Sunday October 1 2017
‘I’ve got the hunger back!’ James Wade seeks an end to his major drought World Grand Prix preview pages 2-5 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
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Sunday October 1 2017 ● LOVE THE DARTS
‘I’ve had a break, now it’s Alex Moss Editor October 14, 2007 - a 24-year-old James Wade has just beaten Terry Jenkins 6-3 to win his second major title, the World Grand Prix. Other major successes have followed for Wade in the subsequent decade, including two UK Opens, a Premier League and another World Grand Prix, but The Machine returns to Dublin this weekend with his career in somewhat of a crossroads. A surprise first-round exit at the World Matchplay this summer saw Wade, now 34, drop out of the top eight in the rankings for the first time in 10 years. His last tournament win on TV was almost three years ago, and his most recent PDC title was back in May of last year. After touring Australia and New Zealand at the end of the summer for the World Series, Wade took a break from darts, before returning to action on the Pro Tour earlier this weekend in the leadup to his World Grand Prix campaign. It was a break which he felt had been needed for a while. “I’ve had a month off and done nothing in the world of darts,” said Wade. “I’ve had a nice holiday and it’s the longest time I’ve had out of darts in 12 years. “It got to the point where I’d been on and off and I needed a break. There needed to be some time away and that’s what I’ve done. “I feel fresh. I’m probably going to be a little rusty, but a break was needed, too much darts can send me absolute mad!” Although Wade may have lost his place in the top eight, a good run in Dublin next week could see him back in there, and with 11-time World Grand Prix champion Phil Taylor electing to skip the event, Wade will be the second most successful player in the tournament’s history in the 32-player field, behind three-time winner Michael van Gerwen. “I’ve got so many fond memories of it (the World Grand Prix),” he said. “I preferred it when it was in the smaller hall, it was more personal. “I’ve had some great games over the years there. There’s been so many memories there. “One of my favourite memories there was probably when I won the tournament for the first time (in 2007). I won it easily, no one came close to me, that is one big memory.” From the 32 players who contested the 2007 World Grand Prix, only four men are in the line-up this week, with Wade joined by former finalists Raymond van Barneveld, Adrian Lewis and Mervyn King. “My longevity (in the game) is because I’m stubborn and I like punishment!”
Wade said. “My form has dropped a little bit, that’s what happens when you’re tired and you need a break. “I’ve probably needed a break for two years now. I’ve had a break and I haven’t been prolific practicing while I’ve been off. “I’ve done very little, but now I’ve got to get back into the game, put the work in now. I’ve got no excuses not to throw, I’ve had a break, which is what I’ve been moaning to my wife about for the last two years now! “I need to get the hunger back. I’m missing it now, I’ve just started to miss it. The first two weeks were great, no darts. “The third week, great, no darts. By the fourth week I was feeling a little bit left out now, and I want to throw darts again now.” It has been a long time between drinks for Wade in terms of TV titles, especially for a player who, aside from Taylor and van Gerwen, has won more major events than anyone in the PDC. And he knows that himself, any talk about getting back into the top eight is superseded by talk of returning to the top four and adding to his collection of major titles. “In my opinion, the top eight isn’t the hard bit of getting into,” Wade said. “It’s the top four. “As long as my head’s there and I want to be there, that’s a normal everyday at work. I should be in the top eight, it’s only because I’ve been lazy and got to the point literally where I didn’t want to be there. “I think everyone gets to that point. I’ve had a break and now it’s time to get back to work. “It’s such a close race there, you win a tournament, or be the runner-up in a TV tournament and you can jump four or five places. “I know I can still do it. I know I can do it. I’m not one of the players that says they can do it but doesn’t believe it. “I can do it, I know I can and it’s been long overdue and that’s what I need to do.” First up for Wade in this year’s World Grand Prix is world number 37 Steve West on Monday night. The pair have met just three times before, with The Machine coming out on top in all three occasions away from the cameras. The last of those meetings came almost a year ago in the Players Championship double-header in Dublin in 2016, with Wade edging out West in a last-leg decider. Just a few days later West would shock the darting world by beating Taylor in the first round of the World Grand Prix on his debut. West also put out the much-fancied Michael Smith in the opening round in
Blackpool this summer, so he will be approached with caution by Wade, who despite his previous successes in the World Grand Prix has gone out in the first round for the last two years. “I’m sure it’ll be good,” Wade said. “He’ll be keen and I’m sure he’s thrown more darts than me. “If I turn up I win, if it don’t I won’t. It’s the same with any game of darts, it’s as simple as that. “It used to be where I can coast through that in third gear, you can’t do that anymore, you’ve got to win a game.” Wade’s two triumphs in Dublin came in 2007 and 2010, and he also reached the
LOVE THE DARTS ● Sunday October 1 2017
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time to get back to work’ LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
Welcome return: James Wade is keen to return to action in front of the cameras in the World Grand Prix tomorrow night
TV
World Grand Prix Tonight Sky Sports Main Event, 7pm
final in 2014, but it is that maiden major, the 2007 World Matchplay, which still gives him the most fondness. “It probably will be the World Matchplay, my first time winning a major,” said Wade when asked which of his major titles he is most pleased with. “The Premier League (in 2009) was nice. It was a long time ago and people forget the averages I was hitting, how many years ago, the amount of 100 averages, I was hitting quite a few. “But I’ve got to move onwards though. You can’t keep talking about the past. A lot of players tend to do that, that’s the past, you’ve got to move on, it doesn’t
pay the mortgage or pay the bills.” Looking to the future, Wade’s resumé still has a big hole in it: a World Championship title. Many regard Wade as the best player never to have won a world title, and with his record of big titles only eclipsed by Taylor and van Gerwen, it is an argument which does carry some weight. “I used to feel pressure there (at the World Championship) but I don’t feel it anymore,” Wade said. “I still get nervous. I used to get over nervous for it, but it doesn’t faze me. I should have won it now, I’m the third most successful player, I’ve won more TV
tournaments than anyone else bar two people, so I should have done it, but I haven’t, ifs, coulds, shoulds, maybes.” Could 2018 be the year that Wade lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time? He says he will have a better idea of what his chances are like after his first-round game at the Alexandra Palace in midDecember. “It could be (my year),” he said. “I’ll know nearer the time where my darts are going. I’ll know after my first game. “Everyone knows after the first game if it’s realistically achievable, and only then you can tell. It’s how you perform in the first game is what stall you set out.”
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Sunday October 1 2017 ● LOVE THE DARTS LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
Top four
Memorable night: Steve West celebrates after knocking out Phil Taylor in the World Grand Prix
West looking for another upset Alex Moss Editor Steve West returns to the scene of his greatest triumph tomorrow night when he takes to the stage at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel for his second appearance in the World Grand Prix. The word number 37 enjoyed a memorable debut in the double-start tournament 12 months ago, knocking out 11-time champion Phil Taylor in the first round. For West to top that this week is a tough ask, but a victory over world number nine James Wade on Monday would certainly be an impressive start. “I’m going to be the underdog,” said West, who qualified for the tournament as the third-to-last qualifier from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. “I’ll always be the underdog in my eyes. It gives me that more of an incentive to do well, to beat a big player, a big name, and James is one of them.” Casting his mind back to that victory over the 16-time world champion Taylor last year, West, of course, has very fond memories. “It probably was the best night in my darts career,” he proclaims. “I got back to my hotel across the street from the venue
and I couldn’t even get in the hotel, it was ram-packed. “I didn’t end up going to bed until half five in the morning which is bad, but I enjoyed every bit of it.” Since making his bow on the Winter Gardens stage for the World Matchplay in July, where he beat Michael Smith in the first round, West, like many of the players on tour, had a quiet August and September while the big boys battled it out on the World Series in Australasia. “I played in Holland a couple of weeks ago, but since then I haven’t done anything,” said West, speaking ahead of the Pro Tour events which preceded the World Grand Prix. “I’ve gone through physio so when I’m playing now my concentration levels are really low, I’m waiting for pain to come and it’s not coming. “I sort of drift off somewhere and then I realise I’m playing darts and try to get it back, it’s awkward. “I’ve been throwing well, it’s just the concentration side of things I’ve got to work on before the weekend. “James is normally a 95-96 average player and takes out big shots, but it’s not really about what he does, it’s about what I do. If I bring my A game, James will get beat. If I don’t, I’ll be going home.”
