PRICE HUNTING FOR MORE GERMAN SUCCESS

The 2023 Premier League Darts makes its annual return to Berlin for Night 9, with Gerwyn Price coming into the Mercedes Benz Arena on the back of consecutive night successes in Nottingham and Newcastle.

The Iceman also picked up his first victory on the Euro Tour, after clinching a last leg decider to defeat Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-7 in the Final of the European Darts Open in Leverkusen.

The Welshman fired in the highest average of the Premier League so far in defeating Michael van Gerwen in last week’s Final, scoring 114.96 in Newcastle, including a 10-dart leg to wrap up the 7^th and final leg.

Price will face fellow Red Dragon star Peter Wright in the final Quarter Final on Night 9 from the German capital, with Snakebite’s only win in this year’s darting roadshow coming against the in-form Welshman.

The Scotsman sits with 2 points after 8 nights played, defeating the Iceman back on Night 6 in Liverpool, with the former 2 time World Champion clinching a last leg decider to reach the Semi’s at the M&S Bank Arena.

Wright needs points if he is to fight back and make the Play-offs, as well as other players around him to drop points, with the Premier League the only competition stopping the colourful Scot from completing the PDC Triple Crown.

League leader Michael van Gerwen hasn’t won a Premier League night in the last 2 weeks, but remains 7 points clear at the top after becoming the first player to win 3 consecutive nights, when he beat Michael Smith to win Night 6 in Liverpool.

MvG will take on 2021 Premier League champion Jonny Clayton in the 3^rd Quarter Final in Berlin, with the winner to face either Gerwyn or Peter in the Semi Finals.

Mighty Mike lost out to Gerwyn Price in the Quarter Finals of this weekends 2^nd Euro Tour, with the Dutchman including a 132 finish with 2 bullseyes and double 16 despite defeat in the Last 8.

Van Gerwen did beat compatriot Raymond van Barneveld and Dimitri van den Bergh during his campaign in Leverkusen, with the reigning Premier League champion including an average of 108.22 against RvB in the 2^nd Round.

The Ferret came top of the league in the 2022 darting roadshow, and will hope to pick up his first win in Germany this week, as he sits 5 points of the Play Off positions in 7^th place. The Pontyberem thrower has reached the Final in 2023 which came back on Night 5, where he beat Nathan Aspinall and Dimitri van den Bergh to take 3 points from Exeter.

Coverage of Night 9 will start from 7pm live on Sky Sports, with the most inform player in the PDC Gerwyn Price taking on Peter Wright in the final Quarter Final at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

By Harry Masterson

Premier League Night 9: Order of Play

Quarter Finals:

Dimitri van den Bergh v Michael Smith

Nathan Aspinall v Chris Dobey

Jonny Clayton v Michael van Gerwen

Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price

Semi Finals:

Van den Bergh/ Smith v Aspinall/ Dobey

Clayton/ Van Gerwen v Wright/ Price

Final:

Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2

2023 Premier League Table:

1. Michael van Gerwen: 25pts
2. Gerwyn Price: 18pts
3. Nathan Aspinall: 13pts
4. Michael Smith: 12pts
5. Chris Dobey: 10pts
6. Dimitri van den Bergh: 9pts
7. Jonny Clayton: 7pts
8. Peter Wright: 2pts