Premier League Darts: Michael Smith relieved after victory in Glasgow, Mark Webster worried about Michael van Gerwen | darts news
Premier League Darts: Michael Smith relieved after victory in Glasgow, Mark Webster worried about Michael van Gerwen | darts news
#Premier #League #Darts #Michael #Smith #relieved #victory #Glasgow #Mark #Webster #worried #Michael #van #Gerwen #darts #news Welcome to InNewCL, here is the new story we have for you today:
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Michael Smith opens his Premier League account with a win in Glasgow; 3Arena, Dublin is the fourth of 17 individual venues to be played on Thursday 23 February, with the play-offs returning at The O2 in London on Thursday 25 May
Last updated: 2/17/23 11:54 am
Michael Smith admitted it was a relief to open his Premier League account on Thursday after laying a marker to take the spoils on night three in Glasgow
Michael Smith attributed his Premier League Darts victory in Glasgow to “the fighter in me”, while Michael van Gerwen’s “sluggish” performance worried Mark Webster.
World Champion Smith defeated Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 to win Night Three and move up to the top of the table.
‘Bully Boy’ had defeated last week’s winner Gerwyn Price in his opening match before then edged out Jonny Clayton in a final leg decider after landing a 122 checkout to go back even at 4-4 be.
Belgium’s Van den Bergh, meanwhile, had previously silenced the partisan home crowd at the OVO Hydro with a 6-4 win over Peter Wright before then comfortably beating Nathan Aspinall, runners-up in Cardiff.
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It was world No. 1 Smith, however, whose consistent goal built on an early break from throwing to end the win over the Belgian.
“Winning is the best feeling in the world,” said Smith, who leads the table alongside Aspinall.
“I didn’t have to wait until night 16 in Newcastle like last year. I think by night 10 I was the only player without a win so I was chasing. Even when I missed a nine (dart finish), I just told myself to keep believing in what you’re doing.
“I want to finish in the top four (of the Premier League) and be on final night and keep winning. I know if I play well I can win games. If I’m playing poorly, it’s about showing up playing better the week after.
“I expect more from myself but I have to go back to the drawing board and the fight I showed before winning the Grand Slam. I showed that tonight, the fighter that’s in me.”
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InNewCL Sports analyst Webster was “impressed” by Smith’s win as he defeated Clayton in a semi-final shootout in the final leg on a 101 average before beating Van den Bergh in a final in which the St Helens -Thrower scored a stunning 109.4 average.
“When he’s in the mood he just kicks into gear and what struck me tonight was that nothing threw him off his pace,” Webster said.
“He’s made of more rigorous material and I really believe that since he’s become a winner he forgets about the setbacks and says, ‘Let’s move on to the next game, the next tournament’.
“He’s a champion, he’s world No. 1 and he plays like that. He was brilliant tonight.”
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Van Gerwen landed the biggest finish of them all – a 170 checkout against Nathan Aspinall in Glasgow
Van Gerwen landed the biggest finish of them all – a 170 checkout against Nathan Aspinall in Glasgow
Van den Bergh and Clayton will lose confidence after their performances in Glasgow but reigning champions Van Gerwen, who lost in the quarter-finals, is concerned.
“Van den Bergh didn’t do much wrong there. He suffered an early break of throw early doors and that cost him,” Webster said.
“For Jonny he will be happy to get just a few points on the board, while there is still a lot more to do for the other players, especially Michael van Gerwen who looked a bit sluggish at times.
“If Peter Wright needs a few more weeks and has no points, then the concerns come up. In week six, those players start looking at the table.”
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Catch a look at the best of night three of Premier League Darts in Glasgow
Catch a look at the best of night three of Premier League Darts in Glasgow
Where are we going next?
Wright is under pressure to travel to Dublin next Thursday
The Premier League roadshow heads to the 3Arena in Dublin on Thursday 23 February for the fourth night of the league phase.
Smith meets two-time world champion Wright in the quarterfinals at the 3Arena.
The world no. 1 provided a magical moment on the Emerald Isle in the 2020 Premier League when she scored perfection against Daryl Gurney – his first of three televised nine-darters.
Wright, meanwhile, is yet to pick up a point at this year’s roadshow after three straight quarter-final defeats and Smith is hoping to extend that run on Irish soil.
“Dublin is one of my favorite places in the Premier League and hopefully next week will be good for me again,” said Smith, who is targeting a playoff spot for the first time since 2018.
“The playoffs might be a goal after Night 13 and we’ll see from there, but right now I just want to win and keep playing well.
“I would no doubt love to return to The O2 but right now it’s all about winning the first round games every night, trying to reach the finals or even winning them.
“I’m just thinking about every week at the moment, but I feel like I’m on top of the world at the moment.”
Night 4 in Dublin: Thursday 23rd February
Quarterfinals Michael Smith v Peter Wright Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh Jonny Clayton v Nathan Aspinall Chris Dobey v Michael van Gerwen 
Elsewhere, Price takes on Van den Bergh, Dobey and six-time winner Van Gerwen collide, while Clayton and Aspinall also face off.
Premier League Schedule 2023
4th night 3Arena, Dublin 23rd February 5th night Westpoint Exeter 2nd March 6th night The Brighton Center 9th March 7th night Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham 16th March 8th night Utilita Arena, Newcastle 23rd March 9th night Mercedes -Benz Arena, Berlin March 30th Night 10 Utilita Arena, Birmingham April 6th Night 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool April 13th Night 12 Rotterdam Ahoy April 20th Night 13 First Direct Arena, Leeds April 27th Night 14 AO Arena, Manchester May 4th Night 15 Utilita Arena, Sheffield May 11th Night 16 P&J Live, Aberdeen May 18th Playoffs The O2, London May 25th
We’re back for more Premier League darts action from the 3Arena, Dublin on Thursday 23 February – live on InNewCL Sports Action & InNewCL Sports Main Event from 19:00.
