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Premier League Darts Stars Back in Belfast

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It all started in Belfast back at the beginning of February when thousands of darts fans packed into the Odyssey Arena to see the best arrow flingers in the world showcase their talent.

Now, three of the stars of the incredibly popular Premier League Darts are heading back to the city to treat fans to another night of superb sporting entertainment.

Table-topping Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld spearhead the brilliant line-up on show at the inaugural Belfast Masters, which takes place at The Devenish Entertainment and Leisure Complex next Friday (5 April), to take on some local hopefuls and fellow professionals.

They will be joined by Simon Whitlock following the much-hyped ‘Judgement Night’ which will see hundreds of thousands of viewers tune in to see which two stars will suffer the fate of relegation from the Thursday night tournament.

Over a thousand fans are set to flock to the Devenish to see their darting heroes in more intimate surroundings, with VIP ticket holders getting the exclusive chance to meet the players.

Northern Ireland’s very own History Maker Brendan Dolan will also compete in the biggest darts show Belfast has ever seen aside from the Premier League itself.

Four local men have earned the right to share the stage with the darting elite. Gary Elliot, Dave McCusker and two players with the same name, John Elder, will take on the professionals in the main event, an eight-man knockout tournament.

The night will also see two challenge matches, including one between Northern Ireland Darts legends Geoff Wylie and John Magowan to warm up the crowd.

And van Gerwen, the leader of the Premier League, can’t wait to get back to Belfast.

“I’m really looking forward to going back for this event with a chance to meet the fans,” said ‘Mighty Mike’.

“I made me Premier League debut in Belfast and the crowd were really great to me so it will be great to be back.

“It will be a night of great darts, which we will all want to win but we will have a lot of fun too.

“Fans should snap up the remaining tickets as they won’t be disappointed.”

A range of ticket options are available and can be purchased directly from The Devenish (02890 301154) or via the event’s promoters MODUS Sports Management online at www.dartshop.tv or by calling the box office 08450 180 180.

A limited number of tickets will be made available on the door on the night of the event.

Darts will be back at the Devenish just a fortnight later when professional player Chris Mason takes to the stage for a charity night in support of Cedar Foundation on Saturday 20 April.

McCoy’s Premier League Darts: Night Seven Round-Up

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Michael van Gerwen charged to the top of the McCoy’s Premier League with a fantastic victory in Cardiff, where James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld shared a draw on Thursday evening.

van Gerwen produced a sensational display to take a 7-1 triumph against Gary Anderson, with the Dutch ace hitting consecutive checkouts of 121, 120 and 164 along the way.

The 23-year-old’s fourth win of the season, in which he averaged over 107, sent him to the summit of the table and clear of any relegation danger with ‘Judgement Night’ looming in two weeks.

“I played really well and I’m very happy with this,” van Gerwen told www.pdc.tv

“My finishing at the beginning of the game was very good with those three ton-plus finishes but I was playing so well that I didn’t give Gary any chances.

“I’m very confident at the moment and I feel like I could play every day! I can’t be relegated any more and I want to keep my place at the top of the table.”
Wade produced fine finishes of 118 and 124 to share a draw with van Barneveld, who hit five 180s and is now second in the table.
‘The Machine’ remains inside the top four.
There was disappointment for Robert Thornton and Simon Whitlock, however, as they were edged out by Adrian Lewis and Andy Hamilton respectively.
Phil Taylor defeated Wes Newton in the evening’s other match.
By Chris Murphy
P W D L +/- Pts
Michael van Gerwen 7 4 2 1 +15 10
Raymond van Barneveld 7 4 2 1 +10 10
Phil Taylor 7 3 2 2 +8 8
James Wade 7 3 2 2 +6 8
Andy Hamilton 7 4 0 3 +3 8
Robert Thornton 7 2 3 2 -1 7
Simon Whitlock 7 3 0 4 -5 6
Adrian Lewis 7 2 1 4 -10 5
Gary Anderson 7 2 1 4 -12 5
Wes Newton 7 1 1 5 -14 3

Thornton and van Gerwen Shine in Wigan

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Michael van Gerwen and Robert Thornton both won UK Open qualifiers on a wonderful weekend for the Premier League pair in Wigan.

van Gerwen added Saturday’s title to the two he had previously won last month, before Thornton stopped his rampant run on Sunday and took the honours himself.

‘Mighty Mike’ saw off Michael Smith in Saturday’s final to clinch the £6,000 first prize after he had narrowly missed double twelve to nail a nine-dart-finish in an earlier round.

“It’s always nice to win a tournament like this and I’m delighted,” van Gerwen told PDC.tv

“I know I’m playing well and I’ve shown everyone again today.

“I was strong from the beginning but I played a lot of good players, like Simon Whitlock, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright. I’m full of confidence and I’m taking that into my games at the moment.”

The Dutch sensation looked set to continue is incredible run of success on the Pro Tour, having won UK Open qualifiers 1, 2 & 3 in addition to the final Players Championship event in 2012, before he ran into the brilliant Thornton in Sunday’s semi-finals.

Thornton, the reigning Speedy Services UK Open champion, claimed a 6-3 victory, before triumphing 6-4 against Jamie Caven in the final.

“I’m chuffed to bits to get the win,” said Thornton, who will be appearing alongside van Gerwen in the Portsmouth International Masters in June.

“It’s about time Michael let somebody else win!

“In all seriousness though it’s so tough now.

“The standard is incredible and it’s a proud day when you win one of these.

“It’s harder than winning your Premier League match on a Thursday night and in an odd way, playing in that tournament has prepared me for this!”

Both players will turn their attentions to night seven of the McCoy’s Premier League in Cardiff, where they are in action on Thursday.

There was also a strong showing from Paul Nicholson in both of the weekend’s events, with ‘The Asset’ reaching the quarter-finals on both days.

By Chris Murphy

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC


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