MVG wins to go joint top

Michael Van Gerwen produced another excellent display of darts to beat Peter Wright and move joint top of the Premier League.

At a packed Motorpoint arena in Nottingham for night two of the event, the world champion bounced back from an opening night draw with Gary Anderson to see off 'Snakebite' Wright 7-3.

The Dutchman showed some of his best form in racing into a 6-0 lead before Wright avoided become the victim of just the eighth whitewash in Premier League history, taking three legs on the trot before Van Gerwen sealed the victory in the 10th leg.

"I think I played okay there - I could have won 7-0 , maybe I was trying too hard but I don't think I deserved to win 7-0," said Van Gerwen. "As long as you win and get the two points, that's the most important thing.

"There's more in the tank to come and I will be prepared for the other players as well, because you have to perform week after week."

Twice champion Anderson also moved joint top of the table after he outclassed Jelle Klaasen 7-3.

"I played well against Michael last week but I didn't think it was as good tonight, so it's nice to get the two points and I'll take that," said Anderson.

"It's going alright so far but it's always hard and every point is important."

They are joined at the summit by Raymond van Barneveld who was forced to settle for a share of the points as he drew 6-6 with Kim Huybrechts.

The 2014 winner came from 3-1 down to lead 4-3 but after missing darts to go 5-3 in front, he eventually had to produce a 180 and an 80 finish in the final leg to snatch a point.

Completing the five-way tie at the top are Phil Taylor and James Wade who also drew 6-6.

In a repeat of the 2009 final, a brilliant 142 checkout put Taylor 6-5 ahead but a pair of 140s in the 12th leg allowed Wade a shot at tops to share the spoils and he made no mistake.

"I'm happy with the point," said Taylor, a six-time Premier League winner. "It's a shame that I didn’t win but the result was fair and it was about even.

"I thought I'd got him when the 142 went in, but James hit the right shot at the right time in the last leg. He hit a few 180s and he pulled it out at the end, but I'm enjoying it."

Meanwhile two-time former world champion Adrian Lewis got off the mark with an impressive 7-2 hammering of Dave Chisnall.

On the opening night Jackpot blew a 4-1 lead to lose 7-5 to Barney but he made no mistake this time, clinically dispatching Chizzy, who remains pointless.

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