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THE McCoy’s Premier League Darts will feature TEN players in 2013 under a new format which was announced on Wednesday evening, with Michael van Gerwen, Wes Newton and Robert Thornton to make their debuts in the tournament.
A radical change will see the field expanded from eight players to feature ten stars this year as they compete across 15 nights in the UK and Ireland’s biggest arenas.
The ten players will face each other once over the opening nine weeks of the tournament, over the best of 12 legs, before the bottom two players in the league table are relegated following the ninth league night in Brighton.
The remaining eight players will then face each other again over the remaining five league nights before the top four progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 16.
Reigning McCoy’s Premier League Darts champion Phil Taylor – who won the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Tuesday – will head the field of ten players, alongside 2009 winner James Wade and 2011 champion Gary Anderson.
They are joined by established Premier League stars Adrian Lewis, Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld, while Andy Hamilton retains his place in the tournament following an impressive debut season in 2012.
World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen, who has risen to fourth in the PDC Order of Merit following his run to the World Championship final, will make his McCoy’s Premier League Darts debut this season alongside two other new faces, Wes Newton and Robert Thornton.
Newton’s status amongst the world’s elite was confirmed when he reached September’s European Championship final, while Scottish star Thornton claimed the UK Open title in June with a thrilling victory over Taylor in Bolton.
“This new format for the McCoy’s Premier League Darts is going to take the tournament to a whole new level,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
“Fans across the UK and Ireland will experience five spectacular matches on each night, and all ten players have earned their spots with their achievements over the last 12 months.
“This new format will mean incredible competition both to avoid relegation and then for Play-Off places before the ninth McCoy’s Premier League champion is crowned at The O2 in May.”
The McCoy’s Premier League Darts, screened live on Sky Sports HD, will begin on Thursday February 7 at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast before travelling to Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Exeter, Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and Brighton for the first phase of the event.
The final five league nights will be held in Sheffield, Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle before the top four players progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on May 16.
Images courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
Michael van Gerwen will face Phil Taylor in the final of the Ladbrokes World Championship on New Years Day, after the pair both won hard fought semi-finals on Sunday evening.
Michael van Gerwen 6 – 4 James Wade – Match Report
By Chris Murphy
James Wade and Michael van Gerwen will go head to head in the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes World Championship after the pair both came out on top in thrilling battles on Saturday evening.
World number three Wade produced a fine display of clinical finishing to see off Wez Newton 5-4, while van Gerwen defeated defending champion Adrian Lewis by the same scoreline in an all-time classic at London’s Alexandra Palace.
Raymond van Barnveld will face Phil Taylor in the last four, after ‘Barney’ claimed an impressive victory against Simon Whitlock on Friday.
The semi-finals take place on Sunday evening, with the victors contesting the final for the £200,000 first prize and new Sid Waddell trophy on New Years Day.
Full match reports are available to read on each of the players’ official UK websites (see links below).
James Wade 5 – 4 Wez Newton – Match report
Michael van Gerwen 5 – 4 Adrian Lewis – Match report
Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 1 Simon Whitlock – Match report
By Chris Murphy
Simon Whitlock came out on top in a thrilling last 16 match against Dave Chisnall, while James Wade, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld all won through to the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes World Championship on Thursday.
Whitlock defeated Chisnall in a dramatic tie break, with ‘The Wizard’ producing a spectacular 152 finish to save the match when it looked like his opponent was about to seal victory.
The Australian will meet Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight on Friday evening after ‘Barney’ stormed past Gary Anderson 4 – 0.
James Wade beat Vincent van der Voort by the same scoreline and will face Wez Newton on Saturday, when van Gerwen will take on reigning World Champion Adrian Lewis after defeating Colin Lloyd 4-1.
Simon Whitlock 4 – 3 Dave Chisnall – Match report
James Wade 4 – 0 Vincent van der Voort – Match report
Michael van Gerwen 4 – 1 Colin Lloyd – Match report
Raymond van Barneveld 4 – 0 Gary Anderson – Match report
By Chris Murphy
Images courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Vincent van der Voort all won through to the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Championship with victories on Sunday.
van Gerwen stormed past Peter Wright, fighting back from two sets down to claim a 4-2 triumph at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The Dutch ace averaged over 102 and hit twelve 180s in a brilliant performance that saw him win twelve out of the last 14 legs.
‘Mighty Mike’ will take on Colin Lloyd for a place in the quarter-finals when the action resumes after Christmas.
Wade will meet van der Voort in round three after both players claimed 4-2 wins.
‘The Machine’ defeated Steve Beaton thanks to some clinical finishing, while ‘The Dutch Destroyer’ came out on top in a fantastic match against Dean Winstanley, who sensationally hit a nine-dart finish.
