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 | |||
2019 | 2020 > |
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]
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).
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 | |
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 | data-sort-type="number" | Appearance in Premier League | Consecutive Streak | Order of Merit Rank | data-sort-type="number" | Previous best performance | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7th | 7 | 1 | |||||
2nd | 2 | 2 | Semi-final (2018) | PDC Order of Merit | |||
6th | 6 | 3 | Runner-up (2017) | ||||
2nd | 2 | 5 | 5th (2018) | PDC Wildcard | |||
3rd | 2 | 6 | Runner-up (2018) | PDC Wildcard | |||
2nd | 2 | 7 | 10th (2018) | PDC Wildcard | |||
James Wade | 10th | 1 | 10 | Winner (2009) | PDC Wildcard | ||
2nd | 2 | 8 | 9th (2018) | ||||
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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Newcastle | 35 | ||
Glasgow | 74 | ||
Dublin | 36 | ||
Exeter | 56 | ||
Aberdeen | 19 | ||
Nottingham | 34 | ||
Berlin | 30 | ||
Rotterdam (27 March) | 33 | ||
Rotterdam (28 March) | 43 |
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.
Stage | Prize Money | |
---|---|---|
Winner | £250,000 | |
Runner-up | £120,000 | |
Semi-finalists (x2) | £80,000 | |
5th place | £70,000 | |
6th place | £60,000 | |
7th place | £55,000 | |
8th place | £50,000 | |
9th place | £35,000 | |
'Contenders' win (x0) | £5,000 | |
'Contenders' draw (x4) | £3,500 | |
'Contenders' lose (x5) | £2,500 | |
League Winner Bonus | £25,000 | |
Total | £825,000 |
Players in italics are "Contenders", and will only play on that night.[6]
Utilita Arena, Newcastle
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
99.24 | 7–4 | ||||
Gerwyn Price 104.11 | 7–4 | Daryl Gurney 98.78 | |||
98.53 | 6–6 | ||||
104.98 | 7–5 | ||||
101.56 | 6–6 | ||||
Night's Average: 100.19[7] | |||||
Highest Checkout: Michael Smith 150 | |||||
Most 180s: Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey 6 | |||||
Night's 180s: 37 |
SSE Hydro, Glasgow
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6–6 | |||||
7–4 | James Wade 100.81 | ||||
6–6 | Gerwyn Price 95.60 | ||||
Daryl Gurney 100.05 | 7–3 | ||||
3–7 | |||||
Night's Average: 97.09 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Daryl Gurney 121 (x2) | |||||
Most 180s: Michael Smith 6 | |||||
Night's 180s: 29 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gerwyn Price 96.22 | 6–6 | ||||
5–7 | |||||
7–2 | |||||
93.18 | 5–7 | Daryl Gurney 99.14 | |||
6–6 | |||||
Night's Average: 95.95 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Daryl Gurney 140 | |||||
Most 180s: James Wade and Gerwyn Price 5 | |||||
Night's 180s: 33 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6–6 | Gerwyn Price 99.48 | ||||
Daryl Gurney 90.35 | 1–7 | ||||
7–4 | |||||
3–7 | James Wade 95.65 | ||||
7–4 | |||||
Night's Average: 97.30 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Luke Humphries 161 | |||||
Most 180s: Peter Wright 5 | |||||
Night's 180s: 24 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100.21 | 3–7 | Rob Cross 103.96 | |||
Daryl Gurney 94.45 | 0–7 | ||||
3–7 | |||||
3–7 | |||||
6–6 | |||||
Night's Average: 99.88 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Rob Cross 164 | |||||
Most 180s: John Henderson 6 | |||||
Night's 180s: 21 |
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, Nottingham
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2–7 | Michael Smith 93.99 | ||||
James Wade 97.05 | 3–7 | ||||
7–3 | |||||
2–7 | |||||
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 |
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gerwyn Price 98.17 | 4–7 | ||||
6–6 | |||||
5–7 | |||||
85.34 | 2–7 | Mensur Suljović 96.44 | |||
3–7 | |||||
Night's Average: 95.93 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 170 | |||||
Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen 6 | |||||
Night's 180s: 35 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5–7 | Michael Smith 93.87 | ||||
