Premier League Night Five Preview

After a quarter of the Cazoo Premier League Michael van Gerwen leads the way at the top of the table as we roll in to Exeter.

The Green Machine tasted victory in Dublin last week, edging out Gerwyn Price in a tense final, in which the Welshman missed 7 match darts 

Repeat or Revenge?

Van Gerwen and Price will once again do battle following that excellent final in week 4.
The duo are set to meet in the first game of the night at the Westpoint Arena, with perhaps a little more riding on this match then just Premier League points.

Back to back victories for Van Gerwen over Price heading in to the UK Open despite Price’s recent form would surely send a message to the 2021 World Champion.
However, The Iceman is not one to roll over, and will see this match as a chance to level up the record between the pair in this campaign.

Van Gerwen and Price both donned green shirts to the delight of the Dublin Crowd

The reward for a first round victory is a tricky one, as the winner will face either Michael Smith or Nathan Aspinall in the Semi-Finals.

Smith suffered with a wrist injury in Kiel at the weekend as the 2023 Euro Tour season got underway. Despite that he will still carry a significant threat to either man should he overcome The Asp.

For the first time this season, the top half of the league table are all in the same half of the draw.

Wright to get out of Premier League rut?

Two time World Champion Peter Wright is currently languishing at the bottom of the Cazoo Premier League table having failed to win in any of the first four league nights. Whilst it is only week 5, Snakebite fans may have a cause for concern should Wright not turn this around sharply. Especially considering the Scots Premier League record represents one of his worst returns in PDC majors.

Jonny Clayton is Wrights first round opponent this week. The Ferret has picked up wins a this stage in the last two weeks, but is yet to go beyond the Semi-Finals in the 2023 campaign. Having topped the table last season, the Welshman is fully aware what it takes to win in this format, and will look to build more momentum over the coming weeks to ensure he stays within touching distance of the front runners.

Wright is winless through the opening quarter of the campaign

Night one winner Chris Dobey will take on Dimitri Van den Bergh in the remaining first round match. Hollywood carried his Masters winning form in to the Premier League as he took the title in Belfast. However the Geordie Ace is without a win since night one, and will be hoping to get back on track against a free flowing Van den Bergh.
With the top 4 in the table all in the same half of the draw, this match will be a great chance for the winner to leap frog some of those above even at this stage of the tournament.

Night Five – Thursday March 2


Westpoint Exeter
Quarter-Finals

Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price
Nathan Aspinall v Michael Smith
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton v Peter Wright

Semi-Finals
Van Gerwen/Price v Aspinall/Smith
Van den Bergh/Dobey v Clayton/Wright

Final
v
All matches best of 11 legs