Week Sixteen. It’s here. The final of the Betway Premier League Darts. And there’s no more fitting stage to crown the winner than London’s O2 Arena.
The O2 Arena – London
Capacity: 20,000
Date: 21/05/15
Week Sixteen. It’s here. The final of the Betway Premier League Darts. And there’s no more fitting stage to crown the winner than London’s O2 Arena. 20,000 cheering fans. Chants of “OI OI OI” to Planet Funk’s Chase the Sun filling the arena. If that doesn’t give you goose bumps, we’re not sure what will.
Betway Premier League Rewind: Last year at the O2
Raymond van Barneveld finally lifted the Betway Premier League Darts title after nine years of disappointment. The five-time World Champion defeated Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in one magnificent night of darts.
The Dutch superstar made it through the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time in seven attempts as he also ended his hoodoo against Taylor, who he had never defeated in the tournament in almost a decade.
The final was just as exciting. An all-Dutch affair, the reigning champion, MVG, opened the match with two 180s and claimed the opening leg in 13 darts.
But Barney came back fighting, winning three successive legs to move 3-1 up. Although van Gerwen hit two 11-dart finishes as he pulled back level at five-all, the eventual champ found another gear to pull away.
The 47-year-old took four successive legs to move 9-5 up, including a 12-darter and two 13-dart legs. MVG hit a 110 checkout to give himself a glimmer of hope, but a fifth 180 of the final helped van Barneveld set up double ten for £150,000 in prize money and his maiden Betway Premier League Darts victory.
