Night six of the Betway Premier League of Darts saw the ten elite players visit Nottingham's Capital FM Arena last week, watched by a packed and vociferous crowd of over 6,000. Local world champion boxer Carl Froch was among those watching on keenly from the sidelines. The world number one Michael van Gerwen built on the form he displayed in winning last weekend's UK Open title to overcome the 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, moving the Dutchman back to the top of the league. That became possible because of the defeat of the previously unbeaten Dave Chisnall at the hands of Stephen Bunting on the night.
Van Gerwen was in sparkling form to record an impressive 107.61 average for the match, seemingly moving up several gears when pressed at 4-3 ahead, to claim a ten-dart checkout and then go on to win 7-3, taking the last leg with a 13-dart finish. He seemed far more at ease than in his match against Peter Wright the week before, revelling in the Nottingham venue and taking out a 128 checkout during the match. Taylor had his chances in the ninth leg, but missed doubles to allow his opponent to step in.
The man who knocked 'Mighty Mike' out of the world championship and took the title this year was the Scot Gary Anderson. In recent weeks he has slipped in the league, but was back to his formidable best to thrash Adrian Lewis 7-1, with an average that even surpassed van Gerwen's for once, at a mighty 108.98.
That success improved his league position to third and included clinical 127 and 145 finishes.
Chisnall was somewhat surprisingly beaten 7-3 by Bunting, a semi-finalist at the UK Open, before being 'tonked' 10-0 by Wright. He was never in danger of a repeat performance in Nottingham, clinching a 112 finish at the start and then galloping into a 4-1 lead.
The St Helens' ace cut the deficit with an 11-darter, but Bunting continued to dominate thereafter to get the better of his good friend, and seems to be finding his feet in the tournament now.
Wright was another to build on his fine form from the weekend's event at Minehead, where he was the runner-up behind van Gerwen, edging out Belgian Kim Huybrechts 7-5.
That first league victory this campaign brought him off the bottom of the table.
Last year's Premier League champion, Raymond van Barneveld looks to be well off the pace this time around, as he now accompanies Huybrechts in the bottom two places, following a 7-3 reversal at the hands of James Wade. After losing the opening leg to the Dutch former world champion, he took complete control of the match at 6-1. Van Barneveld took the next two legs to offer some hope of a comeback, but Wade lived up to his "Machine" nickname to close the game down in the following leg.
Next week's action will come from The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, where Anderson will hope to utilise home advantage against Huybrechts, while van Gerwen against Chisnall promises to perhaps be the highlight of the evening. Van Barneveld will pair up with his old nemesis, Taylor, looking to gain some points quickly before the week nine relegation evening comes along.