Premier League Darts 2016 Results: Scores, Standings, Schedule After Manchester
The stage is set for a tense end to the 2016 Premier League darts season after Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor remained level at the table's summit following Thursday's penultimate league round in Manchester.
Mighty Mike soared to a 7-2 win over Raymond van Barneveld, while the Power bounced back from last week's loss to Peter Wright by defeating Adrian Lewis 7-2 at the Manchester Arena.
There were also wins for Wright and Gary Anderson after they beat respective opponents James Wade and Robert Thornton, with the Flying Scotsman mathematically securing his place in the play-offs.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The campaign continues in Rotterdam next Thursday, where Taylor and Van Gerwen are scheduled to collide in a hotly anticipated clash of the titans. We provide a recap of the evening's results at the Manchester Arena, along with updated standings and a look to next week's schedule.
| James Wade | 1-7 | Peter Wright |
| Gary Anderson | 7-1 | Robert Thornton |
| Michael van Gerwen | 7-2 | Raymond van Barneveld |
| Peter Taylor | 7-2 | Adrian Lewis |
| 1 | Michael van Gerwen | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | +40 | 24 |
| 2 | Phil Taylor | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | +37 | 24 |
| 3 | Gary Anderson | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | +16 | 20 |
| 4 | Adrian Lewis | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | +5 | 17 |
| 5 | Peter Wright | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 16 |
| 6 | James Wade | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | -11 | 14 |
| 7 | Raymond van Barneveld | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 11 |
| 8 | Robert Thornton | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | -39 | 6 |
| 9 | Dave Chisnall | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -14 | 3 |
| 10 | Michael Smith | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -26 | 3 |
| 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | James Wade vs. Robert Thornton |
| 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Adrian Lewis vs. Gary Anderson |
| 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Phil Taylor vs. Michael van Gerwen |
| 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET | Peter Wright vs. Raymond van Barneveld |
Recap
Taylor met fellow Stoke-on-Trent native Lewis knowing that while his place in the play-offs might be safe, any show of weakness would be sniffed out like blood in the water for an onlooking Van Gerwen.
Jackpot's chances seemed hopeful, too, after he turned a one-leg deficit around to lead 2-1, but it was at this point Taylor found his stride, winning six in succession to notch an important win. Despite his strong start, Lewis was far off the pace in checkout percentage, as noted by 3 Dart Analyst:
Taylor's average of 103.72 was second to none other than Van Gerwen on Thursday evening, but even his Dutch rival couldn't better his tally of 16 100-plus darts.
Defeat means Lewis is in danger of missing out on the play-offs unless he can beat Anderson in Rotterdam next Thursday, with Wright just one point below heading into the final week of the normal campaign.
Van Gerwen's clash against Dutch compatriot Van Barneveld stood out as the tightest fixture of Thursday's lot, and it was the 2013 Premier League champion who prevailed thanks to a five-leg win spree to conclude the tie.
Barney landed an impressive five maximums compared to Van Gerwen's two, per the official PDC website, but he missed chances his opponent did not as PDC results detailed who held the superior average:
Van Gerwen might have also waltzed away from the clash with a superb nine-darter in the sixth leg, but the world No. 1 couldn't convert double 12 and just missed out on a most prestigious Premier League accolade.
Nevertheless, Van Gerwen launched his assault after the pair were level at two legs apiece, pulling away with five successive leg victories to end Van Barneveld's chances of a place in the play-offs.
Anderson fared better against Thornton, however, and took an almost opposite route to Van Gerwen, instead opening their encounter with a five-leg tirade that his foe couldn't come back from.
The two-time Premier League champion and reigning champion will have the chance to defend his title as a result of that 7-1 trouncing, and he told the PDC it was a relief to make it through:
The same couldn't be said for Wade, though, and his season will come to an end in Rotterdam next Thursday after dropping to a 7-1 defeat at Wright's hands, per Bet365:
The night opened so positively for the Machine after finishing 56 on tops to go one leg in front, but that would prove to be the extent of his winning ways after Wright thundered back without response.
Seven legs in succession meant Snakebite won the match with six maximums and an average of 99.15, and he now sits just one point below fourth-placed Lewis, hoping he can secure a play-off spot next week.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
