Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen wins Night Four

Michael van Gerwen looked to be back to his best after a dominant display in last night’s round of Premier League fixtures

The Dutchman defeated Johnny Clayton, Michael Smith, and Peter Wright to help him move up to second place in the table and take home £10,000.

Van Gerwen got the ball rolling with an emphatic 6-1 victory over the in-form Welshman, Johnny Clayton. 'Mighty' Michael van Gerwen averaged 102 against ‘The Ferret’ which helped him progress to the next round to face 'Bully Boy' Michael Smith.

Michael Smith managed to achieve his first win of the Premier League so far, beating Joe Cullen in the quarter-finals 6-5. Smith averaged 97.31 and looked as though he found his confidence again after a shaky start to his Premier League campaign.

Smith couldn't get the job done against van Gerwen however, crashing out after a 6-2 defeat to the Dutchman. It looked as though Smith was picking up his pace at 3-2 down, but Michael won three legs on the bounce to steamroll into the final, where he would meet 'Snakebite' Peter Wright.

Wright's route to the final came by dismantling night three winner Gerwyn Price 6-2, only days after Price had beaten Wright to remain the world number one. Wright averaged 101.06 against the Welshman and was looking to take this good form into the semi's to take on 'The Machine' James Wade.

It was another dominant performance by the Scotsman in the semi-finals as Wright defeated James Wade 6-2 which was a disappointing defeat for Wade, only managing to average a score of 85.81.

It was even more disappointing for Peter Wright in the final however, as he was whitewashed by van Gerwen 6-0. Van Gerwen hasn't won a televised title since 2020, but after last night’s performance in Exeter he will fancy his chances to go all the way and lift the trophy for what would be the fourth time in his career.

Van Gerwen is the fourth different weekly winner of the Premier League to follow in the footsteps of Wright, Clayton, and Gerwyn Price and he now finds himself second in the overall table behind Snakebite.

Van Gerwen said: “It was really important, tonight I played some good darts and you can build into the rest of the Premier League, it is always hard especially when you aren’t at your best.

“I played well, it was good to win the night and I think there is more to come.

“To panic is a weak sign, I am everything but I am not weak. I have been waiting for this for a long time, I know it’s hard because there are so many good darts players, but you have to take your chances.

“You have to believe in your own opportunity, what anyone else thinks you have to do it yourself.

“People think it’s easy to win but that is not how it is. You have to do the right thing at the right moment, week after week, throw after throw.”