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Robert Thornton stunned Phil Taylor with a brilliant performance in Brighton, while James Wade and Michael van Gerwen moved joint top of the McCoy’s Premier League on Thursday evening.

Thornton moved into the play-off places at the expense of world number one Taylor as the Scotsman continued to impress on his debut season.

The reigning UK Open champion averaged well over 100 for the second week running as he claimed an impressive 7-4 success over ‘The Power’.

The victory moved ‘The Thorn’ onto eleven points and third in the table, as attention turns to the race for the play-offs after Wes Newton and Gary Anderson suffered relegation.

“I’m very proud of myself,” admitted Thornton, who has now won three of his last four televised matches against Taylor.

“Not just for tonight but for how I’ve taken to the Premier League so far.

“It was a huge relief to have not been in the relegation fight tonight so I just relaxed an enjoyed myself.”

Wade defeated Anderson in convincing fashion, with ‘The Machine’ hitting seven out of eight attempts at doubles en route to a 7-3 triumph.

“It is going really well this year,” said Wade, the 2009 winner.

“It wasn’t nice to knock Gary out of the tournament but I had a job to do and I did it.

“It puts me in a good position to reach the play-offs.

“I’ve set myself a target of winning two majors this year and hopefully this can be the first of those.”

van Gerwen joined Wade at the summit of the table with victory over Simon Whitlock, who survived relegation despite the defeat.

Raymond van Barneveld claimed a comfortable victory over Adrian Lewis to join van Gerwen and Wade on twelve points, while Andy Hamilton defeated Newton in the other match of the evening.

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

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Simon Whitlock faces a ‘Judgement Night’ showdown in Brighton as he and three other players battle to avoid being the first ever casualties of the new relegation format of the McCoy’s Premier League, which will see two players eliminated on Thursday night.

Whitlock, who has six points from the first eight weeks of action, faces Michael van Gerwen at the Brighton centre in the knowledge that victory will ensure his safety from the dreaded drop.

However, van Gerwen will prove a tough opponent as one of the players in a four way tie at the top of the table in the tightest ever staging of the tournament in it’s nine year history.

“I know it will be tough,” admitted Australian ace Whitlock.

“But every game has been tough for all of us. That is why it is so close.

“Whoever stays up will then have a great chance of going on to reach the play-offs.

“The good thing for me is that is in my own hands and I believe in myself. Hopefully, I have saved my best performance for when it really matters.”

Whitlock may avoid relegation before he faces ‘Mighty Mike’ if other results go his way.

James Wade takes on Gary Anderson and victory for ‘The Machine’ paired with defeat for Wes Newton against Andy Hamilton would see ‘The Wizard’ reach safety.

Wade, who is also on ten points after seeing off van Gerwen in Glasgow last week, is hoping continue his good form against 2011 winner Anderson, who is currently in the relegation zone.

“I want to keep playing well and winning games to reach the play-offs,” said 2009 champion Wade.

“It won’t be a nice thing to beat someone and relegate them but while it may be new in the Premier League it’s nothing new in darts.

“In most tournaments if you win, the other player goes out so I will just have that attitude against Gary.”

Raymond van Barneveld, another of the joint leaders, takes on Adrian Lewis and a victory for the Dutch legend would leave ‘Jackpot’ in danger of elimination and awaiting other results.

Robert Thornton takes on Phil Taylor in the only match that won’t affect the relegation battle.

The Scotsman reached safety with victory over Whitlock last week and is in a relaxed mood ahead of his tie against the world number one.

“Bring on Mr Taylor,” said Thornton, who defeated the 16-time World Champion twice on TV last year – including in the final of the UK Open.

“I know I can beat him and he knows he can beat me so it is all about how we perform on the night.

“I’m just glad to not be scrapping for survival and I can just concentrate on a game of darts.”

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Paul Nicholson was denied victory in a dramatic final of the European Darts Trophy in Sindelfingen as he was edged out by Wes Newton on Monday evening after a brilliant run.

‘The Asset’ scooped the £10,000 runners-up prize but two missed darts at doubles proved the difference between winning the tournament, with Newton taking a 6-5 victory in Germany.

Nevertheless, Nicholson, who was also runner-up at the Dutch Darts Masters last year, can take great pride from his performances over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, which included an impressive semi-final victory over the new world number two Michael van Gerwen.

‘The Asset’ began his campaign in the PDC’s second European Tour event of 2013 with a 6-5 defeat of Belgian ace Ronny Huybrechts on Saturday.

He then went on to see off Colin Lloyd by the same score-line on Sunday after launching an incredible comeback from 5-1 down to reach the last 16.

There the Australian star fought off the challenge of Yorkshireman Dean Winstanley, winning 6-4, before progressing past Mark Webster in the quarter-finals.

Nicholson, the 2010 Players Champion, produced a fantastic performance in the last four to claim a 6-2 triumph against van Gerwen but narrowly missed out on victory in the deciding leg in the final.

“I’m so glad that I came to Germany,” said Nicholson, who is appearing at the Allstars of Andover later this year.

He told the PDC’s official website: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride this weekend but I set myself a goal when I came here and I put myself within touching distance of that.

“I’m very proud of myself but I’m feeling gutted right now because I had a shot to win the tournament, but I feel that this can kick-start my year now.”

van Gerwen’s run to the semi-final help him leapfrog Adrian Lewis in the Order of Merit to a career high second place.

Webster also enjoyed a fine run of results as he defeated the likes of Andy Hamilton and Ian White before losing out to Nicholson.

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Carsten Arlt/PDC Europe

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