“Phil wasn’t at his best tonight but I got the job done with an average
over 100, so I’m happy with that,” said Lewis. “He started like a
train in the first leg but missed a couple of doubles and it knocked his
confidence a bit.”
“He’s on the mend though and he’s getting better with the new darts.
When he took out the 140 it was ‘game on’ again, and I’m glad I got
the result.”
“It’s a great start for me and I want to stay where I am and keep on
winning, so I’ll move on now and look forward to next week.”
Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Robert Thornton
Michael van Gerwen was unable to produce the form that had seen him
whitewash Taylor in week one, but in the end he had enough in the
tank to condemn Robert Thornton to a second successive defeat.
The duo were evenly matched through the opening stages and they
headed into the first break at 3-3, before Thornton edged in front at
4-3 when the players returned.
Michael van Gerwen levelled again, before missed darts at double from
Thornton allowed the Dutchman to move into the lead at 5-4. The
World Champion then secured a point, landing a 180 before checking
out 121 to move 6-4 in front.
Thornton was able to force a deciding leg when he took the eleventh,
but he could not complete the comeback as van Gerwen hung on for a
close 7-5 victory.
“I wasn’t at my best tonight but it’s important to dig in when you’re
a little bit off and still get results because you’re never going to be at
your best in every game,” said van Gerwen.
“It was a close game but the ninth leg was the key and I felt like
I would win it after that.”
“To have won two from two is a great start and I want to
keep that going next week, but Robert played well
tonight too and he will take a lot of confidence
from the game.”
The Verdict
Part of me wants to say that Phil Taylor
is in some considerable trouble having
failed to pick up any points at all during
the opening two weeks, indeed Wes
Newton, who found himself in the same
position last season, was unable to recover
and was ultimately relegated.
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig