Photography couresty of the Mercedes-Benz Arena
HISTORY MADE IN BERLIN AS 12,000 PACK INSIDE THE MERCEDES-BENZ ARENA
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History was made on night four of the Unibet Premier League – 12,000 packed inside the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin as the Premier League of Darts made an appearance in Germany for the very first time. A darts historian has confirmed it isn’t the biggest crowd ever but it was definitely the biggest darting crowd in PDC and modern day darts history. Michael Smith topped the table after week four after he continued he perfect start to the Unibet Premier League campaign. The St Helens-based star is yet to lose a game after returning to Premier League action after two years away. ‘Bully Boy’ saw off a sub-standard Simon Whitlock in Berlin and the former World Youth Champion still believes he can top the table after judgement night and maybe go on to lift the Premier League title. Whitlock took the opening leg in Germany but Smith pushed on as he won the next four legs in 14, 15, 17 and 18 darts. The comeback seemed to be on as ‘The Wizard’ pinned double 5 to bring the gap back to 4-3 but Smith won the next three legs to claim his fourth successive Premier League victory despite averaging just 87.32.
Peter Wright and Gary Anderson both bounced back after defeats in Newcastle as they produced a stunning match, which ended in a 6-6 draw. Anderson took an early 2-0 lead with a 150 checkout, ‘Snakebite’ levelled up the match with a 76 checkout before turning the game around with an 80 checkout to lead 3-2. The next two legs went with throw before Wright converted an 81 checkout to lead 5-3. Wright then guaranteed a point with a Shanghai 120 outshot but ‘The Flying Scotsman’ swooped as he won the next three legs to snatch a point – hitting the bullseye to close out the game. Rob Cross grabbed a second win in the Unibet Premier League as he saw off Raymond Van Barneveld 7-3 in Berlin. Cross, who had stared the Premier League with two defeats, picked up his first points last week in Newcastle when he defeated Peter Wright and doubled his tally in Berlin against the five-time World Champion. The pair were locked at 3-3 going in to the seventh leg, with the Dutchman taking out 112 in the sixth to level the score before Cross went on to take control of the match. An out of sorts Van Barneveld missed seven of his ten attempts at a double and made a mid-game change of darts, and was punished
as the World Champion won the final four legs without reply, sealing the win with a 128 checkout. Michael Van Gerwen produced another brilliant display – continuing his outstanding form to start of the year. Van Gerwen averaged 103 in a 7-2 victory over Daryl Gurney hitting 41% of his attempts at double. ‘Mighty Mike’ went 2-0 up before Gurney snatched a leg. From there it was plain sailing for the Dutchman as he won four straight legs before Gurney claimed his second and final leg in Germany. Van Gerwen hit a superb 106 checkout on the way to a 6-2 lead before hitting a 25 outshot to close out the 7-2 victory over ‘Superchin’. Mensur Suljovic ended his run of three straight Premier League defeats over Michael Smith, Simon Whitlock and Raymond Van Barneveld as he overcame winless Gerwyn Price 7-3 in front of a immense crowd in Berlin. The Austrian ace averaged 106.53 and hit 60% of his attempts at doubles. Suljovic raced in to a 5-1 lead and Price, who has struggled to find his form so far in this year’s event, couldn’t cope with his Premier League opponent. Suljovic eventually sealed a 7-3 victory and spoke of his delight after the match.
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ob Cross won four awards in London after a sensational start to life in the PDC. ‘Voltage’ appeared in the UK Open in February loosing out to the eventual winner Peter Wright before reaching the final of two European Tour events and winning four Players Championship events and topping the order of merit.
The Hastings-based ace reached the final of the European Championship loosing out to Michael Van Gerwen once again but got revenge of the world number one at the World Championship, which he was awarded with the ‘Preformace of the Year’ award. Cross then went onto win the William Hill World Darts Championship at first attempt in his first year as a professional darts player.
The World Champion’s awards included the Televised Performance of the Year, PDPA Player of the Year, Fans’ Player of the Year and the Best Newcomer award.
“It’s amazing to get four awards,” said Cross. “This time I was practising and I knew I had a big year coming up but I progressed nicely and you couldn’t have scripted it.
“I’ve still got to get used to being World Champion, but in my eyes I’m still learning and I feel I can get better.
“To get the Players’ Player of the Year award is unreal, and to get this reaction from the fans too is fantastic.”
Photography courtesy of Riley’s Sports Bar
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raig Winstanley recently qualified for the Coral UK Open at Riley’s Sports Bar in Chester and will be making his debut at the tournament at Butlins Resort in Minehead at the start of March. Winstanley spoke to The Maximum in an exclusive interview ahead of the UK Open. “I got into darts when watching football with my dad and his mate when I was 15 and went to the club after it my dads mate said fancy game of darts I said yeah ok, hit a 152 checkout in my second game after that I started playing at home a lot and with friends and in pub but never serious then a mate asked me if I’d join a Friday team. We won the league - so got asked to join Michael Smith’s Sunday Super League team and ended up getting in county and into the A team.” “I didn’t expect to qualify at all .....we had no super league game and my mrs was out for the day so one of the lads I play with asked me do I fancy going the Chester UK open qualifiers ....and the morning of it I was just about to text my mate saying can't be bothered mate and my mrs said your not staying in house all day .....get going ....rest is history haha” Now that Winstanley has qualified for the biggest tournament of his career so far the hard work starts right here. “Well I've never been one to practice but now try to do three hours a night when I finish work in my dads pub shed in his yard just try to put the effort in really” Obviously the Riley’s qualifiers are not as well known as the professional qualifiers for the UK Open but they can’t be written off beating some world class players in Minehead. The likes of Paul Hogan and Barry Lynn have been the most well known players to come out of the Riley’s qualifiers and have a good run at the UK Open. It's A big ask [emulating the likes of Paul Hogan and Barry Lynn] but why not that would be amazing but I’m only thinking about the first game.” Making the UK Open through a Riley’s qualifier is an honour for any player whether you are a former World Championship finalist or a lesser known amateur. “In all honesty I'm just so happy to get there and hopefully win my first game anything else will be a bonus but overall I'm just excited about the whole experience.” The St Helens-based Riley’s Sports Bar qualifier will open his Coral UK Open campaign against fellow amateur qualifier Mark Craddock on Friday afternoon in Minehead.
Craig Winstanley
Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC