Premier League Darts Preview

by Rick Nash

This week, we switch attention briefly to darts, to mark the start of a new-look Premier League format that kicks off this Thursday in Belfast (and journeys to The O2, Dublin on April 18th with six matches scheduled to take place).

Hardcore darts fans have grown tired of the Premier League in recent years and, it has to be said, it's not an opinion without merit.

For a start, due to the fact that it is an invitation-based tournament (only the top four in the world qualify by rank), it also means that it's essentially meaningless when it comes to ranking points on the PDC Order of Merit. Not to mention the fact that it's looooonnngg: the tournament spans 15 weeks, with 14 devoted to the league itself (formerly of 8 players meeting each other twice; with the top 4 then qualifying for a one-night 'Playoffs' tournament to decide the champion) and, due to the nature of darts, form tends to ebb and flow over the course of those weeks, unlike the exciting nature of Open tournament whereby an off-night could see you out of the running altogether.

This has led to the dominance of one Phil 'The Power' Taylor over the years, the reigning champion who has won all but two tournaments since the format was introduced in 2005. Taylor, in fact, went undefeated in his first 44 games in the tournament before eventually being stopped in 2008 by James Wade. However the long format generally allows players who suffer a dip in form to regress to the mean, allowing the best players to consistently come out on top and making an already-long process seem predictable to boot.

Realising this, the PDC has freshened up the format, introducing an additional two players to the fray, reducing the length of games from 'Best of 14' to 'Best of 12' and introducing 'relegation' where the bottom players don't actually get relegated to any lower league, but instead just drop out of the league altogether after week 9. The shorter format could be a bonus, making it more likely that longer-form players like Taylor will lose more regularly, or a negative in that a lot of matches will end up as draws with players not having time to establish any kind of rhythm or dominance. It remains to be seen.

The case for the Premier League, and I remain a fan myself because of this, is as follows:

• It's about as good a value-for-money night at the darts as you can get: being guaranteed to see the Top 10 players in the world compete in a high money, high stakes environment in any given week of the 'regular season'. There are no real dead weight mismatches to pad the night out, or overly-long one-sided thrashings, that you may experience going to an Open tournament night.
• It's a bit of decent sport to watch on a Thursday night: let's face it, after Soccer Saturday, Super Sunday, Monday Night Football, and Champions League Tuesday AND Wednesday, most of us just don't have the energy for the Europa League come Thursday. This offers a handy alternative.
• The players really, REALLY want to win: another positive (or negative, depending on your perception) of the Premier League is that the players perform in front of bigger crowds than usual. This means more money for the PDC and more prize-money for the players. They view this tournament as so important that they will set out to have a good run in the World Championship (the biggest tournament of the year) with the sole intention of landing a Premier League spot.
• It's a great way to learn about darts: the fact is, for 90% of people, darts is an annual, passing interest. It thrives over the Christmas period when the Worlds are on and all other sports are taking their Christmas breaks, people become addicted for that three-week period, then aside from maybe heading to one or two live events over the following year they forget about it until next Christmas. Tournaments like the UK Open, Matchplay and Grand Prix are left to satiate an ever-growing number of 'real' darts fans' thirst for televised competition. If you've sworn to yourself, yet again, that you're going to get more into the sport from now on and mean it, then this is a fantastic way to learn about it. As the weeks go on, you learn more and more about each player's strengths and weaknesses and, as a result, the nuances that go into making a great player or match. In looking at darts through a microscope for several weeks, you get to examine why it's such a great sport and become an armchair expert, before getting into the other, more exciting, multi-formatted tournaments as the year progresses. It's also a great way to discover who your favourite player is, by watching them week-after-week and seeing who you enjoy most.
• Rivalries are created, or rekindled, and running storylines are born week-by-week: Mervyn King and Phil Taylor grew to hate each other over the course of their Premier League encounters. After playing perhaps the greatest darts match of all-time in the 2007 World Final, Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld did it AGAIN just weeks later in the Premier League, by competing in a mini-version of said classic (Taylor ran out into a large lead, before being pegged back in unlikely fashion). After losing his World Title in unspectacular fashion in 2008, Taylor lost his first-ever Premier League match against James Wade in the opening night of the Premier League, and appeared to be suffering a huge crisis of form in the weeks following, before coming back to win the tournament again. Adrian Lewis followed up his first World Championship win with a classic 7-7 draw with Taylor, where the Stoke protége had to come from behind to level with his former mentor. And, to boot, this week Taylor must now face a rematch of his great World Final against Michael Van Gerwen in a shorter format that could favour MVG (competing in his first Premier League).
• You can opt in or out of following it at any stage: While I understand darts fans' concerns with the format, I still can't understand why they complain so vehemently. After all, if the league is boring you, you can easily just not watch for several weeks and jump back in whenever you feel like it. It's like an episode of CSI. All you really need to do is take a look at the league table at the start of the night and BOOM, you're caught up with all you need to know. Never mind the fact that Sky will beat you over the head on numerous occasions with any intermitting highlights you've missed.

