2019 Premier League Darts

2019 Unibet Premier League Darts
Winner
Michael van Gerwen
Runner-up
Rob Cross
Score
11–5
Dates
7 February - 23 May 2019
Edition
15th
Number of players
9 (plus 9 guests)
Venues
16
Premier League Darts
< 2018 | 2019 | 2020 >

The 2019 Unibet Premier League Darts was a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation – the fifteenth edition of the tournament. The event began on Thursday 7 February at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle and ended with the Play-offs at The O2 Arena in London on Thursday 23 May. It was also the last to feature Raymond van Barneveld, as he retired from professional darts after the following World Darts Championship. He appeared a record 14 times in the Premier League Darts.

Michael van Gerwen was the three-time defending champion after defeating Michael Smith 11–4 in the 2018 final. He won a fourth consecutive (and fifth overall) title by defeating Rob Cross 11–5 in the final.^[1]

Format

The tournament format was modified for this season.^[2]

Phase 1: During the first nine nights, eight of the nine players play each other in four matches and the ninth player plays one match against one of the nine contenders. At the end of Phase 1, the bottom player is eliminated from the competition.

Phase 2: In the seven nights of weeks 9 to 15, each player plays the other seven players once. In a change from previous years, all players only play one match each night. Phase 2 matches have been increased to a maximum of fourteen legs, allowing for a 7-7 draw. In previous years, the maximum number of legs was twelve. At the end of Phase 2, the bottom four players in the league table are eliminated from the competition.

Play-off Night: The top four players in the league table contest the two knockout semi-finals with 1st playing 4th and 2nd playing 3rd. The semi-finals are first to 10 legs (best of 19). The two winning semi-finalists meet in the final which is first to 11 legs (best of 21).

Venues

Liverpool

Glasgow

Exeter

Nottingham

Leeds

Cardiff

Sheffield

Aberdeen

Manchester

Birmingham

Newcastle

London

Belfast

Dublin

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Locations of the 2019 Premier League venues in the U.K. and Ireland.

Berlin

Rotterdam

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Other locations of the 2019 Premier League venues in Europe.

Newcastle	Glasgow	Dublin	Exeter
Utilita Arena Newcastle Thursday 7 February	SSE Hydro Thursday 14 February	3Arena Thursday 21 February	Westpoint Arena Thursday 28 February
Aberdeen	Nottingham	Berlin	Rotterdam
BHGE Arena Thursday 7 March	Motorpoint Arena Nottingham Thursday 14 March	Mercedes-Benz Arena Thursday 21 March	Rotterdam Ahoy Wednesday 27 & Thursday 28 March
Belfast	Liverpool	Cardiff	Birmingham
SSE Arena Belfast Thursday 4 April	M&S Bank Arena Thursday 11 April	Motorpoint Arena Cardiff Thursday 18 April	Arena Birmingham Thursday 25 April
Manchester	Sheffield	Leeds	London
Manchester Arena Thursday 2 May	FlyDSA Arena Thursday 9 May	First Direct Arena Thursday 16 May	The O2 Thursday 23 May

Players

The players in this year's tournament were announced following the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship final on 1 January, with the top four of the PDC Order of Merit joined by six Wildcards.

Gary Anderson, who qualified as fourth on the Order of Merit, withdrew on 4 February, three days prior to the tournament beginning, with a back injury.^[3]

Player	Appearance in Premier League	Consecutive Streak	Order of Merit Rank	Previous best performance	Qualification
Michael van Gerwen	7th	7	1	Winner (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018)	PDC Order of Merit
Rob Cross	2nd	2	2	Semi-final (2018)	PDC Order of Merit
Peter Wright	6th	6	3	Runner-up (2017)	PDC Order of Merit
Daryl Gurney	2nd	2	5	5th (2018)	PDC Wildcard
Michael Smith	3rd	2	6	Runner-up (2018)	PDC Wildcard
Gerwyn Price	2nd	2	7	10th (2018)	PDC Wildcard
James Wade	10th	1	10	Winner (2009)	PDC Wildcard
Mensur Suljović	2nd	2	8	9th (2018)	Sky Sports Wildcard
Raymond van Barneveld	14th	14	28	Winner (2014)	Sky Sports Wildcard

Nine invited players were chosen to appear on each of the nine Phase 1 nights in the slots which were available as a result of the withdrawal of Gary Anderson due to extended treatment for a back injury. The nine main players could earn league points if they won or drew against the invited players. The invited players would not earn any points in the competition.^[4]

Player	Venue	Order of Merit Rank
Chris Dobey	Newcastle	35
Glen Durrant	Glasgow	74
Steve Lennon	Dublin	36
Luke Humphries	Exeter	56
John Henderson	Aberdeen	19
Nathan Aspinall	Nottingham	34
Max Hopp	Berlin	30
Dimitri Van den Bergh	Rotterdam (27 March)	33
Jeffrey de Zwaan	Rotterdam (28 March)	43

Prize money

The prize money for the 2019 tournament was set to increase to £855,000 from £825,000 in 2018.^[5] As the contenders picked up four draws between them it ended up being a total of £851,500.

