Michael Smith completes hat-trick of Premier League weekly titles in Sheffield
Michael Smith stormed to a third consecutive Premier League weekly title following a 6-3 win over Gerwyn Price in the final of Night 15 in Sheffield.
World Champion Smith overcame Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Price to triumph on the penultimate night of the league phase and preserve his hopes of topping the overall league table.
Price could have guaranteed top spot with victory in the final, but Smith cut his lead at the summit to just three points after claiming the spoils in the Steel City.
Smith, who had triumphed in Leeds and Manchester over the past fortnight, began his campaign on Night 15 with a 6-4 win over reigning champion Van Gerwen, producing a stunning 130 checkout on the bull to defeat the Dutchman for a second successive week.
The world number one continued his charge to defeat Clayton in a repeat of last Thursday’s final, averaging 107.8 and sealing the deal with an 11-darter in their Semi-Final clash.
Smith then capped off a terrific night of action by claiming another £10,000 winner’s bonus, extending his winning run to nine Premier League matches in the process.
The 2018 runner-up kicked off proceedings with back-to-back 12-darters, and although the opening six legs all went with throw, Price was unable to make inroads on the Smith throw.
The Welshman then paid the price for squandering six darts at doubles to level in leg eight, before Smith closed out victory with a third 12-dart hold of the contest moments later.
“Last year I only got one win on the final night, now it’s three on the spin,” reflected Smith, who has leapfrogged Van Gerwen into second spot.
“I put in as much practice as I can and as you’ve seen tonight, when the talent has an off-day, the hard work always pulls you through.
“I wasn’t at my best today, but it was just grit and determination that helped me to cross the line.
“It would be nice to finish top of the table for the prestige. I qualified for the Play-Offs last week, but I’ve still got a job to do.
“I’ve still got to put on a show for the fans and I still need to go to The O2 playing well and winning, and I’m glad to be doing that.”
Price, who was victorious in Sheffield 12 months ago, retained his cushion at the top after storming through to his eighth weekly final of 2023 with 6-2 wins over Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey.
He kicked off Thursday’s action with a prolific 111 average against Aspinall, converting all six of his double attempts to deal a major blow to the Stockport star’s Play-Off hopes.
Price then registered a 105 average in his demolition of Dobey, landing a brace of ton-plus finishes to record a fifth straight victory over the Bedlington debutant.
In the evening’s other Quarter-Finals, Clayton moved two points clear of Aspinall ahead of their decisive Night 16 showdown courtesy of a battling 6-4 win over Dimitri Van den Bergh.
The 2021 champion conjured up a spectacular 170 checkout midway through the tie, and registered his sixth ton-plus average of the campaign to see off the spirited Belgian.
Dobey cemented sixth spot in the table with an impressive 6-4 success against Peter Wright, crashing in six 180s and reeling off four straight legs from 4-2 down to prevail.
The final league night of the season will be held in Aberdeen on Thursday May 18, where Clayton and Aspinall collide in a straight shoot-out for fourth spot.
Clayton would confirm his Play-Off qualification with victory, while Aspinall must progress to the Night 16 final to overhaul his Welsh rival, who will qualify via nights won if the pair finish level on points.
Elsewhere, league leader Price meets Wright in his Quarter-Final tie, knowing that a run to next Thursday’s final will see him top the table for the first time in his Premier League career.
Premier League Darts 2023 Night 15 Results
Thursday May 11
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Chris Dobey 6-4 Peter Wright
Michael Smith 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Chris Dobey
Michael Smith 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Final
Michael Smith 6-3 Gerwyn Price
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