Rotterdam Night 2 Premier League Round-up
A tearful Raymond van Barneveld pulled off a sensational win over Michael van Gerwen and admitted: “This is one of the biggest nights of my career.”
Barney sent the Rotterdam Ahoy wild with a shock 7-5 win over his fellow countryman and buddy MVG.
It meant two successive defeats for World No1 van Gerwen and kept RVB’s O2 Play-Off hopes alive in sensational style.
Barney, on the eve of his 51st birthday, admitted: “When I heard I was played Michael here in Rotterdam I’m thinking it is going to be a tough game.
“I believed I could win. I played well yesterday but on the practice board tonight it was not even OK.
“When I came here and see this crowd, this fantastic crowd every single night, you cannot lose.
“We both didn’t like it when the draw came out to be playing one another here. But at the end I was focused.
“Peter beat Mike yesterday so I knew he’s vulnerable at the moment but everything went with me, I’m really pleased.
“I love these fans. This is probably one of the best nights of my career. To play here when I was losing four games on the spin but then beat Simon Whitlock yesterday and beat Mike now. Everything is still open, but I need to win a couple more matches.
“But to win both nights in Rotterdam means the world to me. I knew if I played my very best I could do it.
“When I was leading 6-3 I was thinking ‘hold on, hold on’ and then in the end I was just give it all.
“I’ve had five world titles but when the PDC decided to come here to Rotterdam in the Premier League it was the best decision ever.”
Daryl Gurney kept his Unibet Premier League Play-Off hopes alive with a 7-1 demolition of Simon Whitlock. The Derry ace stayed in contention for a top four place by beating the Wizard of Oz at the Ahoy Arena. Superchin, 32, had suffered his second successive defeat in Rotterdam going down 7-3 to Gary Anderson 24 hours after losing to World Champ Rob Cross. But he showed real mettle to beat Whitlock to stay in contention at three points adrift of fourth place Michael Smith. Gurney said: “That was an important win for me. I knew I had to get something out of these three games and that was vital. “It’s obviously not what I wanted when I arrived in Rotterdam but it’s better than nothing in the end. “I’ve given myself a big task over the next three matches. But if I get results in all of them I’ll be close to making the top four. “At the start of the league I would have probably taken this position to be in with three to go, so I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Michael Smith also produced a brilliant performance to beat Simon Whitlock 7-1 and further boost his top four hopes. The Wizard of Oz has gone off the boil but Bully Boy was in sensational form to keep up his push for a O2 Play-Off place. Smith said: “I couldn’t afford to lose three on the bounce, everyone’s catching me up so I needed that, to keep the points coming to get to the O2. “I’m not bothered where I finish whether it’s fourth or above Gary, it’s just about making that top four and the semi-finals. “I’d love Gary to make it as well, it doesn’t who finishes above each other. “Even when we first started it was just about points every week, no target, one match at a time and keep winning. “I’ve now got two games next week and if I get something from those two I’m almost safe and at the O2, but until then I keep fighting. I just want that yellow tick next to my name on the league table. “The crowd has been fantastic, so unreal. They don’t stop from the word go. I’ve heard them singing every song for each player. They turn up in orange and just look incredible.”
Gary Anderson admits his “body is fine” after completing the joy of six in the Unibet Premier League. The Flying Scotsman was on fire in the sea of orange in Rotterdam with a sublime 7-3 win over Daryl Gurney. Ando fired in a 110 average to deliver his third win in 48 hours and take another giant stride towards the play-offs at the O2 next month. He admitted: “It’s orange jackpots. Last year I came here and played Barney and the support he got meant there wasn’t many people who were going to beat him that night. “But no, six out of six, over the moon. I’m warming up now, I feel better when I throw and the body is fine now. “So it’s been a big difference, five, six months I was kind of crippled which set everything back. I’m not the kind of player who’ll put in a lot of practice but the last couple of nights has been alright. “I said to myself don't hit a nine-darter in the first leg, you know that will be a bad omen. Last night I thought it was in the double 12 when I let go. But winning these three games in Rotterdam has been more important.” Last year’s beaten finalist Peter Wright came from 5-2 down to grab a draw with Rob Cross but needs a miracle to now make the O2 finals. The world champion roared into a 3-0 lead but Snakebite battled hard to snatch an unlikely point with a late break of throw.
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC
Daryl Gurney kept his Unibet Premier League Play-Off hopes alive with a 7-1 demolition of Simon Whitlock. The Derry ace stayed in contention for a top four place by beating the Wizard of Oz at the Ahoy Arena. Superchin, 32, had suffered his second successive defeat in Rotterdam going down 7-3 to Gary Anderson 24 hours after losing to World Champ Rob Cross. But he showed real mettle to beat Whitlock to stay in contention at three points adrift of fourth place Michael Smith. Gurney said: “That was an important win for me. I knew I had to get something out of these three games and that was vital. “It’s obviously not what I wanted when I arrived in Rotterdam but it’s better than nothing in the end. “I’ve given myself a big task over the next three matches. But if I get results in all of them I’ll be close to making the top four. “At the start of the league I would have probably taken this position to be in with three to go, so I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Michael Smith also produced a brilliant performance to beat Simon Whitlock 7-1 and further boost his top four hopes. The Wizard of Oz has gone off the boil but Bully Boy was in sensational form to keep up his push for a O2 Play-Off place. Smith said: “I couldn’t afford to lose three on the bounce, everyone’s catching me up so I needed that, to keep the points coming to get to the O2. “I’m not bothered where I finish whether it’s fourth or above Gary, it’s just about making that top four and the semi-finals. “I’d love Gary to make it as well, it doesn’t who finishes above each other. “Even when we first started it was just about points every week, no target, one match at a time and keep winning. “I’ve now got two games next week and if I get something from those two I’m almost safe and at the O2, but until then I keep fighting. I just want that yellow tick next to my name on the league table. “The crowd has been fantastic, so unreal. They don’t stop from the word go. I’ve heard them singing every song for each player. They turn up in orange and just look incredible.”
Gary Anderson admits his “body is fine” after completing the joy of six in the Unibet Premier League. The Flying Scotsman was on fire in the sea of orange in Rotterdam with a sublime 7-3 win over Daryl Gurney. Ando fired in a 110 average to deliver his third win in 48 hours and take another giant stride towards the play-offs at the O2 next month. He admitted: “It’s orange jackpots. Last year I came here and played Barney and the support he got meant there wasn’t many people who were going to beat him that night. “But no, six out of six, over the moon. I’m warming up now, I feel better when I throw and the body is fine now. “So it’s been a big difference, five, six months I was kind of crippled which set everything back. I’m not the kind of player who’ll put in a lot of practice but the last couple of nights has been alright. “I said to myself don't hit a nine-darter in the first leg, you know that will be a bad omen. Last night I thought it was in the double 12 when I let go. But winning these three games in Rotterdam has been more important.” Last year’s beaten finalist Peter Wright came from 5-2 down to grab a draw with Rob Cross but needs a miracle to now make the O2 finals. The world champion roared into a 3-0 lead but Snakebite battled hard to snatch an unlikely point with a late break of throw.
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) Photography courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC