2015 Premier League Darts

The 2015 Betway Premier League Darts was a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation; the eleventh edition of the tournament. The event began at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 4 February, and ended at The O₂ Arena, London on 21 May. The tournament was shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. This was the second year that the tournament was sponsored by Betway.

2015 Betway Premier League Darts
Winner
Gary Anderson
Runner-up
Michael van Gerwen
Score
11–7
Date
4 February–21 May 2015
Edition
11th
Number of players
10
Venues
16
Premier League Darts
< 2014 | 2015 | 2016 >

Raymond van Barneveld was the defending champion, but he lost to Michael van Gerwen 10–8 in the semi-finals. Gary Anderson won his second Premier League Darts title by beating van Gerwen 11–7 in the final.

For the first time in the Premier League's history, 6-time winner Phil Taylor did not qualify for the play-offs.

Format

The tournament format was identical to that since 2013. During the first nine weeks (phase 1) each player plays the other nine players once. The bottom two players are eliminated from the competition. In the next six weeks (phase 2), each player plays the other seven players once. Phase 2 consists of four weeks where five matches are played followed by two weeks where four matches are played. At the end of phase 2 the top four players contest the two semi-finals and the final in the play-off week.

Players

The competitors who competed at the tournament were announced following the 2015 PDC World Darts Championship final on 4 January 2015, with the top four of the PDC Order of Merit joined by six Wildcards.

Robert Thornton (world number 8), Wes Newton (number 16), and Simon Whitlock (number 7) did not return from last year. James Wade returned this year following his absence from the 2014 Premier League, along with two debutants, Kim Huybrechts, the first Belgian to compete in the league, and Stephen Bunting, the 2014 BDO world champion who had a successful first year with the PDC.^[1]

Player	Appearance in Premier League	Consecutive Streak	Order of Merit rank	Previous best performance	Qualification
Michael van Gerwen	3rd	3	1	Winner (2013)	Order of Merit
Phil Taylor	11th	11	2	Winner (2005–2008, 2010, 2012)	Order of Merit
Gary Anderson	5th	5	3	Winner (2011)	Order of Merit
Adrian Lewis	8th	6	4	Runner-up (2011)	Order of Merit
Peter Wright	2nd	2	5	5th (2014)	PDC Wildcard
James Wade	7th	1	6	Winner (2009)	PDC Wildcard
Dave Chisnall	2nd	2	9	7th (2014)	PDC Wildcard
Kim Huybrechts	1st	1	17	Debut	PDC Wildcard
Raymond van Barneveld	10th	10	10	Winner (2014)	Sky Sports Wildcard
Stephen Bunting	1st	1	24	Debut	Sky Sports Wildcard

Venues

Leeds Bournemouth Liverpool Belfast First Direct Arena Thursday 5 February Bournemouth International Centre Thursday 12 February Echo Arena Thursday 19 February Odyssey Arena Thursday 26 February Exeter Nottingham Glasgow Dublin Westpoint Arena Thursday 4 March Capital FM Arena Thursday 11 March SSE Hydro Thursday 18 March 3Arena Thursday 25 March Manchester Sheffield Aberdeen Cardiff Phones 4u Arena Thursday 2 April Motorpoint Arena Thursday 9 April GE Oil & Gas Arena Thursday 16 April Motorpoint Arena Thursday 23 April Birmingham Newcastle upon Tyne Brighton London Barclaycard Arena Thursday 30 April Metro Radio Arena Thursday 7 May Brighton Centre Thursday 14 May The O2 Arena Thursday 21 May

Liverpool Bournemouth Glasgow Exeter Nottingham Leeds Cardiff Sheffield Aberdeen Manchester Birmingham Newcastle Brighton London Belfast Dublin Locations of the 2015 Premier League venues

Prize money

The prize money was dramatically increased to £700,000 from £550,000 in 2014.

