Phil Taylor records thumping victory over Stephen Bunting in Premier League Darts
Friday 20 February 2015 16:13, UK
Phil Taylor spoiled Stephen Bunting’s homecoming party as he powered to a 7-1 victory in week three of the Premier League.
‘The Bullet’ was cheered on by the majority of fans at a packed Echo Arena in Liverpool, but nerves appeared to get the better of the Merseysider and Taylor took full advantage.
Taylor signalled his intent with a 98 checkout in the opening leg before breaking in the second after Bunting missed a single 20 to leave double tops.
The six-time Premier League winner continued his onslaught with another break in the fourth leg, denying Bunting a shot at a double after he left 36 with a 140 score.
Bunting avoided a whitewash by hitting double tops in the sixth, and he looked poised to break in the following leg following scores of 180 and 171.
However, Taylor dashed his hopes by taking out 121 and he then went one better, hitting a superb 151 checkout to seal a commanding victory.
Double trouble for Anderson
Michael van Gerwen defeated world champion Gary Anderson for the second time in five days as he maintained his 100 per cent start with a 7-4 victory.
The pair served up a high-scoring thriller in the German Darts Championship final on Sunday and although they failed to replicate that in Liverpool, it was the Dutchman who prevailed once again.
Anderson suffered double trouble on Merseyside, registering a below-par 14.8 per cent checkout rate, while Van Gerwen averaged 101.1, which was well below what he registered in the opening two rounds of the Premier League.
The players looked as though they would pick up where they left off in Germany as both hit 180s in the opening leg, but they were then guilty of three missed darts apiece at doubles before Anderson broke throw with double four.
Van Gerwen came close to breaking back immediately, missing bull for a 124 checkout, but ‘The Flying Scotsman’ landed double 19 at the third attempt to move 2-0 up.
Van Gerwen held his throw in the third leg, and although he three missed darts at doubles in the fourth as Anderson finished with double one, the world No 1 responded by winning the next five legs.
Anderson missed doubles in four of those five legs, failing to find double 19 in the ninth as MVG hit tops to secure a point.
A 68 finish in the 10th leg gave Anderson hope but he missed bull in the 11th, and after registering his fourth maximum to leave 24, Van Gerwen took out double 12 to seal victory.
Wright snatches a draw
Peter Wright avoided a third successive defeat as he came from 5-1 down to snatch a 6-6 draw against Raymond van Barneveld.
‘Snakebite’ won just two legs in his opening two matches and looked on course for an unwanted hat-trick as Van Barneveld surged ahead with 11- and 12-dart legs, the reigning champion averaging over 118.
Wright doubled his tally in the seventh leg and he then broke back in the eighth with a superb 121 checkout, finishing on the bull.
The Scot missed another bullseye finish as Van Barneveld secured a point by taking out 41, but the Dutchman’s averaged plummeted as Wright recovered to send the match into a returning leg.
Wright hit two 180s in three throws to be first on a finish, and he then landed double six for a 14-darter to claim a share of the spoils.
Chisnall denies Wade
The opening game of the night also ended in a 6-6 draw as Dave Chisnall and James Wade maintained their unbeaten starts to the competition.
Both players struggled to find their rhythm in the early exchanges as Chisnall edged in a 2-0 lead, but the St Helens thrower was then punished for missing six doubles for a second break as Wade racked up three legs on the spin.
Chisnall had the crowd on their feet in the sixth leg after hitting seven perfect darts, and although he missed treble 19, he returned to take out double tops for an 11-darter.
The final six legs were shared, although Wade would have been hopeful of claiming back-to-back victories after a superb 142 checkout in the penultimate leg.
However, Chisnall snatched a draw by registering his fourth maximum before taking out 63 for a 14-dart finish.
Huybrechts holds Lewis
Kim Huybrechts claimed his first ever Premier League point as he battled his way to a 6-6 draw against a wayward Adrian Lewis.
The Belgian broke Lewis in the opening leg, only for Jackpot to immediately respond, but that was as dramatic as it got in a gritty, low-scoring contest.
Lewis spurned the chance to move 3-1 up, hitting a 177 but missing three darts at doubles as Huybrechts took out double 16 to level.
The Stoke thrower missed another trio at doubles in the eighth leg, but an 80 finish in the 11th saw him move ahead for the fifth time.
However, Lewis failed to pressurise Huybrechts’ throw in the deciding leg as his average fell to 92.2, and ‘The Hurricane’ finished 62 in two darts to claim a draw.
Week three results
James Wade 6-6 Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright 6-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 7-1 Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen 7-4 Gary Anderson
Adrian Lewis 6-6 Kim Huybrechts