League stage

Players in italics are "Contenders", and will only play on that night. ^[6]

7 February – Week 1 (Phase 1) Utilita Arena, Newcastle Score James Wade 99.24 7–4 Raymond van Barneveld 95.15 Gerwyn Price 104.11 7–4 Daryl Gurney 98.78 Chris Dobey 98.53 6–6 Mensur Suljović 100.99 Michael van Gerwen 104.98 7–5 Michael Smith 95.23 Peter Wright 101.56 6–6 Rob Cross 103.57 Night's Average: 100.19[7] Highest Checkout: Michael Smith 150 Most 180s: Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey 6 Night's 180s: 37

14 February – Week 2 (Phase 1) SSE Hydro, Glasgow Score Peter Wright 88.95 6–6 Michael Smith 97.61 Rob Cross 102.58 7–4 James Wade 100.81 Raymond van Barneveld 88.79 6–6 Gerwyn Price 95.60 Daryl Gurney 100.05 7–3 Glen Durrant 99.89 Mensur Suljović 101.07 3–7 Michael van Gerwen 99.82 Night's Average: 97.09 Highest Checkout: Daryl Gurney 121 (x2) Most 180s: Michael Smith 6 Night's 180s: 29

21 February – Week 3 (Phase 1) 3Arena, Dublin Score Gerwyn Price 96.22 6–6 James Wade 103.89 Steve Lennon 90.80 5–7 Peter Wright 96.95 Michael van Gerwen 101.34 7–2 Rob Cross 93.31 Michael Smith 93.18 5–7 Daryl Gurney 99.14 Mensur Suljović 94.50 6–6 Raymond van Barneveld 91.65 Night's Average: 95.95 Highest Checkout: Daryl Gurney 140 Most 180s: James Wade and Gerwyn Price 5 Night's 180s: 33

28 February – Week 4 (Phase 1) Westpoint Arena, Exeter Score Luke Humphries 101.30 6–6 Gerwyn Price 99.48 Daryl Gurney 90.35 1–7 Rob Cross 102.16 Mensur Suljović 98.27 7–4 Peter Wright 97.23 Michael van Gerwen 94.33 3–7 James Wade 95.65 Michael Smith 98.79 7–4 Raymond van Barneveld 94.38 Night's Average: 97.30 Highest Checkout: Luke Humphries 161 Most 180s: Peter Wright 5 Night's 180s: 24

7 March – Week 5 (Phase 1) BHGE Arena, Aberdeen Score Michael Smith 100.21 3–7 Rob Cross 103.96 Daryl Gurney 94.45 0–7 James Wade 109.59 Mensur Suljović 95.55 3–7 Gerwyn Price 93.13 Raymond van Barneveld 95.36 3–7 Peter Wright 106.64 Michael van Gerwen 103.91 6–6 John Henderson 97.38 Night's Average: 99.88 Highest Checkout: Rob Cross 164 Most 180s: John Henderson 6 Night's 180s: 21

14 March – Week 6 (Phase 1) Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, Nottingham Score Nathan Aspinall 88.35 2–7 Michael Smith 93.99 James Wade 97.05 3–7 Mensur Suljović 101.38 Rob Cross 101.21 7–3 Raymond van Barneveld 91.22 Gerwyn Price 92.15 2–7 Michael van Gerwen 96.07 Peter Wright 102.91 6–6 Daryl Gurney 94.98 Night's Average: 96.07 Highest Checkout: Nathan Aspinall 158 Most 180s: Mensur Suljović 6 Night's 180s: 28

21 March – Week 7 (Phase 1) Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin Score Gerwyn Price 98.17 4–7 Rob Cross 104.33 James Wade 98.42 6–6 Peter Wright 98.93 Michael van Gerwen 98.54 5–7 Daryl Gurney 98.71 Michael Smith 85.34 2–7 Mensur Suljović 96.44 Max Hopp 88.41 3–7 Raymond van Barneveld 90.00 Night's Average: 95.93 Highest Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 170 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen 6 Night's 180s: 35