Stage	Prize Money
Winner	£200,000
Runner-up	£100,000
Semi-finalists (x2)	£75,000
5th place	£60,000
6th place	£50,000
7th place	£45,000
8th place	£40,000
9th place	£30,000
10th place	£25,000
Total	£700,000

Results

League stage

5 February – Week 1 (Phase 1) First Direct Arena, Leeds Score [2] Dave Chisnall 94.16 7 – 1 Peter Wright 87.20 Raymond van Barneveld 85.68 1 – 7 Adrian Lewis 113.80 Kim Huybrechts 98.54 3 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 107.72 Gary Anderson 99.66 7 – 5 Phil Taylor 104.72 Stephen Bunting 95.03 6 – 6 James Wade 95.56 Night's Average: 98.21 Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 145 Most 180s: Adrian Lewis 5 Night's 180s: 20

12 February – Week 2 (Phase 1) Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Score [3] Peter Wright 100.25 1 – 7 Gary Anderson 106.94 Michael van Gerwen 109.44 7 – 3 Stephen Bunting 103.43 Adrian Lewis 97.97 2 – 7 Phil Taylor 108.33 James Wade 104.09 7 – 2 Kim Huybrechts 93.57 Dave Chisnall 91.53 7 – 5 Raymond van Barneveld 91.73 Night's Average: 100.73 Highest Checkout: James Wade 143 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen & Stephen Bunting 4 Night's 180s: 21

19 February – Week 3 (Phase 1) Echo Arena, Liverpool Score [4] James Wade 90.19 6 – 6 Dave Chisnall 93.27 Peter Wright 93.45 6 – 6 Raymond van Barneveld 102.94 Phil Taylor 100.03 7 – 1 Stephen Bunting 84.62 Michael van Gerwen 101.14 7 – 4 Gary Anderson 95.74 Adrian Lewis 92.16 6 – 6 Kim Huybrechts 88.98 Night's Average: 94.25 Highest Checkout: Phil Taylor 151 Most 180s: Raymond van Barneveld & Gary Anderson 5 Night's 180s: 31

26 February – Week 4 (Phase 1) Odyssey Arena, Belfast Score [5] Kim Huybrechts 107.01 4 – 7 Dave Chisnall 107.01 Gary Anderson 98.64 7 – 4 James Wade 94.60 Michael van Gerwen 106.28 6 – 6 Adrian Lewis 98.32 Stephen Bunting 91.08 4 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 97.50 Phil Taylor 102.68 6 – 6 Peter Wright 97.55 Night's Average: 100.07 Highest Checkout: Adrian Lewis 112 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen & Dave Chisnall 6 Night's 180s: 35

5 March – Week 5 (Phase 1) Westpoint Arena, Exeter Score [6] Raymond van Barneveld 102.65 5 – 7 Kim Huybrechts 105.59 James Wade 104.42 5 – 7 Phil Taylor 106.48 Adrian Lewis 91.45 3 – 7 Stephen Bunting 96.02 Peter Wright 94.65 6 – 6 Michael van Gerwen 95.57 Dave Chisnall 110.78 7 – 2 Gary Anderson 99.23 Night's Average: 100.6 Highest Checkout: Kim Huybrechts 170 Most 180s: Kim Huybrechts & Dave Chisnall 6 Night's 180s: 26

12 March – Week 6 (Phase 1) Capital FM Arena, Nottingham Score [7] Stephen Bunting 100.99 7 – 3 Dave Chisnall 99.55 Raymond van Barneveld 88.38 3 – 7 James Wade 97.84 Phil Taylor 99.73 3 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 107.61 Gary Anderson 108.98 7 – 1 Adrian Lewis 103.08 Kim Huybrechts 97.77 5 – 7 Peter Wright 98.57 Night's Average: 100.25 Highest Checkout: Stephen Bunting 164 Most 180s: Dave Chisnall & Gary Anderson & Peter Wright 4 Night's 180s: 25

19 March – Week 7 (Phase 1) SSE Hydro, Glasgow Score [8] James Wade 103.79 6 – 6 Adrian Lewis 102.00 Peter Wright 93.40 6 – 6 Stephen Bunting 89.95 Raymond van Barneveld 104.18 7 – 4 Phil Taylor 115.80 Kim Huybrechts 98.04 5 – 7 Gary Anderson 100.70 Dave Chisnall 90.68 4 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 93.18 Night's Average: 99.17 Highest Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 144 Most 180s: Phil Taylor 9 Night's 180s: 42

