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Five of the world’s leading darters are preparing to go ‘topless’ for a major tournament – after agreeing to swap their trademark shirts for paint!

To celebrate its involvement in the fast-growing sport, Leyland Paints has created a Professional Darts Colour Card taking inspiration from the shirt colours of world number three, four and five players Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Simon Whitlock, as well as Robert Thornton and Mark Webster.

That has prompted the quintet of oche favourites to agree to take to the stage at the UK Open at Bolton in June without their shirts, and instead cover their entire upper body in Leyland Paint, sprayed in their respective darts shirt colour.

“There are going to be some interesting sights with the five of us covered in sprayed on Leyland paint but it will be great fun,” said 44-year-old Australian Whitlock.

“I think my throwing arm will be freed up by replacing the shirt with spray paint so I’m convinced that all five of us will have a great tournament.”

The Colours of the Darts Scene card includes van Gerwen Green, named after the rising Dutch star, and Wizard Yellow for Whitlock.

Wade and Thornton will be represented by Machine Black and Thorny Blue, while former BDO world champion Webster – who is nicknamed Webby – will be sprayed in Red Back Spider for the UK Open.

Flight White and Oche Matt complete the card, which is called ‘Colours of the Darts Scene’.

“The inspiration for the colours came from the darter’s shirts and are all colours from the Leyland Trade colour range,” said Vicky Jones, stockist brand manager for Leyland Paints.

“We have given the colours special darts names for the occasion. After all, colour is highly emotive and these Colours of the Darts Scene certainly get the players in the mood for winning. You too could win with Leyland!”

*Please note – the above story was for the purposes of an April Fools joke… thankfully!

James Wade and Robert Thornton sealed impressive victories on night eight of the McCoy’s Premier League in Glasgow on Thursday evening.

Wade defeated Michael van Gerwen with another display of ruthless finishing to put himself on ten points alongside his Dutch opponent, Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor in the play-off places.

‘The Machine’ took out finishes of 135, 134 and 130 to seal the win.

“This game is all about finishing and that’s been my strength again,” said Wade, who takes on relegation-threatened Gary Anderson in Brighton next week.

“Everyone knows the form that Michael has been in but mine has been picking up and nobody scares me.

“I’m putting the work in this year and it’s showing in my performances.”

Thornton assured he would not be involved in the ‘Judgement Night’ relegation scrap as he produced an excellent display in defeating Simon Whitlock.

‘The Thorn’ moved onto nine points after averaging over 107 to delight his home crowd, while ‘Barney’ was beaten by Taylor.

The night’s results mean Whitlock may have to get a result against van Gerwen if he is to avoid relegation in Brighton next week.

By Chris Murphy

Get tickets to see Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld, Simon Whitlock and Brendan Dolan in action at the BELFAST MASTERS on Friday April 5 – visit www.dartshop.tv or call 08450 180 180

Raymond van Barneveld will reignite his rivalry with world number one Phil Taylor in Glasgow, where James Wade and Michael and van Gerwen will meet on Thursday evening.

‘Barney’ will meet the ‘The Power’ for the first time since their high profile World Championship semi-final clash at Alexandra Palace.

But the Dutchman, who is one of two players already safe from the threat of relegation, says the pair have left that affair in the past.

“We’ve solved what happened at the World Championship and we’re still friends,” van Barneveld told www.pdc.tv

“We’ll forget all about that game this week and I have to because it’s a big game.

“In all these years in the Premier League I’ve never beaten him and only got one draw, so it would be a dream to beat him. I know I can do it but I’ll have to lift my game from last week when I drew with James Wade.

“This is a shorter format than the World Championship, the best of 12 legs, so I know I have to start well. I didn’t play my game in the first four or five sets the last time we played and I’m not sure why.

“Perhaps it was because he is Phil Taylor, but I played so many great matches in the World Championship up to that point and against him I didn’t turn up.

“When I did turn up I was 5-1 down and it was a tough battle because from that far behind against Phil Taylor you’re never going to beat him.”

Wade will do battle with the other player who can’t be relegated in van Gerwen – in another repeat of the World Championship semi-finals.

Simon Whitlock and Robert Thornton will both be looking to add to their points tally and move closer to safety when they go head to head, with ‘The Thorn’ enjoying home advantage.

Gary Anderson meets Wes Newton while Adrian Lewis and Andy Hamilton do battle in the evening’s other matches.

The ten Premier League players will then become eight when they head to Brighton for the final week of action before relegation in what is being billed as ‘Judgement Night’.

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC