Tag: Benitez

Jonny Clayton and Luke Humphries set up tantalising meeting; we’re back for more World Matchplay on Saturday at the iconic Winter Gardens as the final four battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy – live on Sky Sports Action at 8pm

Jonny Clayton crashed in a stunning six ton-plus finishes to set up a World Matchplay semi-final meeting with Luke Humphries at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Friday.

Clayton made it through to the semi-final at the Winter Gardens for the first time after a 16-12 victory over Ryan Searle with a 97.5 average, seven 180s and six ton-plus checkouts, while Humphries held off a late fightback from Damon Heta to win 16-13 in a match with more breaks of throw than holds.

Searle and Clayton locked horns in the opening quarter-final match of the night after the pair dumped out former champions Peter Wright and Dimitri Van den Bergh to reach the last eight.

The opening four legs were shared with Clayton pinning a superb 118 checkout on double 19 to make it 2-2 before ‘Heavy Metal’ landed tops to move 3-2 in front with two 180s and a 106.40 average to Clayton’s 102.23.

The relentless pace of the contest continued with both players pummelling big numbers and huge finishes.

Clayton piled in a scintillating 121 in the eighth leg, but Somerset thrower Searle struck with a 121 on the bull to level at 5-5.

In a barnstorming battle Searle, who produced the performance of the first round to demolish Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld, before claiming another major scalp to topple 2021 winner Peter Wright in the last 16, fired in a sixth 180 and a 96 finish to regain the upper-hand at 7-6.

Former Premier League and World Grand Prix champion Clayton added a third ton-plus checkout of the match with a 115 to level at 7-7 and he then hit a fourth thanks to a magnificent 124 on the bull to make it 8-8.

‘The Ferret’ capitalised on Searle’s missed dart at tops with a 76 outshot and he maintained his two-leg cushion for an 11-9 advantage with a 100.23 average and 65 per cent at the doubles.

Welshman Clayton broke again with a cool 100 checkout and he then planted a remarkable sixth ton-plus finish with a cracking 122 on the bull moments later to make it 13-9.

And 48-year-old Clayton made it through to his first World Matchplay semi-final by sinking double 15 with his first match dart.

Humphries then took on Australian No 1 Heta, who has embraced the role of pantomime villain with his Ashes-themed walk-ons and he didn’t disappoint as he returned for the third test at the Empress Ballroom.

‘Cool Hand Luke’ survived a match dart to win an epic second round tie-break against Dirk van Duijvenbode and he was in no mood for a repeat as he surged into a 3-2 lead with a 102.3 average.

The 28-year-old sunk a neat ton on tops-tops to move 5-4 in front but Heta remained calm and composed to hang on to Humphries coat-tails on double 16.

Humphries took out 68 regain the advantage at 7-6 before taking a stranglehold on the contest as he opened up a three-leg buffer at 10-7 in a break-fest of a contest – 14 in 17 legs.

Former UK Open runner-up Humphries, who is yet to lift a televised ranking title, gained a rare hold of throw with an 81 finish for an 11-darter and a 12-8 cushion.

He then struck with a 121 checkout to stretch his advantage before holding in the next leg on tops to edge closer to victory at 14-8.

‘The Heat’ was not giving up easily though as he won three legs on the spin with a skin-saving 152 to make it 15-13.

But after missing two darts at tops, world No 6 Humphries completed the win with two double 18s in a match which featured an incredible 20 breaks of throw.

Nathan Aspinall and Joe Cullen will meet in the first semi-final on Saturday night with Wales’ World Cup winner Clayton and sixth seed Humphries facing each other in the second last-four clash.

We’re back for more World Matchplay action at the iconic Winter Gardens on Saturday at 8pm as the final four battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy – live on Sky Sports Action from 8pm. Stream the World Matchplay and more with NOW for £21 a month

Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven talks to Sky Sports about her transitioning period, opening up to her family, the devastation of losing close friends, how winning the Denmark Open left a sour taste in her mouth and facing Beau Greaves at the Women’s Matchplay.

Van Leuven only joined the Women’s Series last year because she has been transitioning, but reaching the Event 12 final enabled her to leapfrog 2022 Blackpool semi-finalist Lorraine Winstanley and secure qualification for this year’s event in last-gasp fashion.

The 27-year-old Dutch debutant will now make history on Sunday by becoming the first trans woman to play in a TV darts tournament.

It is a dream come true for Van Leuven, who said she always “felt different” to the other kids at school when she was growing up, but now feels playing ‘Beau ‘n’ Arrow’ at the Empress Ballroom is her darting destiny.

Van Leuven, who has been working as a chef de partie in her local restaurant, fell out of love with darts and quit before her transition started last year.

She said: “I never really got into a group with people around darts. I was really unhappy with myself so my darts game wasn’t that good. When you’re not feeling great then nothing in life will be really, really good. I quit darts and then I became a happier version of myself but then I really wanted to start playing darts again.

“I tried to enjoy life as much as possible. I transitioned before going through a lot of meetings with a psychologist.”

Explaining to her family and friends what she was undergoing proved one of the hardest moments in her life.

“It was really tough,” said Van Leuven. “I told a really good friend of mine and she was really supportive but she also said I had to tell my mum.

“I think it was about a week later when I told her and a week later I was already at the doctors and I think it took me a couple more months before I told my dad and other family members, but they were all really supportive to me. It was really nice which has really helped me through everything.”

Van Leuven opened up about the pain of losing a few of her friends to suicide at a time when she was offering support to trans people as a moderator.

“There were a few people that I talked to a lot and then suddenly you don’t hear from them anymore and then you have to hear from the parents that they’re not there any more. It is devastating,” said an emotional Van Leuven.

“They’ll all waiting on trans-health care and I think there’s a waiting list of up to three years in the Netherlands before you get your first appointment, so that’s really tough on some people.

“It is way too long to wait because a lot of people in that position are depressed, they’re really unhappy with themselves. They’re not getting the help they need, so it is way too long.”

Van Leuven researched regulations before participating in tournaments. The PDC, together with the DRA (Darts Regulation Authority) disciplinary committee, has now established rules for transgender players.

She finds the darting authorities a breath of fresh air, unlike World Athletics, which has excluded trans women who have gone through male puberty from female events in order to try to strike a balance between inclusivity and making sure there is no unfair advantage.

“I feel devastated by the people that get hit by that,” she said. “I think it’s tough for transgender people to play sports, especially when people know that you’re trans because you have a big advantage until you prove it’s not.”

Sour taste in Denmark

Van Leuven has largely received a positive reaction from fellow female players, including Greaves and Fallon Sherrock, but winning the Denmark Open in May left a sour taste in her mouth, despite securing the biggest title of her career to date.

“After I won there was the presentation on stage and I just had a weird feeling about something that happened on stage. The other players were talking to each other and I felt it was about me,” said Van Leuven. “I was right because someone told me but I just don’t think it was the right place or time to do something like that.

“They were complaining about me, so they had to [come] forward against me and do it altogether [to throw me out of the competition] which kind of ruined the moment. I worked hard for that title. I played really good games throughout the day and in the end I won. People who had match darts against me didn’t take their opportunities but I took mine. It was a deserved win.”

Ready to take on brilliant Beau?

Van Leuven, whose darting hero is Raymond van Barneveld, has been getting her eye in at the local darts shop based in Heemskerk, which is about 35 minutes by road from Amsterdam.

Now it is almost time to face Greaves, who has been the most dominant force in the women’s game having scooped 15 of the last 20 PDC Women’s Series events.

Greaves’ record-breaking 15th Women’s Series title was a whitewash of Van Leuven with a 104 average, but the 27-year-old did claim a shock win over a below-par Greaves in Milton Keynes in May, something which she believes will play on Beau’s mind this Sunday.

“I’m practising not much more than I would usually do. It’s just a tournament like any other. I’m trying to keep the pressure off and I don’t want to do anything more than I usually do because I know what works for me and I don’t want to over practise,” Van Leuven said.

“I couldn’t have got a worse draw but I know I can beat her, I have done it before but I always give her a good game and I play a nice level against her. I just want to give her a good game so may the best woman win.

“It’s on TV so there’s a lot of pressure on me but there’s a lot of pressure on Beau as well. A lot of people are expecting her to win the tournament so that might play into my hands.

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m not afraid of anyone. I have just got to bring my A-game to the stage and see where it ends.”

‘I don’t like attention but I’m getting used to it now’

Having spoken to Dutch TV and the Guardian, Van Leuven will prepare to face the world’s media on the eve of her biggest match.

Being in the limelight is something the Dutchwoman might seem unprepared for, but her time in Blackpool will be well spent seeing the sights before gameday.

She promises plenty of fight and a lot of maximums, but knows it will come down to doubles for dough when going up against Beau.

“Last time I played her I averaged 83 and I didn’t even get a shot at a double,” she said. “I thought I played a good game but it wasn’t good enough but it will be different on stage. I’m going to try to hit everything I can.”

Van Leuven added she would give up her role as chef de partie and even sacrifice her favourite chocolate pastry dish for her ultimate dream – a PDC Tour card.

The winner of the Women’s World Matchplay will qualify for November’s Grand Slam of Darts and the 2023/24 World Darts Championship, in addition to the £10,000 top prize.

2023 Women’s World Matchplay
Sunday July 23
Draw Bracket
(1) Beau Greaves vs (8) Noa-Lynn van Leuven
(4) Robyn Byrne vs (5) Rhian O’Sullivan
(2) Mikuru Suzuki vs (7) Aileen de Graaf
(3) Fallon Sherrock vs (6) Lisa Ashton

Format
Quarter-Finals – Best of seven legs
Semi-Finals – Best of nine legs
Final – Best of 11 legs

Prize Money
Winner: £10,000
Runner-Up: £5,000
Semi-Finalists: £2,500
Quarter-Finalists: £1,250
Total: £25,000

Watch the Women’s World Matchplay at the iconic Winter Gardens on Sunday from 1pm as eight of the sport’s leading female stars will battle it out for the £10,000 top prize – live on Sky Sports Action. Stream the World Matchplay and more with NOW for £21 a month.

Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith have become the latest big names to fall at the World Matchplay Darts as Joe Cullen and Chris Dobey emerged victorious on a thrilling night in Blackpool.

Defending champion Michael van Gerwen was defeated in the first round by Brendan Dolan and Price and Smith both tumbled out of the tournament on a tense Tuesday night of Tungsten action.

In front of a vociferous crowd at the Winter Gardens, ‘Rockstar’ Cullen won 13-11 against Price in a topsy-turvy thriller, whereas Dobey topped off a fantastic evening of darts with an 11-7 demolition of the world champion.

Gerwyn Price was installed as tournament favourite after MVG’s elimination but fell behind early against Joe Cullen, who raced to a 4-1 lead after the first session, hitting a double on all four visits where he had the opportunity to do so.

World No 4 Price responded after the intermission, but Cullen ended the second session with a 6-4 cushion after the first of two very important 112 checkouts.

Importantly, Cullen hit the doubles when he needed to, achieving a 60 per cent checkout success rate, whereas Price struggled throughout the night in that regard, and that proved to be the undoing for ‘The Iceman’.

“The checkouts won me the game,” Cullen said. “Me and Gezzy, we sort of pulled each other down and then when one of us played well, the other one played well – and it was just a really funny game.

“I felt in the game the whole way, even at 10-8 down I felt like I could still win because I knew that Gezzy wasn’t playing like he normally does but it’s one of those – concentrate on your own game and that’s what I did and the finishes definitely won me the game.”

Price, though, wasn’t about to go down without a fight and Cullen missed multiple chances to finish in the 15th leg which left the door open for Price to get the match back on throw and from there, the tournament favourite put the foot down to roar in front 10-8, within one leg of victory.

The Welshman then had a chance to win the match at 10-9 but failed to hit the bullseye to eliminate his opponent and Cullen punished him ruthlessly.

‘Rockstar’ hit the bullseye to level the match and then found it once more to move ahead and completed a thrilling victory with a second pivotal checkout of 112.