So, with all of that said, let's take a brief look at the 10 players competing in this year's League and what you need to know about them going in.

Phil Taylor: As with any column of length about PDC darts, this piece has already read like an autobiography of Taylor's accomplishments, so I won't linger for too long. But Taylor goes into this tournament as defending champion (having won it 6 times in total), off the back of his 14th World Championship win, having also won 13 Matchplay titles, 10 Grand Prix, 4 Grand Slams & UK Opens and, just last weekend, won his second consecutive World Cup for England with partner Adrian Lewis. Put simply, 'The Power' is the best player there ever has been, or will be for that matter. The only question is whether the audience will respect him as such, having done himself no PR favours with his childish tantrum following his World Championship semi-final scuffle with old rival, Raymond van Barneveld, just last month. He kicks off in a rematch with Van Gerwen that could go either way.

Adrian Lewis: The most skillful darts player on the planet, on his day. And the most erratic on others. Lewis has found life at the top tough going since winning back-to-back World Championships, and over the past year found it difficult to hit the heights that he had in achieving the above. He was outclassed in the World Quarter-Finals against Van Gerwen and, aside from nearly hitting a 9-darter during a magical match against Belgian Ronny Huybrechts, looked generally miserable during last weekend's World Cup win (being carried to victory both by Taylor and favourable upsets elsewhere in the draw). Having said that, the fact that he still almost hit a 9-dart finish during a horrible patch of form shows that 'Jackpot' can draw on his immeasurable ability at any point. He just needs all of the stars to align for him to do so. The Premier League has proven a tough stage for him to reward his skills with glory in the past - due to this erratic nature - but all he needs to do is qualify for the play-offs and anything is possible. Then again, he could also just as easily hit a poor run and get relegated.

James Wade: Wade's, at times frustrating, slumps in form (that completely contradict his raw skill) was somewhat explained by the revelation two years ago that the former Premier League, Matchplay, UK Open and World Grand Prix Champion suffered from bipolar disorder. Following the revelation, 'The Machine' went onto claim his first-ever UK Open Championship in a heart-warming moment. That said, the illness has had visible effects on him at times, none moreso than when he appeared to suffer a breakdown on stage during last year's World Grand Prix in Dublin. People have been saying for years that Wade is a future World Champion, and he certainly has the ability to do so. But as morbid as it may be to bring it up in a sporting context, he will need to overcome his demons if that is to ever become a reality. That's easier said than done and may see Wade's career end with an asterisk due to a lower-than-expected title count. However, though he was somewhat unpopular before the revelations as fans pointed to him being 'moody', I don't think any darts fans would now begrudge him fulfilling his potential one day. All he needs is a sustained run of form to do so, he already has the ability.

Michael van Gerwen: MVG is the real wildcard in this year's League (despite qualifying outright and not via one of the allotted wildcard spots), coming in on a hot streak of form having finally begun to fulfill his own potential. Van Gerwen was touted to be great from a young age after hitting a televised 9-darter at the age of just 17. Like many, though, he found the jump to the PDC to be a long, arduous process and seemed destined to be a perennial underachiever, one of sport's 'lost boys' (I compared his previous career track to that of former football 'prodigy' Freddy Adu in my World Championship Final preview). Then, 2012 happened. Nobody read too much into his Quarter-Final appearance in the Matchplay, as we all knew he could play great darts, but finding a run of form consistent enough to win a title seemed beyond him. Those worries were put to bed in the World Grand Prix, when he cruised past then-World Champion, Adrian Lewis, and then-World Championship Runner-Up, Andy Hamilton en route to the final, seeing off Mervyn King 6-4 in a fantastic contest. Another final beckoned a month later in the Grand Slam of Darts, as he dispatched Phil Taylor on his way to a valiant losing effort in the final against fellow Dutchman Raymond Van Barneveld. MVG was hotly-tipped going into the World Championships and did not disappoint: he followed up the aforementioned win over Lewis, by almost hitting two back-to-back 9-darters in a semi-final win over Wade, before being edged out in his first World Final against Taylor (not without giving the champion a scare, though). Van Gerwen is the most consistent form player going into this tournament and his explosive style should suit the short format to the ground. Expect big things.

