Judgement Night arrived at Brighton and the first two players to fall from this year's Premier League were revealed. Four of the ten players were in danger of being relegated but defeats for Gary Anderson and Wes Newton meant that Adrian Lewis' earlier defeat to Raymond Van Barneveld didn't matter. It also meant that Simon Whitlock went to the oche knowing that he was already safe before being beaten by Michael Van Gerwen.
Lewis stepped up first knowing that just a point would be enough for him to be guaranteed his safety. After missing a dart to win the opening leg, Lewis quickly found himself 2-0 down before becoming 3-1 behind. Another three missed darts at the double from Lewis allowed Barney to make it 4-1 before a 124-checkout made it 5-2 to the Dutchman after Lewis did miss the bull for a 121-checkout. The story continued in the eighth leg with Lewis missing a further two darts at the double which gave Barney the point. The Dutchman would finish the match in the next leg to romp home 7-2 and left Lewis very uncertain of his Premier League future, even more so with the leg difference taking a bashing.
After beating Phil Taylor twice last year, Robert Thornton again managed to defeat The Power which leaves the World Champion out of the play-off places as it stands. A ton checkout from the Scot meant that all three opening legs went against throw. Taylor had two darts to continue the trend but he missed, allowed Thornton to hold for the first time and take a 3-1 lead. Taylor responded with a ton checkout of his own, this with two double tops, before managing to level the match. Taylor never led during the match but the closest he came was in the seventh leg when he missed a dart to go 4-3 in front, again, uncharacteristically, he missed and Thornton was able to regain his lead. A further two missed darts in the eighth leg allowed Thornton to re-establish a two leg advantage before Taylor managed to make it 5-4. Undeterred, Thornton continued his assault and took the remaining two legs to win the match 7-4 and leave him in a place that is a vast contrast to where many bookmakers believed he would be come judgement night.
Newton's debut season in the Premier League has come to an end after nine weeks following a defeat to Andy Hamilton. Newton had to win to still be in the mix and a 7-2 scoreline would have assured his safety. The first six legs all went with throw, meaning that the 7-2 scoreline was unobtainable. The crucial first break of throw came in the seventh leg as Hamilton managed to take the lead for the first time in the match. The Hammer then managed to hold his throw again to go 5-3 in front. Hamilton then missed a dart to get a point in the ninth leg but he would get it in the next after Newton missed a dart to equalise. A plucky 102-checkout from Newton did force a final leg but a 64-checkout from Hamilton was enough to eject Newton out of the Premier League.
After witnessing that, Anderson stepped up against James Wade knowing that the same outcome would also relegate the Scot. On the other hand, a 7-4 win for Anderson would have been enough to seen him be safe. Anderson managed to take the opening leg at the fifth attempt before his Achilles heel, two missed darts at the double, allowed Wade to turn the tables and go 2-1 ahead. Anderson looked to regain some confidence with a 121-checkout on the bull to level the match but Wade responded with a fantastic 124-checkout to keep the Scot at bay. Anderson was able to make it 4-3 before Wade took the next three legs to win the match 7-3, ending Anderson's Premier League with a classy 120-checkout.
With the pressure now off Whitlock, it was a surprise to see the Australian play like his future was still in doubt. It is never easy playing against Van Gerwen and the Dutchman quickly took a 3-0 lead. Van Gerwen's form dipped a little in the sixth leg but his scoring power allowed him to take the leg at the seventh attempt to lead 5-1. That soon became six before a 130 and 90-checkout from Whitlock made the scoreline look a little better at 6-3. But Van Gerwen quashed any comeback ideas from Whitlock with a 64-checkout which puts him back on top of the league. Table after week nine:
1. Michael Van Gerwen 12 +16
2. James Wade 12 +13
3. Raymond Van Barneveld 12 +11
4. Robert Thornton 11 +8
5. Phil Taylor 10 +9
6. Andy Hamilton 10 +2
7. Adrian Lewis 7 -12
8. Simon Whitlock 6 -15
R Wes Newton 5 -14
R Gary Anderson 5 -18
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