Taylor held by Wade as MVG thrashes Wright

Taylor and Wade were both bidding to make it two wins from two at the start of the campaign at the Motorpoint Arena and the Machine looked on course for victory when having two darts at a double to go 6-5 up and guarantee himself at least a point.

But Wade spurned them both and was punished as the Power landed a superb 141 checkout - although Wade broke back in the final leg under pressure to rescue a draw.

World number one van Gerwen extended his unbeaten run in televised games to 39 matches as he thrashed Peter Wright 7-3 to gain revenge for Sunday's defeat to Snakebite in the UK Open Qualifiers in Wigan.

The formidable Dutchman, whose 6-6 draw with Anderson last week ended his TV winning streak at 37 games, stormed into a 6-0 lead, hitting a 170 checkout along the way, and although Wright managed a mini revival it was far too little too late.

World number two Anderson averaged over 100 as he cruised to a 7-3 victory over Jelle Klaasen which moved him alongside Taylor, MVG and Wade on three points and the quartet were later joined by Raymond van Barneveld following his draw with Kim Huybrechts in the final match of the night.

In the opener, Adrian Lewis got his season up and running with a comprehensive 7-2 victory over Dave Chisnall.

Below is a full rundown of how each match unfolded, player quotes and a breakdown of their stats while we also rank the players' performances at the bottom of this article as well as the updated Premier League table. 

Peter Wright 3-7 Michael van Gerwen

World number one Michael van Gerwen extended his unbeaten run in televised games to 39 matches as he thrashed Peter Wright 7-3 in Nottingham - although it could so easily have been a first whitewash of the season.

The defending champion, whose 6-6 draw with Gary Anderson last week ended his TV winning streak at 37 games, headed into the night on the back of a rare disappointing weekend at the UK Open Qualifiers in Wigan where he failed to win any of the three events and also suffered a defeat to Snakebite on Sunday.

That result ended Wright's 16-match losing run against van Gerwen but normal service was quickly resumed as the formidable Dutchman stormed into a 6-0 lead, hitting a 170 checkout along the way, while the Scotsman was well below his best despite firing five 180s.

Wright did manage to pull three legs back after MVG had missed three darts for a 7-0 win but any hope of the most dramatic of comebacks were ended in the next leg as van Gerwen moved level on three points and equal leg difference with Taylor and Anderson at the top of the table.

"I think I played okay there - I could have won 7-0 , maybe I was trying too hard but I don't think I deserved to win 7-0," said van Gerwen, whose last defeat on TV came back at September's inaugural Champions League of Darts, when Taylor defeated him in the final. "As long as you win and get the two points, that's the most important thing.

"There's more in the tank to come and I will be prepared for the other players as well, because you have to perform week after week."

 Three-dart averages
Wright: 89.83
Van Gerwen: 105.21

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Wright: 10
Van Gerwen: 7
140+ thrown
Wright: 2
Van Gerwen: 14
180+ thrown
Wright: 5
Van Gerwen: 3

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wright: N/A
Van Gerwen: 170

Checkout percentage
Wright: 25% (3/12)
Van Gerwen: 38.89% (7/18)  

Jelle Klaasen 3-7 Gary Anderson

World number two Gary Anderson picked up his first win of the Premier League season with a commanding 7-3 victory over Jelle Klaasen.

The Flying Scotsman, who opened his campaign with a 6-6 draw with Michael van Gerwen in Newcastle, averaged over 100 as he drew level with Phil Taylor and MVG at the top of the embryonic table on three points and equal leg difference.

His winless opponent, who is making his return to the competition for the first time since 2009, blasted out of the blocks with an 11-dart leg as he tried to put last week's defeat to Peter Wright behind him but Anderson responded with a 119 checkout before surging into a 6-2 lead.

Klaasen was producing a much better performance than the scoreline suggested with an average in the high 90s and nailed a 122 finish to reduce the deficit but it merely delayed the inevitable as Anderson sealed maximum points in the next leg.

"I played well against Michael last week but I didn't think it was as good tonight, so it's nice to get the two points and I'll take that," said Anderson.

"It's going alright so far but it's always hard and every point is important."

Three-dart averages
Klaasen: 97.41
Anderson: 100.04

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Klaasen: 14
Anderson: 13
140+ thrown
Klaasen: 6
Anderson: 7
180+ thrown
Klaasen: 2
Anderson: 2

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Klaasen: 122
Anderson: 119

Checkout percentage
Klaasen: 37.5% (3/8)
Anderson: 53.85% (7/13)  

James Wade 6-6 Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor and James Wade shared the spoils in their Betway Premier League Darts clash after a battling 6-6 draw in Nottingham.

Both players were bidding to make it two wins from two at the start of the campaign at the Motorpoint Arena and it was Wade who looked much the better player early on as he outscored the Power and moved 3-1 up.

Taylor bounced back with a break before restoring parity at 3-3 thanks to a 104 finish - his second 100+ checkout of the match so far - and the next four legs went with the throw.

At 5-5, Wade missed a golden opportunity to guarantee himself a point by spurning two darts at a double and Taylor punished him emphatically by taking out a superb 142 finish.

The 16-time world champion, who didn't hit a single 180 in the match, just had to hold his throw to seal a second victory of the season but Wade got to a finish and held his nerve on 56 to escape with a draw.

"I'm happy with the point," said Taylor, a six-time Premier League winner. "It's a shame that I didn't win but the result was fair and it was about even.

"I thought I'd got him when the 142 went in, but James hit the right shot at the right time in the last leg. He hit a few 180s and he pulled it out at the end, but I'm enjoying it."

