With more weekly drama than Eastenders, the Thursday night treat that is Premier League Darts is back. Here’s JOE’s preview of the 2013 season.
Through consistent excitement and top-class coverage, the Premier League Darts format has become a firm favourite with fans. As well as being excellent TV, the travelling show brings darts to fans all over these islands, and Ireland gets two visits this year. Belfast kicks off the season tomorrow night in the Odyssey Arena while Dublin plays host Round 11 in the O2 on April 18.
So, what can we expect from the ninth year of the Premier League? Well there are a few changes, which should make it even better. The big change is that the number of players has gone from eight to 10 and this year there will be a relegation aspect to the season, ratcheting up the tension nicely.
The new players this year are the Dutch sensation, and World Championship runner-up, Michael van Gerwen, 2012 UK Open champion Robert Thornton and European Championship finalist Wes Newton.
Sitting fourth in the order of merit, Van Gerwen more than deserves his spot, while Thornton’s UK Open win, beating Phil Taylor in the final, was sensational. Newton’s inclusion was more than fair, as he sits seventh in the order of merit.
All the other big names are there; Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade, Barney, Simon Whitlock, Gary Anderson and Andy Hamilton round out the ten. While some may think the expansion from eight dilutes the quality, I don’t see any weak players there.
Anyway, the other big change to the 2013 format will separate the wheat from the chaff. After week nine in Brighton, when everyone will have played each other, the bottom two are ‘relegated’ and the remaining eight will play-off over the final five weeks.
It means that there should be no mid-season lull as players battle to avoid the drop and the final rounds will be between the best of the best.
The prize money is up with the winner set to scoop £150,000 of a £520,000 pot. Not bad, eh?
Okay, time for some predictions. The obvious pick, is, well, obvious. Taylor, who regained his world title in January, is the reigning champ and has won six of the eight incarnations of the event. At 2/1, he’s the understandable favourite but the most impressive player this term has been Van Gerwen.
At 23, Mighty Mike is the Young Player of the Year, PDPA Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year and he won the World Grand Prix, held in CityWest in October. At 11/4, he not much longer odds than Taylor but his fast style should suit the League format and we’ll back the rookie to win it all at the O2 in London on May 16.
Thanks to McCoys, sponsors of the Premier League, we will be covering the action from this year’s event so keep it here over the next few months for previews, reviews and maybe a giveaway or two.