Cullen said: “I felt like I played okay the other night and it just didn’t feel comfortable, more or less out the whole way through the match tonight, but then when it came down to it [at the end] that’s probably the most comfortable I’ve been so that 112 was pretty sweet.”

Smith crashes out | Dobey: It was hard work

Nobody can rest easy at Blackpool this week, as the big names keep falling out of the tournament and Michael Smith‘s defeat to Chris Dobey was a case in point.

Dobey admitted at the end though, that he never felt in control of the game, despite claiming an 11-7 victory against Smith.

Again, the difference came in the doubling – Dobey hit 11 out of 16 checkout attempts, a magnificent conversion rate, whereas Smith could only manage seven from 20 attempts.

A pivotal moment came when Dobey produced his biggest checkout of the night, 130, to get the match back on throw towards the end of the second session.

“It was hard work,” admitted Dobey. “I don’t know how I got to 5-5. I don’t think I was ever in the game early doors but I clawed my way back into it. And once I got in front I think I didn’t want to let him come back. So yeah, I’m delighted with that.

“There were a couple of big shots obviously on the bull. With the 130 as well but I thought my finishing was pretty spectacular compared to what I’m used to. I won so I’m going to take it.”

Daryl Gurney was massively impressive in his victory over 2018 winner Gary Anderson, reeling off five legs unanswered, hitting five out of five doubles as he smothered the popular Scot in the first session.

Anderson never recovered and Gurney’s march to the quarter-finals was as swift as it was impressive as he nailed 11 out of 16 checkout attempts in an 11-4 victory.

Gurney’s match-ending average of 104.43, although impressive, was perhaps lower than it may have been and belied just how well he played in a very convincing performance.

Former UK Open champions Danny Noppert and Nathan Aspinall were then involved in a nervy game where neither looked comfortable throughout.

After a period earlier in the match where both players struggled to hold onto their own throw, there then came a spell where neither could fashion a break point.

That was until the 16th leg when Noppert managed to fashion a couple and missed both opportunities but in the 18th leg, he made amends, hitting double 12 to level proceedings at 9-9.

‘The Asp’ responded with a 14-dart break of throw to give himself a chance to win the match and, after Noppert almost managed a superb finish of 115 to keep himself in the tournament, Aspinall hit tops to finish and left the stage a relieved man.

The second round continues at the Winter Gardens on Wednesday, as Michael van Gerwen’s conqueror Brendan Dolan is back in action against Australian Damon Heta.

Two former champions are also in action as Dimitri Van den Bergh faces Jonny Clayton and Peter Wright takes on Ryan Searle, and Dirk van Duijvenbode faces Luke Humphries on what promises to be another intriguing night of action.

We are back for more World Matchplay action at the iconic Winter Gardens on Wednesday at 7pm as the world’s top stars battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy – live on Sky Sports Action.

England set up meeting with Germany as Belgium win a thriller, while Wales and Scotland progress the World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle with a double session at 12pm on Sky Sports Arena and 6pm on Sky Sports Action on Sunday

England and Wales progressed through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup of Darts as Belgium knocked out highly-fancied contenders Netherlands in a classic contest.

Top seeds England – Michael Smith and Rob Cross – began their bid to win a fifth World Cup in comfortable style by seeing off Latvia 8-4, ending the hopes of Madars Razma and Dmitriy Zhukov.

“We were trying too hard but every time I hit a bad shot, Rob stepped in and we worked as a team there,” said world No 1 Smith.

“It wasn’t our greatest performance, but we needed a test and we know that if we play at our best we’ll win.”

They will now take on host nation Germany in a mouth-watering quarter-final contest after Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler edged Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski and Krzysztof Kciuk 8-6 to raise the roof in Frankfurt.

Belgium stole the headlines with a sensational sudden-death leg win over Netherlands.

The opening eight legs of a captivating tie went with throw, with the Dutch duo of Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode hitting six perfect darts in one leg only for Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts to deny their rivals a break.

The Belgians took the ninth to claim that key first break of throw, and the next two also went against the darts as the tension increased before Huybrechts’ classy 108 checkout moved his nation clear for the first time at 7-5.