James Wade 103.35 | 6–6 | ||||
5–7 | |||||
1–7 | |||||
1–7 | |||||
Night's Average: 93.52 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Gerwyn Price 141 | |||||
Most 180s: James Wade 7 | |||||
Night's 180s: 25 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daryl Gurney 98.28 | 7–3 | ||||
5–7 | |||||
7–4 | |||||
84.68 | 1–7 | ||||
7–4 | |||||
Night's Average: 95.06 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Peter Wright 160 | |||||
Most 180s: Rob Cross 8 | |||||
Night's 180s: 36 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||
3–8 | |||||
Night's Average: 98.97.35 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Rob Cross 140 | |||||
Most 180s: Daryl Gurney 6 | |||||
Night's 180s: 26 |
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8–5 | Daryl Gurney 91.42 | ||||
Rob Cross 94.49 | 2–8 | ||||
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 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | ||||
Night's Average: 100.80 | |||||
Highest Checkout: Peter Wright 124 | |||||
Most 180s: Michael Smith 7 | |||||
Night's 180s: 25 |
Manchester Arena, Manchester
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rob Cross 102.54 | 8–1 | Michael Smith 97.65 | |||
Peter Wright 89.49 | 6–8 | Mensur Suljović 93.91 | |||
8–5 | |||||
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 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | ||||
8–1 | |||||
Night's Average: 98.34 | |||||
Highest Checkout: James Wade 161 | |||||
Most 180s: Rob Cross 7 | |||||
Night's 180s: 25 |
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gerwyn Price 98.58 | 8–3 | Peter Wright 95.61 | |||
Daryl Gurney 101.80 | 8–3 | Michael Smith 100.66 | |||
8–5 | |||||
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 |
The O2 Arena, London
width=225 | width=50 | Score | width=225 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi-finals (best of 19 legs) | |||||
96.48 | 10–7 | ||||
Rob Cross 100.31 | 10–5 | James Wade 91.91 | |||
Final (best of 21 legs) | |||||
103.36 | 11–5 | Rob Cross 100.98 | |||
Night's Total Average: 97.76 | |||||
Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen 8 | |||||
Night's 180s: 21 |
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 | W | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 107 | 67 | +40 | 40 | 208 | 123 | 41 | 101.94 | 132 | 49.08% | |
2 | RU | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 102 | 76 | +26 | 39 | 190 | 117 | 54 | 99.69 | 164 | 44.16% | |
3 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 104 | 84 | +20 | 38 | 274 | 150 | 44 | 97.87 | 161 | 43.70% | ||
4 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 93 | 86 | +7 | 33 | 226 | 130 | 45 | 96.72 | 140 | 40.26% | ||
5 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 99 | 93 | +6 | 33 | 223 | 94 | 54 | 96.16 | 170 | 42.67% | ||
6 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 94 | 95 | –1 | 36 | 248 | 154 | 42 | 95.79 | 144 | 39.66% | ||
7 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 79 | 105 | –26 | 24 | 215 | 133 | 55 | 97.08 | 170 | 35.59% | ||
8 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 76 | 108 | –32 | 22 | 215 | 138 | 43 | 95.52 | 160 | 41.76% | ||
9 | 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
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 | ||
rowspan=2 colspan=2 | |||||||||||||||||||
rowspan=4 colspan=2 | |||||||||||||||||||
colspan=10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Contenders |
Legend: | Win | Draw | Loss | Eliminated |
---|
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 | ||
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
5 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
8 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | ||
4 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | ||
7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | ||
6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | ||
9 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | align=center bgcolor="#ffcccc" colspan=7 | Eliminated |