Michael van Gerwen 4 – 2 Peter Wright – Match report
Vincent van der Voort 4 – 2 Dean Winstanley
Robert Thornton was denied a place in the quarter-finals by world number one Phil Taylor.
The remaining third round ties will be played on Thursday 27 December, with Simon Whitlock and Raymond Barneveld also bidding for last eight spots.
By Chris Murphy
Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld both won through to the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Championship with comfortable victories at London’s Alexandra Palace on Saturday.
Whitlock whitewashed Colin Osborne, hitting a stunning 164 finish and averaging over 95 in the process, while van Barneveld defeated Brendan Dolan 4-1.
The pair could meet in the quarter-finals of the £1 million pound tournament should they both win their third round games.
Whitlock faces Dave Chisnall on Thursday 27 December, when ‘Barney’ will take on Gary Anderson.
Simon Whitlock 4-0 Colin Osborne – Match report
Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 Brendan Dolan
Mark Webster was denied a place in the third round by Colin Lloyd.
Sunday sees the completion of round two with James Wade facing Steve Beaton in the afternoon session and Vincent van der Voort up against Dean Winstanley, before Michael van Gerwen takes on Peter Wright in the evening.
The third round also kicks off as Robert Thornton takes on Phil Taylor in the final match before the Christmas break.
By Chris Murphy
Images courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
Simon Whitlock Official Replica Playing Shirts Available From Dartshop.tv
Robert Thornton and Paul Nicholson produced the most dramatic match of the 2013 Ladbrokes World Championship so far, with ‘The Thorn’ winning a sudden death decider on Friday evening.
The pair put on a sensational spectacle for in front of the fans at London’s Alexandra Palace, sharing twenty 180s in an incredible second round encounter.
Nicholson looked to have been closing in on victory after ‘The Thorn’ had missed six darts to win the match, when ‘The Asset’ broke the throw to take a 4-3 lead in the final set.
But, with the Australian waiting on 56 for the match, Thornton hammered home a stunning 130 checkout and went on to progress to the last 16 after triumphing in the sudden death shoot-out.
Robert Thornton 4-3 Paul Nicholson – match report
By Chris Murphy
Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Vincent van der Voort both claimed straight sets victories in round one of the Ladbrokes World Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace on Thursday.
van der Voort produced a solid performance to see off Stuart Kellet, while van Gerwen eased past Paul Lim, who produced a moment of magic with a 170 checkout.
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Stuart Kellet – Match report
Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Paul Lim – Match report
Those triumphs saw the first round reach it’s conclusion, with James Wade, Simon Whitlock, Robert Thornton, Paul Nicholson, Mark Webster and Raymond van Barneveld all still in the hunt to be the first winner of the new Sid Waddell trophy.
Friday sees the second round commence, with Thornton and Nicholson doing battle for a place in the last 16.
By Chris Murphy
Simon Whitlock won through to the second round of the Ladbrokes World Championship with a comfortable straight sets victory over Haruki Muramatsu on Wednesday night.
The reigning European Champion kicked of his campaign for glory at the Alexandra Palace with an assured display against the Japanese number one.
Simon Whitlock 3-0 Haruki Muramatsu – Match report
Andy Jenkins was less successful on his return to the £1 million pound tournament after a two year absence, losing out to Justin Pipe.
Thursday evening sees Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Vincent van der Voort begin their respective campaigns as the first round draws to a close.
By Chris Murphy
Mark Webster and James Wade were convincing first round winners on night four of the Ladbrokes World Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace.
Both produced classy performances to progress into the last 32 of the £1 million tournament on Monday evening.
Webster was particularly impressive in his 3-1 success over Ian White.
The Welshman hit seven 180s and posted a fantastic average of 97 to dispatch of one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the tournament.
“I knew I was in for a tough game,” said Webster, who faces Colin Lloyd or Darin Young in round two.
“I can take a lot of positives out of that win and I’m really looking forward to the next round.
“I showed what I can do again and I’m really up for this tournament. It is massive and I’m pleased with my performance tonight.”
Wade made light work of a potentially tricky opponent in Peter Hudson.
‘The Machine’ put together a solid display to see off ‘The Rock’ in straight sets.
He said: “I’ve been working very hard but I wasn’t at my best tonight.
“I’m pleased because I have beaten a good player but there is much better to come from me.”
Arron Monk was unable to join Wade and Webster in the last 32. The former World Youth Champion was defeated by Peter Wright.
By Chris Murphy
MARK WEBSTER 3-1 IAN WHITE (Match report)
Images courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
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