Michael van Gerwen (1) Best Winner 2012, 2014, 2016
MVG the Dave South Darts Writer Michael van Gerwen will be looking to retain his World Grand Prix title having made the final for the last three years running. Betfair Sportsbook chalk the green machine at 5/6, so around a 55 per cent implied chance. Gary Anderson is 5/1, with Peter Wright at 8/1, Mensur Suljovic at 25/1, with the rest of the field at 33s. On the outrights, punters may be dissuaded by seeing MVG crash out at the group stage of the Champions League of Darts. This came after back-to-back European Tour wins at the beginning of the month. Van Gerwen missed the tour event last weekend due to a baby shower with his new born. The tricky test for MVG could be a
LOVE THE DARTS ● Sunday October 1 2017
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seeds have contrasting records…
Gary Anderson (2) Best Runner-up 2016
Peter Wright (3)
Adrian Lewis (4)
Best Runner-up 2010
Best Second round 2014
clear favourite in Dublin seeded showdown with Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals, but other than this, MVG knows how to win here, chasing his fourth title. Looking at the other half of the draw, Anderson, who made last year’s final, can be taken at 8/11 to win his quarter and this will appeal to some. Round one could be a banana skin for punters. This could be over in six legs and with a short race to two sets is likely to see an upset or two in the process, which past years has demonstrated. The opening game tonight pits Alan Norris against Justin Pipe, and sees Norris reigning into round two on this one for me. Norris secured a semi-final and quarter-final in TV majors so far in 2017 and at 8/11 will be a good bet for punters to get behind.
Kim Huybrechts can beat off Robert Thornton, who makes the event by virtue of Phil Taylor’s absence, with the Belgian reaching the quarter-finals last year. Thornton’s season has been one to forget and he is tumbling down the rankings. Huybrechts could cement this by beating the Scot 2-0 at 9/5 with sponsors Unibet. Eyes will be on James Wade as giant killer from 2016 Steve West has seen shrewd punters heading in at 7/4 after defeating Taylor at the same stage last year. Wade has been hot and cold, especially on the World Series. The game to go the distance is 10/11 with Bwin. Similar pricing exists on the Michael Smith/Gerwyn Price and Mensur Suljovic/Ian White games to all go three sets and I find it difficult to argue too
much with this. Finalising our bets, we really like the look of MVG to win outright, which is 10/11 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook, which we are taking three points on. A further three on Gary Anderson at 8/11 with Unibet and Norris is too good to miss at 8/11 generally for two points. Huybrechts correct score at 9/5 for a single point with Unibet sees off round one. Those wanting a cheeky accumulator only should consider wins for Norris, Kim Huybrechts, Gurney and Mervyn King, which pays just under 7/1 with Sky Bet. Any followers of my darts bets knows I follow a general £10 a point staking plan for our bets, so any following these please gamble responsibly, make it fun and affordable.