Three-dart averages
Wade: 98.88
Taylor: 92.07

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Wade: 12
Taylor: 20
140+ thrown
Wade: 12
Taylor: 8
180+ thrown
Wade: 4
Taylor: 0

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Wade: 121
Taylor: 142, 121, 104

Checkout percentage
Wade: 37.5% (6/16)
Taylor: 42.86% (6/14) 

Kim Huybrechts 6-6 Raymond van Barneveld

Raymond van Barneveld fired seven 180s - the highest of the night - but still had to take out 80 under pressure in the final leg to escape with a 6-6 draw in his clash with Kim Huybrechts.

In a see-saw battle, Barney struggled badly on his finishing throughout and missed the chance to earn sole leadership of the early Premier League table on four points.

Instead the point, which followed his opening victory over Adrian Lewis last week, sees him move level on three points with Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen and James Wade.

Huybrechts will be satisfied to get his first point on the board having lost to Wade in Newcastle.

"Both of us could have won it and both of us maybe think we should have won it," said Huybrechts. "I think we're both happy with that.

"It could have been more points but it could have been less as well because Barney had a couple of darts to go 5-3 up, so at the end I think a draw is maybe fair."

Three-dart averages
Huybrechts: 96.99
Van Barneveld: 93.91

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Huybrechts: 15
Van Barneveld: 11
140+ thrown
Huybrechts: 12
Van Barneveld: 7
180+ thrown
Huybrechts: 2
Van Barneveld: 7

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Huybrechts: N/A
Van Barneveld: N/A

Checkout percentage
Huybrechts: 31.58% (6/19)
Van Barneveld: 27.27% (6/22)  

Adrian Lewis 7-2 Dave Chisnall

Adrian Lewis got his Betway Premier League Darts season up and running with a comprehensive victory over Dave Chisnall in Nottingham on Thursday night.

Jackpot squandered a 4-1 lead to lose his opening tie with Raymond van Barneveld last week but bounced back superbly at the Motorpoint Arena against Chizzy, who is still searching for his first point of the campaign having also suffered defeat to Phil Taylor in Newcastle.

"It was quite a big two points and you need all the points you can get in this league," said Lewis. "Last week I missed three darts to get a draw with Barney and I didn't take my chance, but tonight I put it right.

"I wasn't too happy with my performance and I'd rather play well and win, but I got the job done. The crowd have paid their money and want to see good darts, and when I don't perform to my capabilities I'm just as upset as them."

 Three-dart averages
Lewis: 94.4
Chisnall: 90.48

SCORING:
100+ thrown
Lewis: 16
Chisnall: 7
140+ thrown
Lewis: 5
Chisnall: 5
180+ thrown
Lewis: 1
Chisnall: 3

CHECKOUTS
100+ checkouts
Lewis: 160
Chisnall: N/A

Checkout percentage
Lewis: 53.85% (7/13)
Chisnall: 28.57% (2/9) 

Premier League Darts Week Two: Statistics

Three-dart averages
Michael van Gerwen: 105.21
Gary Anderson: 100.04
James Wade: 98.88
Jelle Klaasen: 97.41
Kim Huybrechts: 96.99
Adrian Lewis: 94.4
Raymond van Barneveld: 93.91
Phil Taylor: 92.07
Dave Chisnall: 90.48
Peter Wright: 89.83

180s Thrown
Raymond van Barneveld: 7
Peter Wright: 5
James Wade: 4
Dave Chisnall: 3
Michael van Gerwen: 3
Jelle Klaasen: 2
Gary Anderson: 2
Kim Huybrechts: 2
Adrian Lewis: 1
Phil Taylor: 0

Checkouts over 100
Michael van Gerwen: 170
Adrian Lewis: 160
Phil Taylor: 142
Jelle Klaasen: 122
Phil Taylor: 121
James Wade: 121
Gary Anderson: 119
Phil Taylor: 104

Checkout percentages
Adrian Lewis: 53.85% (7/13)
Gary Anderson: 53.85% (7/13)
Phil Taylor: 42.86% (6/14)
Michael van Gerwen: 38.89% (7/18)
James Wade: 37.5% (6/16)
Jelle Klaasen: 37.5% (3/8)
Huybrechts: 31.58% (6/19)
Dave Chisnall: 28.57% (2/9)
Ramond van Barneveld: 27.27% (6/22)
Peter Wright: 25% (3/12)  

Premier League Week Two: Standings

Player Played Won Drawn Lost LegDiff Points

Phil Taylor 2 1 1 0 +4 3

Michael van Gerwen 2 1 1 0 +4 3

Gary Anderson 2 1 1 0 +4 3

Raymond van Barneveld 2 1 1 0 +2 3

James Wade 2 1 1 0 +2 3

Adrian Lewis 2 1 0 1 +3 2

Peter Wright 2 1 0 1 -1 2

Kim Huybrechts 2 0 1 1 -2 1

Jelle Klaasen 2 0 0 2 -7 0

Dave Chisnall 2 0 0 2 -9 0

Scoring system:

Two points for a win (by reaching seven legs) and one point for a draw.

If players are tied on points in the league table, leg difference will be the first deciding factor. If this is also a tie, then legs won against throw will be the next deciding factor, and any further tie would be split by a comparison of the relevant players' three-dart tournament average at that stage.

The bottom two throwers in the table following Judgement Night (held in Cardiff on Thursday April 31) will be eliminated.

Six more league nights follow, with the remaining eight players facing each other once more before the top four then progress to the play-offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 19.