tournament last season and toiling, now Chisnall looks at ease before the bright lights of the Premier League and will fancy his chances of snatching the top spot in the final round.
As we can hear courtesy of the Dave Chisnall Fans Twitter account, the man known as Chizzy is delighted with how things are going:
Incredibly, Chisnall and Van Gerwen will meet in the final week. Granted, the trophy will not be awarded to whichever man finishes top of the table, but given that a showdown between these two could be a potential final on playoffs night at the O2 Arena, it will be a brilliant opportunity for either man to seize some vital momentum.
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