Van Duijvenbode kept Dutch hopes alive by hitting successive doubles to force a deciding leg, but he was unable to finish 109 for glory to allow Van den Bergh in on double 16 to joyfully continue Belgium’s progress.

The Belgian duo had dominated the headlines during the group stage as they put aside personal differences to put on a united front, and Huybrechts admitted: “We’re representing Belgium, now I’m his best friend.”

Van den Bergh added: “Kim was fantastic in scoring during this game and we never gave up. I’m feeling good, I learned so much from the Premier League and I can see the difference.”

Second seeds Wales impressed with an average of almost 100 as Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton ended the hopes of Danish duo Vladimir Andersen and Benjamin Drue Reus.

Although the Danes took the opening leg, Price landed two 180s as the Welsh levelled with an 11-darter to spark a run of five straight legs as they took command, before combinations of 121 and 70 from the world No 4 helped seal victory.

“I thought we played pretty consistently but it was our first game in this tournament and we blew a few cobwebs away,” said Price, a winner alongside Clayton in 2020.

“I think we’ve got a bit more in the tank so it was a good benchmark for us.”

Australia and Scotland battle through

Australia and Scotland battled through to the quarter-finals, as France and Sweden reached the same stage for the first time.

Reigning champions Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock of Australia had raced through the group stage without dropping a leg but endured some nervy moments against Croatian duo Boris Krcmar and Romeo Grbavac before booking their spot in the last eight in Frankfurt.

Scotland’s Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, meanwhile, defeated Philippines’ Christian Perez and Lourence Ilagan by the same 8-5 margin following another tough battle.

The 2019 winners now meet France in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals after Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre defeated South Africa’s Devon Petersen and Vernon Bouwers 8-4.

Sweden matched France by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, with Dennis Nilsson and Oskar Lukasiak overcoming Canadian duo Jeff Smith and Matt Campbell 8-5.

Sunday sees the £450,000 tournament conclude across two sessions in Frankfurt, with the quarter-finals in the afternoon session and the semi-finals and final in the evening session.

The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle on Sunday with a double session at 12pm on Sky Sports Arena and 6pm on Sky Sports Action on Sunday.

Australian duo of Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock begin title defence with an emphatic win as Belgium overcome personal issues The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle with a double session at 11am and 6pm on Friday – live on Sky Sports Arena

France and Denmark caused opening night shocks at the World Cup of Darts, while defending champions Australia made a winning start and Belgium overcame personal issues.

The opening night of the revamped £450,000 tournament saw 12 group stage ties take place on Thursday, with Australia’s reigning champions amongst the high-profile nations to triumph.

French duo Jacques Labre and Thibault Tricole enjoyed a dream debut, courtesy of an emphatic 4-1 rout against Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney.

Labre and Tricole dominated their more experienced opponents, and a 114 checkout from Tricole capped off a terrific display, as Northern Ireland’s miserable recent record at this event continues.

Danish debutant Benjamin Reus produced the performance of the night, boasting an astonishing individual average of 114.7 to stun 2021 runners-up Austria in Group F.

Reus also landed four 180s and conjured up a match-winning 116 finish as he and Vladimir Andersen condemned Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez to a shock 4-2 defeat.

“I don’t know what just happened. I was completely in the zone,” reflected Reus, who featured in January’s Nordic Darts Masters.

“I was totally relaxed and everything went perfectly tonight. We played two really good PDC players, so we knew we needed to find something extra tonight.”

Australia’s Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock began their defence with a whitewash win over debutants Guyana.

“It wasn’t a great performance but we got the job done,” said Australia’s No 1 Heta, who warmed up for this event by scooping a Players Championship title on Tuesday.

“We move on to bigger and better things tomorrow night and hopefully we get the job done against Gibraltar.

“We have grown up in Australia playing Pairs, so I think this format suits us. We fancy our chances.

“We won this title last year and it’s up to the other players to try and beat us, and that’s how we are going to approach it.”

Germany also opened their challenge with a whitewash win over Hong Kong, as Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler dispatched Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee in four straight legs.