27 March – Week 8A (Phase 1) Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam Score Gerwyn Price 93.15 5–7 Michael Smith 93.87 James Wade 103.35 6–6 Dimitri Van den Bergh 100.73 Rob Cross 92.83 5–7 Mensur Suljović 88.71 Peter Wright 87.34 1–7 Michael van Gerwen 100.74 Raymond van Barneveld 81.96 1–7 Daryl Gurney 89.84 Night's Average: 93.52 Highest Checkout: Gerwyn Price 141 Most 180s: James Wade 7 Night's 180s: 25

28 March – Week 8B (Phase 1) Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam Score Daryl Gurney 98.28 7–3 Mensur Suljović 91.58 Peter Wright 87.60 5–7 Gerwyn Price 94.47 Rob Cross 94.46 7–4 Jeffrey de Zwaan 96.63 Raymond van Barneveld 84.68 1–7 Michael van Gerwen 101.39 James Wade 102.44 7–4 Michael Smith 99.39 Night's Average: 95.06 Highest Checkout: Peter Wright 160 Most 180s: Rob Cross 8 Night's 180s: 36

4 April – Week 9 (Phase 2) SSE Arena Belfast, Belfast Score Mensur Suljović 93.69 8–6 James Wade 85.76 Michael Smith 100.78 7–7 Peter Wright 90.95 Rob Cross 104.71 8–4 Daryl Gurney 95.96 Michael van Gerwen 102.32 7–7 Gerwyn Price 98.73 Night's Average: 96.25 Highest Checkout: James Wade 137 Most 180s: Mensur Suljović 5 Night's 180s: 22

11 April – Week 10 (Phase 2) M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Score Rob Cross 102.03 8–5 Peter Wright 100.28 Gerwyn Price 89.24 8–5 Mensur Suljović 88.80 James Wade 90.17 7–7 Daryl Gurney 104.05 Michael Smith 100.42 3–8 Michael van Gerwen 109.11 Night's Average: 98.97.35 Highest Checkout: Rob Cross 140 Most 180s: Daryl Gurney 6 Night's 180s: 26

18 April – Week 11 (Phase 2) Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff Score Mensur Suljović 92.45 8–5 Daryl Gurney 91.42 Rob Cross 94.49 2–8 Michael van Gerwen 107.87 Michael Smith 99.11 5–8 Gerwyn Price 98.43 Peter Wright 85.48 2–8 James Wade 94.32 Night's Average: 95.26 Highest Checkout: Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith 170 Most 180s: Michael Smith 5 Night's 180s: 18

25 April – Week 12 (Phase 2) Arena Birmingham, Birmingham Score Mensur Suljović 100.13 7–7 Michael Smith 101.25 Rob Cross 97.81 7–7 Gerwyn Price 101.18 Daryl Gurney 99.34 8–4 Peter Wright 96.04 James Wade 103.66 7–7 Michael van Gerwen 106.78 Night's Average: 100.80 Highest Checkout: Peter Wright 124 Most 180s: Michael Smith 7 Night's 180s: 25

2 May – Week 13 (Phase 2) Manchester Arena, Manchester Score Rob Cross 102.54 8–1 Michael Smith 97.65 Peter Wright 89.49 6–8 Mensur Suljović 93.91 Daryl Gurney 95.58 8–5 Michael van Gerwen 95.22 James Wade 94.30 8–4 Gerwyn Price 89.00 Night's Average: 94.20 Highest Checkout: Mensur Suljović 144 Most 180s: Rob Cross 5 Night's 180s: 19

9 May – Week 14 (Phase 2) FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield Score Michael Smith 95.77 7–7 James Wade 92.80 Mensur Suljović 98.59 4–8 Rob Cross 102.66 Daryl Gurney 94.71 7–7 Gerwyn Price 96.93 Michael van Gerwen 110.85 8–1 Peter Wright 102.29 Night's Average: 98.34 Highest Checkout: James Wade 161 Most 180s: Rob Cross 7 Night's 180s: 25

16 May – Week 15 (Phase 2) First Direct Arena, Leeds Score Gerwyn Price 98.58 8–3 Peter Wright 95.61 Daryl Gurney 101.80 8–3 Michael Smith 100.66 Michael van Gerwen 97.73 8–5 Mensur Suljović 96.50 James Wade 94.40 8–6 Rob Cross 92.39 Night's Average: 96.88 Highest Checkout: Gerwyn Price 142 Most 180s: Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney 5 Night's 180s: 25

