Premier League darts: Night six schedule and preview as Michael van Gerwen goes for the hat-trick

Paul HighamPaul Higham16 March 2022
Michael Van Gerwen celebrates victory in the Premier League Play-Offs Final against Rob Cross during the Premier League Play-Offs at The O2, London.

Michael Van Gerwen celebrates victory in the Premier League Play-Offs Final against Rob Cross during the Premier League Play-Offs at The O2, London.

After winning the last two Premier League nights Michael van Gerwen is the man to beat as Nottingham hosts the event on Thursday.

It looks like Michael van Gerwen is becoming mighty again as he's found a superb vein of form when winning the last two Premier League outings and also claiming the German Darts Championship at the weekend.

That's no guarantee of more success here as this is the eight best players on planet darts fighting it out, but MVG tops the table for now and looks the man to beat.
The Dutchman faces a wounded Gerwyn Price in Nottingham, with the Welshman recovering just enough to take to the oche.
Michael Smith, who lost last week's final, kicks off the night against James Wade, while defending champion Jonny Clayton plays Gary Anderson.
Joe Cullen tackles world number one Peter Wright in the final quarter-final tie.

Night six order of play

Michael Smith 19:10 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 19:40 Gerwyn Price
Gary Anderson 20:10 Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen 20:40 Peter Wright
Semi-finals will start at around 21:10 GMT, while the final is expected to take place at 22:15 GMT.

Michael Smith v James Wade

Hats off to Michael Smith, who responded to yet more big final heartbreak to batter Gary Anderson and Jonny Clayton 6-1 last week before losing out to MVG in the Brighton final.
Bully Boy really does keep showing his battling qualities to respond to all the disappointment he's had to deal with, and he also had a solid quarter-final outing in Germany.
James Wade has lost just twice in 18 matches against Smith though, and the left-hander had the weekend off so comes to Nottingham as the fresher man.

Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price

Gerwyn Price missed last week and Germany at the weekend with a hand injury, and although he returns for Nottingham he says he's not at 100 percent, so it's hard to predict just how that will hinder his throw.
Even at 100 percent though he'd have a job slowing MVG down going on his recent wins in Exeter and Brighton, where he's lost just 13 legs in six games.

Van Gerwen claimed the German Darts Championship in fine style at the weekend and says he's improved mentally to get his game somewhere near his best.

That should spell a warning for the rest of the field.

Gary Anderson v Jonny Clayton

Gary Anderson is having a nightmare in this Premier League season as he's rock bottom of the table with just one win from the opening five nights of action.
It already looks like an uphill battle for the Scotsman and defending champion Jonny Clayton will try to add to his misery in Nottingham.
Clayton is joint-second behind Van Gerwen in the table and has won his last three against Anderson so will be confident of another victory here.

Joe Cullen v Peter Wright

World number one Peter Wright had to pull out of the German Darts Championship at the weekend but will line-up here after having treatment on his back and gallstones since returning to the UK.
Joe Cullen will be waiting to pounce if Wright isn't up the speed here, and in this short format any kind of slow start is usually punished.
Cullen has yet to win a Premier League night but has made one final and two semis so is creeping closer, but has lost eight of his last night against Snakebite.
READ MORE: Has Michael van Gerwen got his mojo back?

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