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Sunday October 1 2017 ● LOVE THE DARTS
Cullen clobbers Corner in a superstar performance Match of the Week: Joe Cullen 6 Richie Corner 1 (International Darts Open second round) Christopher Kempf There are two players in the PDC named Joe Cullen, and whether any given venue will see a performance by one or the other has seemed to be entirely up to chance. One Joe Cullen seems to melt in the withering heat of the stage lights and under scrutiny of the TV cameras. This was the Joe Cullen who struggled even to get himself off the stage at the Players Championship Finals last year, posting an average against Raymond van Barneveld so low as to be widely seen as an embarrassment. The other Joe Cullen, the one who ranks among the most exciting and talented players in the entirety of professional darts, showed up to Riesa for the International Darts Open. This Joe Cullen displays, at times, levels of raw virtuosity and skill that remind one of a younger (circa 2012) Michael van Gerwen, and give rise to some speculation as to whether a breakthrough win for this Joe Cullen, similar to MVG’s World Grand Prix triumph in 2012, may be only a few months away. But before Cullen can challenge the current titans of world darts, players like Richie Corner stand in the way. Corner, while in no way favoured to win his second-round match against the Rockstar, seeded 11th in the 11th European Tour event of the year, threw down the gauntlet for his younger rival in the very first leg. Although Cullen hit a maximum in his second visit, a score of 42 in his fourth visit and a missed double in the fifth allowed Corner to hit his third Shanghai 120 finish of the weekend. After the very first leg of his tournament, Cullen found himself 1-0, and a break, behind his unseeded opponent. At this point, either one of the two Joe
PDC EUROPE
Rockstar performance: Joe Cullen averaged 113.77 in his second-round thrashing of Richie Corner in the second round of the HappyBet International Darts Open in Riesa at the weekend
Cullens could have revealed himself. The one Joe Cullen could have put forward a nervy, error-strewn performance and fallen 6-4 to Corner, or the other Joe Cullen could have gone berserk, blasting his way through all the trebles on the board and crushing his English opponent 6-1. To the delight of darts fans everywhere, they were treated to the latter. Like a rockstar enthralling his audience with a virtuosic guitar solo, Cullen missed almost nothing after the first leg. Out of 66 darts thrown at trebles in the
final six legs, an incredible 39 (59%) found their targets. Cullen broke throw twice in 12 darts and twice, also, on 87 finishes; and on throw the Bradford native was untouchable, ruthlessly checking out 147 in three darts in the fifth leg with his opponent not even having scored 250 points. Corner’s 120 finish in the first leg would turn out to be the first of only two finishes he would attempt in the entire match, as Cullen’s average climbed above 115 in the sixth leg. The culminating match-winning 116 finish actually brought his average down, to the remarkable figure of 113.77. It was the second highest average recorded on the European Tour by a player not named Taylor or van Gerwen. Cullen would go on to the next day to reach the semi-finals in Riesa, miss a dart at double for a perfect leg, and beautifully execute one of the toughest setup shots in darts, the 149 from 181 to leave 32 (T20, bull, T13). But a very slow start in his semi-final against Kim Huybrechts was only arrested by that near nine darter, and even that did not propel him on to victory. Once again the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde aspect of Cullen’s play presented itself. The breathtaking assuredness of Cullen’s defeat of Corner demonstrated once again that there is a fearsome competitive aspect to the Rockstar, even if it lurks behind the mercurial façade of a player who has not yet met the high expectations set for him in televised tournaments. Cullen, however, has won two Pro Tour titles this year, climbed to number 21 in the rankings, and is now qualifying for every major tournament, sometimes as a seed. It is only a matter of time before a player who can produce such an astounding average does so in a major event and grabs the world’s attention.