Huybrechts no longer gets on with team-mate Van den Bergh

Belgium were the highest seeds in group stage action on Thursday’s opening night, and Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts began their campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Finland.

After the match, Huybrechts admitted he no longer gets on with team-mate Van den Bergh.

Huybrechts, the world No 31, told Online Darts: “It was a professional victory. We did a job but that’s about it.

“For me it’s the first time playing a doubles tournament with someone you don’t get along with now.”

Huybrechts added there was “something personal” between him and world No 10 Van den Bergh.

Krzysztof Ratajski inspired Poland to a deciding-leg win over Portugal’s Jose de Sousa and debutant Luis Ameixa in their Group G opener, in a thrilling contest featuring seven maximums.

Elsewhere, Keane Barry impressed on his World Cup bow alongside ever-present William O’Connor, as 2019 finalists Ireland brushed aside Thailand 4-1 in their Group E opener.

Meanwhile, Michele Turetta and Massimo Dante led Italy to a landmark first win on the World Cup stage in the evening’s opener, after they fended off a late fightback from Switzerland to claim a 4-3 success.

The losing nations from Thursday’s matches will play the third team from each group in Friday’s afternoon session, as Northern Ireland and Austria battle to preserve their qualification hopes.

England, Wales, Netherlands and Scotland – the top four seeded teams – do not enter until the second round on Saturday.

The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle on Friday with a double session at 11am and 6pm – live on Sky Sports Arena.

Michael Smith storms to a third consecutive nightly win with a 6-3 success against Gerwyn Price in Sheffield; P&J Live, Aberdeen will be the 16th of 17 individual venues on Thursday May 11 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday May 25

Michael Smith secured a hat-trick of Premier League Darts nightly wins by defeating Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price en route to more stunning success in Sheffield.

Price could have guaranteed top spot with victory in the Night 15 showpiece, but the St Helens star cut the Welshman’s lead at the summit to just three points after claiming the spoils in the Steel City.

Smith began his campaign with a 6-4 win over reigning champion Van Gerwen, converting a stunning 130 checkout on the bull to defeat the Dutchman for a second week in succession.

The world No 1 continued his charge to defeat Clayton in a repeat of last week’s decider, averaging almost 108 and sealing the deal with a superb 11-darter.

Smith then capped off a terrific night of action by claiming the £10,000 winner’s bonus, extending his winning Premier League run to nine matches in the process.

“Three in a row, it took me 15 weeks to win one night last year and now I’ve won four,” reflected Smith, who has leapfrogged Van Gerwen into second spot after his fourth nightly win overall. “I am still in with a chance of finishing top.

“Me and Gez spoke about it backstage before the match, if it’s me and him in the final next week he finishes top. Hopefully I can be top.

“I know you get nothing out of finishing top but it is the prestige. I have qualified last week and I could have just laid down and let anyone beat me. But I still need to go to The O2 playing well and winning.”

Price – who was victorious in Sheffield 12 months ago – retained top spot after storming through to his eighth nightly final of 2023 with 6-2 wins over Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey.

In the evening’s other quarter-finals, Clayton moved two points clear of Aspinall ahead of their decisive Night 16 showdown, courtesy of a battling 6-4 victory against Dimitri Van den Bergh.

The 2021 champion conjured up a spectacular 170 checkout midway through the tie, and registered his sixth ton-plus average of the campaign to see off the Belgian.

‘The Ferret’ is in a straight shootout with Aspinall for the final spot, with the pair going head-to-head in the quarter-final next week in Aberdeen.

Victory will assure the Welshman another appearance at The O2 while even if Aspinall wins the quarter-final he also has to win his semi-final.

“It’s massive,” Clayton said. “All the pressure is on Nathan next week. He has to win, the ball is in my court because if I win I am through. I am going to try and relax and play my game.

“I was shaking like hell up there. It’s two points that are going to be massive.”

Meanwhile, Dobey cemented sixth spot in the table with an impressive 6-4 success against Peter Wright, crashing in six 180s and reeling off four straight legs from 4-2 down to advance.

Where are we heading next?

The Premier League roadshow heads to P&J Live, Aberdeen on Thursday May 18 for Night 16 of the league phase.

