Darts

STAND UP IF YOU LOVE THE DARTS

This season of the Betway Premier league has been tremendous, which makes me question WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN YET. This season has brought on the expected and the unexpected, we have had the rampant Michael Van Gerwen storm to the top of the table.EXPECTED. We have seen an almighty scrap for that lucrative fourth spot. EXPECTED. Phil Taylor battling to get into the top 4.UNEXPECTED. That's right you heard me Phil Taylor might not finish in the top 4. 

What has happened so far? 

Week 9 of the premier league in darts was judgement night in Manchester which saw Peter "the snakebite" Wright and the hurricane Kim Huybrects failing to reach the next stage of the premier league. Raymond Van Barneveld (the reigning champion) barely scrapped through past judgement night as inconsistent performances almost cost him. The top 4 had the usual suspects sniffing around , Michael Van Gerwen was storming ahead, world champion Gary Anderson was going strong in 3rd place and Dave Chisnall was taking the top 4 by the scruff of it's neck and James Wade was grinding out performances to maintain his top 4 status. Stephen Bunting maintained his premier league status as his debut year in the PDC is all about proving that he belongs here. Two time world champion Adrian Lewis survived on the final night. 

Fast forward to week 14 and things have changed dramatically, we have seen Raymond Van Barneveld go on a 5 match unbeaten run to battle his way into the top 4. James Wade has blown his chances of a top 4 after developing a poor run over the last few weeks , MVG has confirmed his place for the semi-finals and so has Dave Chisnall, where as Van Barneveld and Anderson are almost across the finish line and Taylor looks as if he is going to miss out on that final spot in the O2. 

Player Ratings 

Michael Van Gerwen: Van Gerwen has dominated this league (as he did last year) from start to finish and although he has lost twice, he will still go into the O2 with some considerable style. Averaging 105+ every match Van Gerwen has set the standard for everyone to follow. Rating 9.5/10. All we need is a 9 Darter 

Dave Chisnall: Chizzy has been fantastic , he is finally showing everyone what great dart skills he has. Dave always had it in him but it only came in flashes of brilliance not sustained performances and now after booking his place in London, he is becoming one of the best in the world. Rating 9/10 

Gary Anderson: Oh Gary,Gary you are now known as one of the best in the world following your World Championship win. To be honest, he has carried that form over to the premier league and although he has had some scares (namely avoiding a hometown loss against James Wade) he looks a sure bet for the semi-finals. Rating 8.5/10 

Raymond Van Barneveld: It is a privilege to watch "Barney" play darts, it really is. Rewind to week 9, he was in the bottom two needing a win to assure his safety and avoid relegation and now the Dutch master has the semi finals in his sight with only two victories away from the Semi-finals. Rating 8/10 

Phil Taylor: I feel sorry for Taylor at this point, he averaged 115+ against "Barney" and still lost the match and now it looks as if the "Power" might miss out on the big one in London in 3 weeks. Although you can't rule out Phil Taylor, I think that this year the semi finals of the premier league will not have the power in it. Rating 8.5/10 

Adrian Lewis: Whenever I watch Adrian Lewis, I don't know what is going to happen. I say this because Lewis has a natural talent that one in a generation can possess, yet sometimes you do not see that. Adrian still has a chance to make it to the semis but will have to rely on results elsewhere as well as winning his last two games, also he has an eleven leg score swing to overcome as well. Rating 7/10 

Stephen Bunting: I am a big fan of Bunting, his transition from the BDO to the PDC (whilst resembling Peter Griffin) has been great. Finishing in the quarter finals in the World Championships and avoiding relegation on Judgement night, Stephen has solidified himself as a real player in the darts world. Onwards and upwards for the bullet. 7.5/10 

James Wade: So I am doing the player ratings based on the Premier league table (as you can tell), here we go on to James Wade. Wade is a top player no question but I still don't know how he has dropped down the table so quickly. When he played MVG he was destroyed but then instead of coming back rejuvenated he let that loss say to him "what's the point?"  Rating 7/10 

  

Note: This was written for last seasons premier league