26 March – Week 8 (Phase 1) 3Arena, Dublin Score [9] Adrian Lewis 96.51 2 – 7 Dave Chisnall 100.84 Gary Anderson 96.80 7 – 4 Stephen Bunting 95.57 Peter Wright 87.81 3 – 7 James Wade 92.15 Michael van Gerwen 108.71 7 – 2 Raymond van Barneveld 104.37 Phil Taylor 104.04 7 – 4 Kim Huybrechts 96.73 Night's Average: 98.35 Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 160 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen 7 Night's 180s: 31

2 April – Week 9 (Phase 1) Phones 4u Arena, Manchester Score [10] Michael van Gerwen 100.97 7 – 4 James Wade 100.64 Phil Taylor 93.55 4 – 7 Dave Chisnall 95.78 Stephen Bunting 94.47 6 – 6 Kim Huybrechts 94.22 Adrian Lewis 96.29 7 – 4 Peter Wright 91.09 Gary Anderson 108.83 6 – 6 Raymond van Barneveld 100.18 Night's Average: 97.6 Highest Checkout: Peter Wright 170 Most 180s: Gary Anderson 7 Night's 180s: 28

9 April – Week 10 (Phase 2) Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield Score [11] Adrian Lewis 96.77 7 – 4 James Wade 97.02 Gary Anderson 93.78 3 – 7 Dave Chisnall 106.91 Phil Taylor 86.80 2 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 95.43 Stephen Bunting 95.43 5 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 102.98 Dave Chisnall 114.17 7 – 1 James Wade 87.12 Night's Average: 97.64 Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 150 Most 180s (In 1 match): Dave Chisnall 6 Night's 180s: 32

16 April – Week 11 (Phase 2) GE Oil & Gas Arena, Aberdeen Score [12] Dave Chisnall 102.96 3 – 7 Phil Taylor 103.53 Stephen Bunting 93.92 2 – 7 Adrian Lewis 97.96 James Wade 101.65 6 – 6 Gary Anderson 104.27 Raymond van Barneveld 98.98 7 – 3 Michael van Gerwen 99.25 Stephen Bunting 95.30 6 – 6 Phil Taylor 98.63 Night's Average: 99.65 Highest Checkout: James Wade 170 Most 180s (In 1 match): Phil Taylor & Gary Anderson 5 Night's 180s: 28

23 April – Week 12 (Phase 2) Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Score [13] Stephen Bunting 90.53 7 – 1 Gary Anderson 82.98 James Wade 93.93 0 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 116.90 Raymond van Barneveld 99.66 7 – 5 Dave Chisnall 103.79 Phil Taylor 104.65 6 – 6 Adrian Lewis 96.89 Gary Anderson 105.94 7 – 5 Michael van Gerwen 104.40 Night's Average: 99.97 Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 154 Most 180s (In 1 match): Michael van Gerwen 5 Night's 180s: 26

30 April – Week 13 (Phase 2) Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham Score [14] Dave Chisnall 100.33 7 – 4 Adrian Lewis 101.94 Raymond van Barneveld 98.59 7 – 5 Gary Anderson 94.54 James Wade 94.65 6 – 6 Stephen Bunting 93.15 Michael van Gerwen 112.91 7 – 4 Phil Taylor 107.58 Adrian Lewis 89.64 2 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 95.82 Night's Average: 98.92 Highest Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 161 Most 180s (In 1 match): Michael van Gerwen & Raymond van Barneveld & Stephen Bunting 5 Night's 180s: 32

7 May – Week 14 (Phase 2) Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne Score [15] Dave Chisnall 104.50 7 – 1 Stephen Bunting 90.19 Adrian Lewis 108.91 7 – 5 Michael van Gerwen 103.38 James Wade 95.28 6 – 6 Raymond van Barneveld 94.55 Phil Taylor 101.71 5 – 7 Gary Anderson 102.95 Night's Average: 100.18 Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 137 Most 180s : Adrian Lewis 7 Night's 180s: 29

14 May – Week 15 (Phase 2) Brighton Centre, Brighton Score [16] Phil Taylor 108.87 7 – 1 James Wade 100.29 Raymond van Barneveld 101.62 7 – 4 Stephen Bunting 100.27 Adrian Lewis 94.46 3 – 7 Gary Anderson 97.26 Michael van Gerwen 111.90 6 – 6 Dave Chisnall 106.01 Night's Average: 102.59 Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 161 Most 180s : Michael van Gerwen & Stephen Bunting 5 Night's 180s: 27

