Nathan Aspinall (Photo Lawrence Lustig/PDC)
Nathan Aspinall sits top of the Premier League table after an impressive 7-2 victory over Gary Anderson on Night Nine in Milton Keynes last night.
Last year’s runner-up Aspinall hit seven of his 11 double attempts in a clinical display at the Marshall Arena, which saw the two-time TV champion end the match with a 102.45 average.
Aspinall leads the way heading into the 13-day break between Nights Nine and Ten, while defeat for Anderson sees the two-time Premier League winner slip down to eighth in the standings.
“That was a very tough game,” Aspinall reflected. “Gary knows how much I look up to him, he was always my favourite player growing up.
“But I had a job to do tonight. It’s a great result and it gives my leg-difference a boost as well.
“My confidence is back. Every time I go on that stage I think I’m going to win again, I’m enjoying myself in this Premier League.”
𝗔𝗦𝗣 𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 22, 2021
Sensational display from Nathan Aspinall there who steamrolls Gary Anderson 7-2 to top the table on Night Nine!
📺 𝗨𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 👉 Jose de Sousa v Peter Wright pic.twitter.com/WjSsu2kU8a
Aspinall knocks Dimitri Van den Bergh off top spot after the Belgian was held to a 6-6 draw with James Wade.
Van den Bergh looked on course for the two points as he nailed a 160 checkout to go 6-3 in front, but a typically resilient Wade hit back with three successive legs to tie.
Wade, who averaged 102.93, maintains his place in the fourth, the final provisional qualifying place for the Play-Offs which will take place on May 28.
𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 22, 2021
From 6-3 down, James Wade rattles off three legs in quick succession to snatch a draw against Dimitri Van den Bergh! pic.twitter.com/7QVbpHNajI
Five-time Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen drops down to third after he was swept aside 7-3 by Jonny Clayton.
Masters champion Clayton ended his three-game winless run in style, firing in five 180s on his way to averaging 100.25.
The Welshman, who has won five of his last meetings with Van Gerwen, moves up to fifth in his impressive debut campaign.
“It’s nice to be back to winning ways, especially after last night when I got smashed off the board by James [Wade],” said Clayton.
“I just wanted to get back playing how I can and I’m so happy to beat such a class player. It’s always massive to win against Michael, whether it’s by one leg or four.
“I’m still loving every minute of this and I look forward to each time I play in this tournament.”
𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗧𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗠𝘃𝗚
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 22, 2021
Jonny Clayton moves into the top four after a superb 7-3 victory over five-time champion Michael van Gerwen!
📺 𝗨𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 👉 Nathan Aspinall v Gary Anderson pic.twitter.com/3kTFbRb3jq
Jose de Sousa and Peter Wright remain in the hunt for the Play-Off places after playing out a 6-6 draw.
Wright looked on course for victory as he opened up a 6-4 advantage, only for De Sousa to hit back with three trademark 180s across the next two legs which he won in 14 and 11 darts respectively to salvage a point.
Both Wright and debutant De Sousa stay in the hunt for the top four places, tied on nine points.
𝗔 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗖𝗘
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 22, 2021
A brilliant 11-darter in the decider seals Jose de Sousa a draw against Peter Wright, with both players hitting SEVEN 180s in that!
📺 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗽 👉 Dimitri Van den Bergh v James Wade pic.twitter.com/wZ5W1Gvjty
The opening game of the night saw Rob Cross prevail 7-5 over Glen Durrant in the battle between two players already eliminated from the tournament.
Despite an improved display from Durrant, the reigning champion bows out of this year’s competition with nine losses from nine outings, while Cross finishes on seven points, the highest ever total to face elimination from the Premier League.
The Premier League resumes on Wednesday May 5 with Night Ten in Milton Keynes, the first of three consecutive league phase nights in the week.
RESULTS: Glen Durrant 5-7 Rob Cross; Jonny Clayton 7-3 Michael van Gerwen; Nathan Aspinall 7-2 Gary Anderson; Jose de Sousa 6-6 Peter Wright; Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-6 James Wade
League Table
| P | W | D | L | +/- | LWAT | Points | |
| Nathan Aspinall | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | +16 | 23 | 13 |
| Dimitri Van den Bergh | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | +14 | 27 | 13 |
| Michael van Gerwen | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +8 | 16 | 11 |
| James Wade | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | +7 | 19 | 10 |
| Jonny Clayton | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | +2 | 21 | 10 |
| Jose De Sousa | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 9 |
| Peter Wright | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 18 | 9 |
| Gary Anderson | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 13 | 8 |
| Rob Cross | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -3 | 17 | 7 |
| Glen Durrant | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | -39 | 7 | 0 |
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