Results HappyBet International Darts Open Riesa: First round: C Quantock bt D Horvat 6-3; R Huybrechts bt T Evetts 6-4; B Dolan bt A Hamilton 6-0; P Jacques bt V van der Voort 6-4; D Nilsson bt S Beaton 6-5; D Webster bt L Woodhouse 6-4; R Meulenkamp bt M McGowan 6-1; J Payne bt B Roith 6-4; W O’Connor bt D van den Bergh 6-4; S Lennon bt S Stevenson 6-2; C Kist bt J Pipe 6-5; K Brown bt M Plooy 6-4; M Hopp bt M Webster 6-4; R Corner bt M Schindler 6-4; K Anderson bt J Hendriks 6-1; J Michael bt N Bezzeg 6-3. Second round: P Wright bt C Quantock 6-2; R Huybrechts bt C Reyes 6-4; J Klaasen bt B Dolan 6-4; P Jacques bt B van de Pas 62; D Nilsson bt D Gurney 6-5; D Chisnall bt D
Webster 6-4; R Meulenkamp bt M Smith 6-3; J Payne bt R Cross 6-4; M Suljovic bt W O’Connor 6-3; G Price bt S Lennon 6-4; K Huybrechts bt C Kist 6-1; I White bt K Brown 6-3; A Norris bt M Hopp 6-1; J Cullen bt R Corner 6-1; S Whitlock bt K Anderson 64; M King bt J Michael 6-2. Third round: P Wright bt R Huybrechts 6-4; J Klaasen bt P Jacques 6-4; D Nilsson bt D Chisnall 6-5; R Meulenkamp bt J Payne 6-3; G Price bt M Suljovic 6-5; K Huybrechts bt I White 6-5; J Cullen bt A Norris 6-3; S Whitlock bt M King 6-1. Quarter-finals: P Wright bt J Klaasen 64; R Meulenkamp bt D Nilsson 6-2; K Huybrechts bt G Price 6-4; J Cullen bt S Whitlock 6-3. Semifinals: P Wright bt R Meulenkamp 6-3; K
Huybrechts bt J Cullen 6-2. Final: P Wright bt K Huybrechts 6-5. William Hill World Darts Championship South & Central American Qualifier Palmas: Final: D Portela bt A Sattin 6-1. HappyBet European Darts Trophy UK Qualifier Dublin: First round: S Beaton bt R Meikle 6-1; A Boulton bt D Forde 6-3; K Brown bt K Anderson 6-4; W O’Connor bt J Bain 6-5; D Webster bt A Hamilton 6-2; S Bunting bt P Hudson 6-3; C Loose bt J Murnan 6-2; L Woodhouse bt J Henderson 6-4; J Wade bt D
LOVE THE DARTS ● Sunday October 1 2017
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Wright clinches tenth title of 2017 with Riesa victory PDC EUROPE
Burton DeWitt Darts Writer, in Riesa Peter Wright’s magical 2017 continued on Sunday night at the HappyBet International Darts Open in Riesa, as he lifted his tenth title of 2017. After a slow start to the weekend, the world number three got better in every match, culminating in a 6-5 win over Kim Huybrechts in the final. Huybrechts got the early jump on Wright, breaking throw twice in the first three legs, as he raced to a 4-2 lead. But Wright came back, taking out a 101 against the darts in leg eight to level at 44. Both players held to send the match into a decider, but Wright - who had the darts in the decider - kicked off with consecutive 140s, before taking out a 116 to complete a 12-darter and claim a fifth European Tour title of 2017. Earlier, Wright started off the final session with a 6-4 win over Jelle Klaasen. Klaasen got the first break in leg three, taking out double 10 after Wright missed three at double. But Wright then wheeled off three legs in a row to take the lead at 4-2. Klaasen bounced back, winning the next two legs in 12 and 15 darts. But missed doubles did Klaasen in the end, as he missed 14 in the match, including five in the final leg. In the semi-finals, Wright defeated the last unseeded player, Ron Meulenkamp, 6-3, despite the Dutch left-hander averaging nearly 106. Meulenkamp struggled to get going, only managing a dart at bull from six visits on his throw in the second leg, as Wright eased to a 3-0 lead. But the quality of both players picked up drastically as the match wore on, highlighted by a 167 out from Meulenkamp for a 12-dart hold to stay alive in the eighth leg. Meulenkamp had a chance to inch another leg back in the ninth, but he missed double 13 for a second
