Van den Bergh seals Aberdeen crown as Clayton clinches Premier League play-off spot

Dimitri van den Bergh signed off from the 2023 Premier League in style by claiming the Night 16 title in Aberdeen, while Jonny Clayton sealed Play-Off qualification.

Van den Bergh was one of only two players in this year’s event without a weekly title to his name ahead of the trip to the P&J Live, but the Belgian rectified that with victory on the final night of the league phase.

The former World Matchplay champion kicked off his run with a 6-4 win over Michael Smith, fending off a late fightback to end the World Champion’s nine-match winning run in the Premier League.

Van den Bergh then received a bye through to Thursday’s final after Michael van Gerwen was forced to withdraw after sustaining a shoulder injury during his Quarter-Final win over Chris Dobey.

This set up a showdown against table-topper Gerwyn Price, and Van den Bergh came through a nail-biting last-leg decider to claim the £10,000 winner’s bonus.

“I have given my all and it managed to work out for me tonight,” reflected Van den Bergh, who leapfrogs Dobey to finish in sixth spot.

“I had a chance and I took it. Fair play to Gezzy. He showed his class yet again, but I stuck in, and I’m so happy with this win.

“It’s my first time being in this position in the Premier League, travelling week in week out across Europe. I have given my best and it wasn’t meant to be, but I have never given up.

“I have to say thank you so much to the PDC. I felt really honoured to be part of this, and while it didn’t happen this time, nobody can say I will never be back.”

Van den Bergh produced his performance of the night to deny Price a fifth weekly title of the season, breaking the Welshman’s throw in the decider to prevail in a topsy-turvy affair.

The Belgian fired in a spectacular 148 checkout to lead in leg three, but he continued to be pegged back by Price, as the opening six legs went against throw.

Van den Bergh regained the initiative with an 11-dart break in leg seven, before closing out the game’s first hold in leg eight, landing a 13-darter on tops to move a leg away from glory.

Price survived a match dart in leg nine before producing a 12-dart break to force a decider, only to squander three match darts in a dramatic climax, and Van den Bergh duly capitalised to celebrate a landmark win.

Price, however, becomes only the fifth player in Premier League history to finish top of the league phase, after remarkably progressing to a ninth weekly final of the season.

The Welshman opened Thursday’s action with an emphatic 6-2 success against home hero Peter Wright, averaging 103 and sealing victory with a superb 129 checkout.

Aspinall also averaged 103 to demolish Play-Off rival Clayton 6-1, which saw him draw level on points with ‘The Ferret’ ahead of his decisive Semi-Final showdown against Price.

However, 2020 runner-up Aspinall was unable to secure the victory he needed to confirm a top four spot, succumbing 6-3 to the league leader in a scrappy encounter.

Earlier in the evening, reigning champion Van Gerwen suffered a shoulder injury during his 6-3 win over Dobey, storming into a 5-0 lead before playing through the pain barrier in the latter stages.

Despite receiving treatment post-match, the six-time champion was unable to take on Van den Bergh in the semis, which meant he had to settle for a third place finish.

Price ended the league phase six points clear of Smith in second, while Clayton finished fourth – the same position from which he lifted the title on debut in 2021.

The Premier League culminates with the season-ending Play-Offs at The O2 in London next Thursday, as Price, Smith, Van Gerwen and Clayton battle it out for the coveted title in the capital.

Table-topper Price will play his compatriot Clayton in an all-Welsh semi-final, before Smith and Van Gerwen lock horns in a repeat of January’s World Championship final.

Premier League Darts 2023 Night 16 Results

Thursday May 18

Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Peter Wright
Jonny Clayton 1-6 Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith 4-6 Dimitri van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Chris Dobey

Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri van den Bergh w/o Michael van Gerwen

Final
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-5 Gerwyn Price

Play-Offs – Thursday May 25

The O2, London

Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price v Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen

Final

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