Fourteen weeks ago, there were eight hopefuls all battling to win the Darts Premier League. Yesterday there were just four and the victor emerged in front of the Wembley Arena.
The first semi-final saw Taylor battle Lewis. Lewis thrashed Taylor on the opening round in the O2 8-2 before Taylor replied with an 8-3 victory later on. But Lewis came storming out in this semi-final with Taylor looking well below par. Jackpot took the first three legs before Taylor fought back to be 4-2 behind at the break. Lewis won the following three legs after the break to be within one of the final before Taylor denied the inevitable in the tenth leg but he still lost 8-3.
The second semi-final was between Van Barneveld and Anderson. Barney beat Anderson 8-4 in Brighton and 8-5 a couple of weeks ago. It was looking good again for the Dutchman as he quickly took a 3-0 lead although the second leg saw both players suffer double trouble. Again Anderson found himself 4-2 behind at the break but he carried the momentum over with him and took the following three legs to lead 5-4. Barney checked-out with 137 in the twelfth to make it 6-6 but Anderson won the remaining two legs to win 8-6. Barneveld has now lost five times in the Premier League semi-finals.
As the finalists got themselves ready, we were given a third/fourth place play-off between Taylor and Barneveld. Taylor beat Barney 8-3 in both of their league meetings but both players were off key in this one. Barney hasn't beaten Taylor since 2008 and his Tayloritis could have been cured last night. The first three legs went with throw as Taylor equalised with a ton in the second. But Barney broke first to take the fourth leg but Taylor battled back to 4-4. Barney managed to make it 6-4 before tiredness got the better of him and Taylor reeled off the remaining four legs to win 8-6 and keep Barney's Tayloritis apparent.
The final was a repeat of the World Championships between Lewis and Anderson. Lewis beat Anderson 8-3 in Glasgow when Anderson let the game go with the tempestuous crowd going over the top. They then drew 7-7 in last week's affair but it was apparent that there was only going to be one winner in this race to ten. Anderson roared into gear early by taking the first four legs with a 121 in the second. Lewis earned a leg but Anderson quickly replied with a 101 and then went onto be 9-1 ahead. Lewis tried making the result look more respectful and he managed to to make it 9-4 before Anderson dispatched the win in the fourteenth leg to be crowned the Darts Premier League Champion 2011 in his debut Premier League season.
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