Petersen bt C Rydz 6-4; C Quantock bt A Lewis 6-2; S West bt D Pallett 6-0; D Portela bt J Walker 6-2; J Pipe bt M Dennant 6-4; J Caven bt M Mansell 6-2; R Thornton bt S Burton 6-2; R Searle bt J Part 6-2; R Evans bt D Johnson 6-4; C Dobey bt P Harvey 6-3; J Wilson bt K Shepherd 6-1; R Burnett bt M Walsh 6-3; J Clayton bt S Taylor 6-3; J Bowles bt M Webster 6-3; A Gilding bt P Nicholson 6-5; K Painter bt R Palmer 6-5. Final round: A Boulton bt S Beaton 6-4; K Brown bt W O’Connor 6-3; M Todd bt D Webster 6-5; S Bunting bt C Loose 6-1; J Worsley bt L Woodhouse 6-3; J Wade bt D Petersen 6-5; C Quantock bt M McGowan 6-2; S West bt D Portela 6-4; J Caven bt J Pipe 6-1; R Thornton bt R Searle 6-2; R Evans bt R
consecutive 12-dart leg. Wright then hit double four to complete the victory. Wright averaged over 103 and hit 50 per cent of his doubles. Huybrechts, who reached his first Euro Tour final since this event last year, had near perfect timing throughout the entire weekend. In his first match of the evening, he reached his first Euro Tour semi-final in almost exactly a year, as he beat Gerwyn Price 6-4. After a pair of holds, Huybrechts missed two darts to break, but Price followed suit, giving Huybrechts a reprieve. Huybrechts held his nerve, taking out double two to move into the lead for the first time at 2-1. Huybrechts consolidated the break, then earned another by taking out 100 with two tops. But Price fought back, landing his
second 112 out in as many matches after Huybrechts missed double 13 for a 119. Price then threw in a regulation 14-dart hold to trim the deficit to 4-3. Price had a chance to level in the next leg, but he missed a dart each at tops, double 10, and double five. Huybrechts cleaned up on double 16, and that would be the last opportunity Price had. In the semi-finals, Huybrechts marched into a 3-0 lead over Joe Cullen before the Yorkshireman nearly had the first ninedart leg on the Euro Tour in over four years. Cullen left 141 after six darts, and then hit the treble 20 and treble 15. However, his dart at double 18 fell just inside. But Cullen would only get sniffs the rest of the way, having the odd chance at bull for a 122 and two darts at double 11 for a 79 out in the final leg. Huybrechts cleaned up to win 6-2.
North 6-4; C Dobey bt T Temple 6-1; J Wilson bt R Burnett 6-1; J Clayton bt P Jacques 6-4; J Bowles bt A Gilding 6-4; K Painter bt S Lennon 6-4; J Richardson bt J Payne 6-4; N Aspinall bt J Lewis 6-5.
start). Tomorrow: Unibet World Grand Prix (Second day of seven) First round: B van de Pas vs C Reyes; M King vs R Huybrechts; S West vs J Wade; S Whitlock vs C Kist; M Suljovic vs I White; M Smith vs G Price; G Anderson vs R North; P Wright vs S Bunting (all best of three sets, double start). Tuesday: Unibet World Grand Prix (Third day of seven). Second round. Wednesday: Unibet World Grand Prix (Fourth day of seven). Second round. Thursday: Unibet World Grand Prix (Fifth day of seven). Quarter-finals. (Tournament concludes on Saturday, October 7).