Play-offs – 21 May

The O₂ Arena, London

	Score
[17]
Semi-finals (best of 19 legs)
Dave Chisnall 98.34	9 – 10	Gary Anderson 98.40
Michael van Gerwen 106.44	10 – 8	Raymond van Barneveld 100.44
Final (best of 21 legs)
Michael van Gerwen 105.81	7 – 11	Gary Anderson 104.85
Night's Average: 102.38
Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 152

Table and streaks

Table

After the first nine weeks (phase 1), the bottom two in the table are eliminated. Each remaining player plays a further seven matches (phase 2). The top four players then participate in the playoffs.

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	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	LF	LA	+/-	LWAT	100+	140+	180s	A[18]	HC	C%[19]
1	Michael van Gerwen RU	16	10	3	3	23	101	71	+30	38	183	153	58	105.15	160	47.87%
2	Dave Chisnall	16	10	2	4	22	97	67	+30	38	191	121	62	101.39	161	42.17%
3	Gary Anderson W	16	9	2	5	20	90	80	+10	28	212	126	57	99.83	152	38.14%
4	Raymond van Barneveld	16	8	3	5	19	90	82	+8	31	227	120	48	97.64	161	41.86%
5	Phil Taylor	16	6	3	7	15	87	83	+4	30	246	124	43	102.95	151	39.55%
6	Adrian Lewis	16	5	4	7	14	76	89	−13	23	189	119	51	98.63	147	38.04%
7	James Wade	16	3	6	7	12	76	93	−17	26	236	144	23	97.12	170	41.14%
8	Stephen Bunting	16	3	5	8	11	75	93	−18	26	181	112	46	94.37	164	32.86%
9	Peter Wright	9	1	4	4	6	40	57	−17	10	144	71	18	93.77	170	36.96%
10	Kim Huybrechts	9	1	2	6	4	42	59	−17	7	116	71	27	97.83	170	34.15%

Last updated: 15 May 2015
Source: Match reports from the results section.

Top four qualified for the Play-offs after Week 15.
NB: LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw. A = Average C% = Checkout Percentage HC = High Checkout.

Streaks

Player	1st Phase										2nd Phase											Play-offs
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		10		11		12		13		14	15		SF	F
Michael van Gerwen	W	W	W	D	D	W	W	W	W		W		L		W	L	W		L	D		W	L
Dave Chisnall	W	W	D	W	W	L	L	W	W		W	W	L		L		W		W	D		L	—
Gary Anderson	W	W	L	W	L	W	W	W	D		L		D		L	W	L		W	W		W	W
Raymond van Barneveld	L	L	D	W	L	L	W	L	D		W		W		W		W	W	D	W		L	—
Phil Taylor	L	W	W	D	W	L	L	W	L		L		W	D	D		L		L	W		Eliminated
Adrian Lewis	W	L	D	D	L	L	D	L	W		W		W		D		L	L	W	L
James Wade	D	W	D	L	L	W	D	W	L		L	L	D		L		D		D	L
Stephen Bunting	D	L	L	L	W	W	D	L	D		L		L	D	W		D		L	L
Peter Wright	L	L	D	D	D	W	D	L	L		Eliminated
Kim Huybrechts	L	L	D	L	W	L	L	L	D

Legend:	W	Win	D	Draw	L	Loss	—	Eliminated

Positions by round

Player	Round
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Michael van Gerwen	3	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Dave Chisnall	2	2	2	2	1	2	3	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Gary Anderson	4	3	5	3	4	3	2	2	3	3	3	3	4	3	3	3
Raymond van Barneveld	10	8	7	7	7	9	8	8	8	7	7	5	3	4	4	4
Phil Taylor	7	5	3	4	3	4	4	5	5	4	4	4	5	6	5	5
Adrian Lewis	1	6	6	6	6	8	9	9	7	6	5	6	6	5	6	6
James Wade	5	4	4	5	5	5	5	4	4	5	6	8	8	7	7	7
Stephen Bunting	6	7	9	10	8	6	6	6	6	8	8	7	7	8	8	8
Peter Wright	9	10	10	8	10	7	7	7	9	Eliminated
Kim Huybrechts	8	9	8	9	9	10	10	10	10