Raymond van Barneveld: The 5-time World Champion (possibly the 2nd best player to ever throw a dart after Taylor, though many would argue Eric Bristow's case for that title) is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, having impressed during his Grand Slam of Darts win last year and semi-final run in the Worlds. That's amazing when you consider that it isn't long since people were saying he was washed up and ready for a run on the Legends of Darts Tour. Barney is a rhythm player, though, and therefore his form depends on the rhythm he finds in a game and also a lot on his mood and positivity towards the sport in general. Never was this more evident than in his recent World Championship run: his form so impressive that people genuinely began to question whether he could end his hoodoo over Taylor in the semis (Barney has seemed incapable of beating, or even performing at any kind of competitive level against, him since their classic World Final in 2007 - aside from rare, fleeting exceptions). Those questions appeared to come to an anti-climactic answer as Taylor raced to a big lead, only for Barney to wake-up and give his former foe a big scare before eventually being downed (in controversial style, as spoken about above). Like Wade and Lewis, if Barney can find a positive run of form over the next 15 weeks, then everyone should watch their backs. But, like Wade and Lewis, if he can't then he could easily be cut after Week 9.

Simon Whitlock: Whitlock may have replaced Terry Jenkins as the most likeable, consistent player on the PDC tour, as he makes his 4th consecutive appearance in the Premier League. Known for his distinct look, high scoring and breathtaking accuracy on doubles, the Aussie got his first major televised win in November when he defeated Wes Newton to capture the European Championship. It was long overdue and you get the sense it won't be his last: Whitlock is simply too good to be overlooked. And yet with Taylor back as World Champion, Barney winning again, Van Gerwen's emergence and players like Newton and Robert Thornton consistently challenging at the top, you get the feeling that Whitlock is being somewhat forgotten about here. Give it a couple of weeks and see if that's still the case...

Gary Anderson: Anderson has had a rough 18 months. Having followed up his first ever World Final in 2011 (a loss to Adrian Lewis) by exacting revenge on Lewis to claim his first ever Premier League Championship, the darts world held its breath at what appeared to be a new superpower emerging. Ando, known previously as an underachiever on the big stage, started to flex his darting muscles. Then, tragedy struck. In late 2011, his brother Stewart passed away following a heart attack. Less than 6 months later, during Anderson's 2012 Premier League campaign, his father also tragically died. It's impossible to look at Anderson's subsequent dip in form and not see a link. Aside from hitting his first-televised 9-darter in last year's UK Open, there are slim pickings for a highlight reel for Gary from 2012. He finished bottom of the Premier League, gave up a 5-0 lead in the Matchplay to be dumped out in the first round and was whitewashed in the 2nd round of the World Championship by Raymond van Barneveld. All-in-all, it's been a miserable year for Anderson. Having said that, it's tough to deny his right to participate in this year's League given his talent and the fact he's one of only two men not named Phil Taylor to lift the crown. Here's hoping that, even if we don't get a full return to form, the 14-week run will at least allow Anderson to start getting some of the old magic back.

Andy Hamilton: Perhaps 'The Hammer' won't go down as an outright legend of the sport - and due to his oft-irritating, slow throwing style he's probably very few people's favourite players to watch - but make no mistake about it: nobody gets an easy game from Andy Hamilton. He's a true scrapper of the sport, making any game he's involved in competitive and never giving up, and his CV is slowly but surely looking more impressive: 2012 World Championship Runner-Up, 2012 Premier League semi-finalist, 2007 Grand Slam Runner-Up, 2007 World Championship Semi-Finallist. If you're ever making bets in a match involving Hamilton, you always have to take his quality into account regardless of who he's playing. He's cost me countless accumulators over the years and is almost impossible to write-off in any match because of his style. Last year, it seemed easy to write off him and Kevin Painter as 'the other guys' in a star-studded Premier League line-up. Had you done that, it would've been at your peril. Hamilton outlasted the likes of World Champion, Adrian Lewis, van Barneveld and Gary Anderson on his road to making the play-offs, and even pipped James Wade to 3rd spot in the table. It's entirely possible that he could do the same again this year.

