Van Gerwen opens Premier League defence with win over world champion Wright
Michael Van Gerwen opened the defence of his PDC Unibet Premier League title with a 7-5 win over world champion Peter Wright in Aberdeen.
Wright had seen off Van Gerwen to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time at Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day.
VAN GERWEN WINS!
He beats Peter Wright 7-5 to kick off the defence of his Premier League title!
What a game that was! pic.twitter.com/nXzpQsZjrd
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 6, 2020
However, the Dutchman – seeking to deliver an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title – made sure there would be no repeat with an impressive display in a high-quality match which saw several ton-plus finishes.
Van Gerwen recovered from going 2-0 down early on against the 49-year-old, who was born in Livingston and had been given a rousing welcome by the 7,000-strong home crowd.
Scotland’s John Henderson was the first of nine Challengers in this year’s Premier League, but – having been welcomed into the P&J Live venue by bagpipes – went down 7-3 against UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall.
POINTS SHARED!
Gerwyn Price reels off two legs on the spin to secure himself a point as he and Rob Cross share the spoils to round off Night One! pic.twitter.com/c31csIcr7v
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 6, 2020
Former world champion Gary Anderson had earlier given the boisterous crowd plenty to cheer after he reeled off three straight legs to defeat Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney 7-5.
The Scot, twice winner of the competition, had missed last year’s Premier League with a back problem.
Glen Durrant, the three-time BDO world champion, opened his 2020 campaign with an impressive 7-3 win over Michael Smith, runner-up to Wright in last week’s Masters final.
Thursday’s final match saw Gerwyn Price and former world champion Rob Cross, last year’s Premier League runner-up, share the points with a 6-6 draw after the Welshman recovered to win the final two legs.