Play-offs – 23 May

The O2 Arena, London

	Score
Semi-finals (best of 19 legs)
Michael van Gerwen 96.48	10–7	Daryl Gurney 94.02
Rob Cross 100.31	10–5	James Wade 91.91
Final (best of 21 legs)
Michael van Gerwen 103.36	11–5	Rob Cross 100.98
Night's Total Average: 97.76
Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 130
Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen 8
Night's 180s: 21

Table and streaks

Table

After the withdrawal of Gary Anderson, nine invited players were added to replace him with one playing each week. After the first nine rounds in phase 1, the bottom player in the table is eliminated. In phase 2, the eight remaining players play in a single match on each of the seven nights. The top four players then compete in the knockout semi-finals and final on the playoff night.

The nine invited players are not ranked in the table, but the main nine players can earn league points for a win or draw in the games against them.

Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. When players are tied on points, leg difference is used first as a tie-breaker, after that legs won against throw and then tournament average.

#	Name	Matches					Legs				Scoring
		Pld	W	D	L	Pts	LF	LA	+/-	LWAT	100+	140+	180s	A	HC	C%
1	Michael van Gerwen W	16	10	3	3	23	107	67	+40	40	208	123	41	101.94	132	49.08%
2	Rob Cross RU	16	10	2	4	22	102	76	+26	39	190	117	54	99.69	164	44.16%
3	James Wade	16	7	6	3	20	104	84	+20	38	274	150	44	97.87	161	43.70%
4	Daryl Gurney	16	8	3	5	19	93	86	+7	33	226	130	45	96.72	140	40.26%
5	Gerwyn Price	16	6	6	4	18	99	93	+6	33	223	94	54	96.16	170	42.67%
6	Mensur Suljović	16	7	3	6	17	94	95	–1	36	248	154	42	95.79	144	39.66%
7	Michael Smith	16	3	4	9	10	79	105	–26	24	215	133	55	97.08	170	35.59%
8	Peter Wright	16	2	5	9	9	76	108	–32	22	215	138	43	95.52	160	41.76%
9	Raymond van Barneveld	9	1	2	6	4	42	57	–15	12	115	65	25	96.35	170	36.46%

(Q) = Qualified For The Playoffs (E) = Eliminated From Playoff Contention

Streaks

Player	Phase 1, Weeks 1 to 8										Phase 2, Weeks 9 to 15								Play-offs
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8A	8B		9	10	11	12	13	14	15		SF	F
Michael van Gerwen	W	W	W	L	D	W	L	W	W		D	W	W	D	L	W	W		W	W
Rob Cross	D	W	L	W	W	W	W	L	W		W	W	L	D	W	W	L		W	L
James Wade	W	L	D	W	W	L	D	D	W		L	D	W	D	W	D	W		L	–
Daryl Gurney	L	W	W	L	L	D	W	W	W		L	D	L	W	W	D	W		L
Gerwyn Price	W	D	D	D	W	L	L	L	W		D	W	W	D	L	D	W		–
Mensur Suljović	D	L	D	W	L	W	W	W	L		W	L	W	D	W	L	L
Michael Smith	L	D	L	W	L	W	L	W	L		D	L	L	D	L	D	L
Peter Wright	D	D	W	L	W	D	D	L	L		D	L	L	L	L	L	L
Raymond van Barneveld	L	D	D	L	L	L	W	L	L		Eliminated
Contenders	D	L	L	D	D	L	L	D	L		—

Positions by Week

Player	Phase 1, Weeks 1 to 8										Phase 2, Weeks 9 to 15
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8A	8B		9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Michael van Gerwen	3	1	1	1	3	1	2	1	1		2	2	1	1	2	2	1
Rob Cross	5	3	6	3	2	2	1	2	2		1	1	2	2	1	1	2
James Wade	2	6	5	2	1	3	3	4	3		4	3	3	3	3	3	3
Daryl Gurney	8	4	2	7	7	8	7	9	4		5	6	6	6	5	5	4
Gerwyn Price	1	2	3	4	4	5	6	7	6		6	4	4	4	6	6	5
Mensur Suljović	4	9	8	5	6	6	4	3	5		3	5	5	5	4	4	6
Michael Smith	7	7	9	8	8	7	9	8	8		8	8	8	7	8	7	7
Peter Wright	6	5	4	6	5	4	5	6	7		7	7	7	8	7	8	8
Raymond van Barneveld	9	8	6	9	9	9	8	7	9		Eliminated

References

External links

• PDC Professional Darts Corporation, official website
• PDC Professional Darts Corporation, official website, Tournaments