Wes Newton: Much like Hamilton, Newton is also very difficult to write off. In previous years, the upper echelon of players may have simply written off Newton as nothing more than an 'awkward draw' to overcome en route to a major final. Not after 2012. Newton first displayed this upper level of class with a 9-dart finish in the Matchplay last summer (in a game he eventually lost to Justin Pipe). Two months later, he showed that he was more than just a flash in the pan by reaching the final of the European Championship (against Simon Whitlock), and again a month later made the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix (losing to eventual winner, Michael van Gerwen). Newton kept this hot streak alive and seemed on course for yet another semi-final appearance, being 2-0 up against James Wade in the World Championship Quarter-Final, only to slump to a 4-2 defeat. In a field with as much quality as the PDC, you'll regularly see lower-ranked players go on a run in a tournament, only to fade back to relative obscurity afterwards. To keep these impressive runs going from tournament-to-tournament, though, shows the kind of consistent class required to succeed long-term at the top of the PDC. Newton has climbed to number 7 in the Order of Merit and truly deserves his spot among the Premier League line-up. With his newfound consistency and resolve, that makes him a serious threat and playing at this standard week-in, week-out will only benefit him in the long run.

Robert Thornton: Thornton is another player, like Newton, who broke away from the pack with consistent high profile performances in big tournaments. Combine the scrappy, tough-to-beat style of Hamilton with the jump in class of Newton and you have Robert Thornton as he stands in 2013. After jumping to the PDC following his BDO Masters win in 2007, he instantly showed that he wasn't going to be intimidated by the depth of quality between the two organisations and always remained there-or-thereabouts in big tournaments (while racking up a steady stream of wins in the floor tournaments). However it was in 2012 that he would get his first big win, deservedly beating Phil Taylor in the final of the UK Open to send a message to the rest of the PDC that he was now a big fish in a big pond. The next time the two met on television, Thornton did the same at the World Grand Prix, and he looks to have a Mervyn King-like curse over the 14-time World Champion. Though I worry that the Scotsman may find it difficult to sustain the quality required to succeed over 14 weeks, don't be surprised if he causes a few upsets along the way.

Quick Picks for Week 1

I'll generally be sticking to football columns over the coming weeks on The Accumulator, but if you'd like to follow my darts picks as the PL progresses, then feel free to follow me on Twitter where I'll put up a new batch each Thursday.

Be warned: I'd almost put more money on this accumulator failing in Week 1 than I would on the picks themselves. Though Premier League accumulators usually end up profitable for me by the end of the season, it takes a while to figure out the form each player is taking to the stage as the league progresses. Add to that the shorter format and the unknown changes in performance that will bring, and this bet is almost dead in the water. So, if you bet money on these, do so at your own risk....

I'll be betting €5 on an accumulator for the outright results, not the scores. All odds are via Paddy Power and that €5 stake will give you a whopping potential return of €635.75 (!!!!).  But I'll include my score predictions for fun.

(13/10) Andy Hamilton 7-4 Robert Thornton (7/5) DRAW: 10/3
(11/10) James Wade 6-6 Wes Newton (13/8) DRAW: 10/3
(11/10) Raymond van Barneveld 7-3 Gary Anderson (13/8) DRAW: 10/3
(5/4) Simon Whitlock 7-5 Adrian Lewis (7/5) DRAW: 10/3
(11/10) Phil Taylor 5-7 Michael Van Gerwen (17/10) DRAW: 10/3

Yep. I'm predicting MVG to get his revenge over the short format. That and the Wade/Newton draw is what bumps the potential return up.

Enjoy the darts tomorrow guys! Dan 'Pitchside' Pitcher will give his Six Nations picks for the weekend later in the week and I'll be back next week with some football chatter.




Rick Nash is a former pro-wrestler who currently DJs for hire, makes piss-poor sports bets and has a community radio show. Altogether, he's a real bum, and you should be ashamed of yourself if you thought this piece was in any way insightful or entertaining. But still, follow him on Twitter and stuff.