DUBLIN’S O2 ARENA hosts the Premier League Darts for the first time tonight as eight of the biggest names in the sport go head-to-head.
The venue has sold out its 9,000 capacity as the 14-week league season marks its halfway point with a visit to the Irish capital.
World champion Adrian Lewis, who has blown hot and cold this season, takes on Kevin Painter in the second match of the evening but most anticipated meeting will be that of Phil Taylor and James Wade.
“James always raises his game when we play and we’ve had some great battles,” Taylor, who currently holds top spot with 11 points, said on the PDC’s website. “He’s coming back into form and has had some good results recently, so his confidence is growing.
I’m looking to keep pushing on now. It’s been a great six weeks but I’ve got to make sure I keep playing well and winning.”
Wade, who has won his last three games and is drawn on six points with three other players, has been calling for fans to put a stop to persistent jeering which he is the victim of.
“The booing isn’t appreciated from a level playing field point of view,” Wade said in the Daily Mirror. “Keep quiet at the right times and you’ll see some great darts.
“Surely what they want to see are 180s, big checkouts and nine-dart finishes. They can make as much noise as they want between throws.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played a bad game against Phil but he does it week-in, week-out,” he added. “I’m certainly not bothered about playing him, that’s for sure.
“Phil’s going to play brilliantly but I know the way I’m playing at the moment, where I know what I’ve got in the tank that’s not coming out, that I can beat him.”
Tonight’s schedule is as follows:
Andy Hamilton v Simon Whitlock
Adrian Lewis v Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor v James Wade