Fixtures Today: Unibet World Grand Prix (First day of seven) First round: A Norris vs J Pipe; J Cullen vs D Webster; S Beaton vs R Cross; R Thornton vs K Huybrechts; R van Barneveld vs K Anderson; A Lewis vs D Gurney; M van Gerwen vs J Henderson; D Chisnall vs J Klaasen (all best of three sets, double
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Sunday October 1 2017 ● LOVE THE DARTS
Form Rankings calculated for the PDC’s top 20 form players’ last 180 stage legs
Suljovic is leading finisher LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
Christopher Kempf Darts Statistician Mensur Suljovic is now the best finisher in recent form in the PDC, having pushed just ahead of Daryl Gurney, Michael van Gerwen and Joe Cullen to claim the finishing title for the week. Though knocked out in the third round of the HappyBet International Darts Open by Gerwyn Price, the Austrian player hit 11 out of 22 doubles on the weekend in Riesa, extending a streak of solid performances stretching back to the previous week’s Champions League triumph in Cardiff. Price himself returned to the Love The Darts Form Rankings leaderboard, who rode his knockout of Suljovic and a near personal record average in the quarterfinals to leap ahead of Adrian Lewis and Steve Beaton. Very little separates Peter Wright, ranked this week at number 10, from Rob Cross at number four, who are at the front and back of a pack of players challenging for the number two and three positions on the form leaderboard. This includes International Darts Open semi-finalist Cullen, who attempted two nine darters in Riesa and missed double 18 for the second, and Kyle Anderson, who posted the highest average of the first round and was only eliminated by a 100+ average by his countryman Simon Whitlock. The Love The Darts Form Rankings attempts to determine, based on actual efficiency in winning legs, to what extent darts players are overvalued or undervalued by their rank on the PDC Order of Merit. To do this, we construct a rolling 180leg dataset from players’ stage matches that is updated with each additional leg played (and, consequently, each additional leg dropped out of the rankings). From this data, we can estimate how well a given player would throw if he played out every leg until he hit a winning double. This provides us a controlled statistical situation in which we can directly compare players’ strengths, weaknesses and overall form. In the table, right, those qualities are expressed by the average number of darts it would take each player to complete this hypothetical leg, stage by stage, and the “sandbox average”, the estimated average a player would record without an opponent over an infinite number of legs.
Leading the way: Recent Champions League winner Mensur Suljovic is now the best finisher in recent form in the PDC after overtaking Daryl Gurney, Michael van Gerwen and Joe Cullen
G A B C D E F 94.70 1 1 Michael van Gerwen (Net) 9.51 3.88 2.48 15.87 89.05 2 2 Gary Anderson (Sco) 9.95 3.74 3.18 16.88 88.46 3 10.56 7 Mensur Suljovic (Aut) 4.02 2.42 16.99 87.90 4 10.31 38 Rob Cross (Eng) 4.00 2.79 17.10 87.70 5 4 Phil Taylor (Eng) 10.34 4.31 2.49 17.14 87.41 6 27 Kyle Anderson (Aus) 10.20 4.36 2.64 17.20 87.37 7 12 Daryl Gurney (NI) 10.65 4.12 2.43 17.20 87.20 8 10.90 20 Joe Cullen (Eng) 3.87 2.45 17.22 86.70 9 10.55 21 Mervyn King (Eng) 4.08 2.70 17.34 86.48 10 3 Peter Wright (Sco) 10.46 4.15 2.77 17.38 86.07 11 6 Dave Chisnall (Eng) 10.18 4.37 2.91 17.46 85.08 12 10.94 14 Ian White (Eng) 4.13 2.60 17.67 84.24 13 8 Raymond van Barneveld (Net) 10.80 4.18 2.87 17.84 84.04 14 10 James Wade (Eng) 10.76 4.38 2.74 17.89 83.53 15 13 Kim Huybrechts (Bel) 10.73 4.47 2.79 17.99 83.00 16 11 Michael Smith (Eng) 10.70 4.37 3.03 18.11 82.65 17 11.46 15 Benito van de Pas (Net) 3.96 2.77 18.19 82.62 18 10.90 16 Simon Whitlock (Aus) 4.08 3.21 18.19 82.15 19 28 Cristo Reyes (Spa) 10.83 4.57 2.90 18.30 82.10 20 19 Gerwyn Price (Wal) 10.85 4.40 3.06 18.31 Column A: Love The Darts Form Ranking Column B: PDC Order of Merit ranking Column C: Estimated number of darts needed from 501 to reach a first three-figure finish Column D: Estimated number of darts needed from first finish to reach a double Column E: Estimated number of darts needed from first dart at double to check out Column F: Estimated number of darts needed in total from 501 to finish Column G: Estimated long-run “sandbox average”