League leader Price meets Wright in his quarter-final tie, knowing that a run to next Thursday’s final will see him top the table for the first time in his Premier League career.

Clayton and Aspinall meet in a huge encounter with fourth spot on the line.

Clayton would confirm his Play-Off qualification with victory, while Aspinall must progress to the Night 16 final to overhaul his Welsh rival, who will qualify via nights won if the pair finish level on points.

Smith will begin his bid for an unprecedented fourth straight nightly win against Van den Bergh, while Van Gerwen and Dobey also collide for a place in the semi-finals.

We’re back for more Premier League Darts action from the P&J Live, Aberdeen on Thursday May 18 – live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm.

Michael Smith claims his third nightly win of the Premier League season by defeating Jonny Clayton in Manchester The Utilita Arena, Sheffield hosts the 15th of 17 individual venues on Thursday, May 11 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

Michael Smith wired a nine-dart attempt on his way to sensationally defeating Jonny Clayton in Manchester, cementing his position in the Premier League Darts top four.

World champion Smith saw off local hero Nathan Aspinall, reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and Welsh star Clayton to complete back-to-back Premier League night wins with a remarkable display.

After seeing off Aspinall 6-3 in their quarter-final, Smith then landed six doubles from 11 attempts to overcame Van Gerwen 6-4 in a repeat of January’s World Championship final.

He then raced to glory in the final to seal the £10,000 winner’s bonus, saving his best display of the night for the decider as he missed double 12 for a nine-darter and landed five 180s in a stunning performance.

Clayton took out 72 and 121 to establish a 2-1 lead early in the final, but ‘Bully Boy’ turned on the style in a stunning four-leg burst to take command.

He firstly missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish, taking leg four in 10 darts, before landing six perfect darts in the next as a 12-darter moved him ahead, before he took the next two – including a 100 checkout – to lead 5-2.

Clayton punished a missed match dart from Smith to hit back in the eighth leg, but Smith sealed his second successive nightly triumph in the next leg on double 13.

Smith ended the final with a season’s best average of 110.05, and crucially opened up a six-point buffer over Clayton and Aspinall in the league table.

He said: “Beating Michael, I think I’ve beaten every player in the Premier League.

“I’m starting to come good, I won night three in Glasgow, struggled for seven or eight weeks just picking up the odd points.

“Now it’s starting to come good at the right time and the O2 is in three weeks and I’ll hopefully lift that title going into the Matchplay with the perfect run and the triple crown.

The 32-year-old added: “It’s twice now I’ve missed a double (for a nine-darter) in the last few weeks, but if I hit that I might have got involved with the crowd a little bit, not played as well so I’m glad I missed and a bit disappointed I
didn’t hit it, it happens but as long as I got the victory, that’s all that matters.

“It’ll happen again I know it will but for now I keep putting it on the wire, I’m not a million miles away but keep coming close.”

Clayton’s run to the final moved him back into the top four in the race for Play-Off spots, as he defeated Peter Wright and Chris Dobey.

Van Gerwen ended a run of five successive defeats against Gerwyn Price with a superb 6-2 win in a high-quality quarter-final, with both players averaging over 103 and the Dutchman landing six doubles from 10 attempts.

Defeats in the quarter-finals for both Wright and Dimitri Van den Bergh saw their feint hopes of being able to qualify for the Play-Offs ended, as both relinquished a 2-0 lead before losing out to Clayton and Dobey respectively.

Despite landing a second 170 finish of the Premier League season Dobey also cannot now reach the Play-Offs in his debut season, sitting 10 points adrift of the top four with two league nights remaining, with Clayton and Aspinall certain to meet on Night 16 in Aberdeen.

Where are we heading next?

The Premier League roadshow heads to the Utilita Arena, Sheffield on Thursday, May 11 for Night 15 of the league phase.

Van Gerwen takes on Smith in another repeat of the World Championship final, while Price takes on Aspinall.

Dobey faces Wright and Clayton squares up to Van den Bergh.

We’re back for more Premier League Darts action from the Utilita Arena, Sheffield on Thursday, May 11 – live on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.