MENSUR SULJOVIC was eliminated from the Unibet Premier League on Judgement Night on
Thursday with a 7-4 defeat to Michael🎉 van Gerwen in Liverpool, as Michael Smith
whitewashed Raymond van Barneveld.
Suljovic had needed to claim at least a point from
🎉 his tie with Van Gerwen to put the pressure on Peter Wright at the Echo Arena.
However,
Van Gerwen produced another🎉 master-class to retain his advantage at the top of the
league table and eliminate the Austrian from his debut Premier🎉 League season.
Van
Gerwen opened the match with six perfect darts and landed a stunning ten 180s during
the game, averaging🎉 107.45 to claim his eighth win from nine matches.
Suljovic joins
Gerwyn Price in dropping out of the Premier League following🎉 Judgement Night, with the
remaining eight players now progressing to compete for Play-Off places over the next
six weeks.
Suljovic withstood🎉 Van Gerwen's early barrage of four 180s in two legs to
lead 2-1, before legs of 14, 14 and 13🎉 darts put the world number one in command.
The
Champions League of Darts winner finished a 12-darter as he pulled back🎉 to 5-4, but Van
Gerwen took out legs of 14 and 11 darts to seal the win.
Wright later drew with🎉 Daryl
Gurney in an emotionally-charged final game, with the breaking news that the legendary
Eric Bristow had passed away seeing🎉 the 8,000-strong crowd singing their tribute to the
five-time World Champion.
Gurney had begun the day in Derry at the birth🎉 of his son
Daryl Jnr, before flying to Liverpool to compete in the Premier League in what could
have been🎉 a pivotal contest with Wright.
Gurney landed five 180s and a 121 checkout as
he finished six doubles from 12 attempts,🎉 while Wright landed six perfect darts in the
deciding leg as a 12-darter secured him a point.
Price's disappointing debut season
🎉 ended with a seventh defeat from nine matches as the Welshman lost out 7-3 to Simon
Whitlock.
Australian ace Whitlock opened🎉 up an early 4-1 lead as the pair struggled to
find their range on the doubles, before Price hit back🎉 to 4-3.
However, a key 164
finish denied the Welshman the chance to level, and Whitlock then finished double six
and🎉 double 16 to claim his fourth win of the season and maintain his Play-Off push.
"It
was a good win in🎉 the end and the two points is huge to me," said Whitlock. "I'm
pushing towards the top four again now🎉 and I can build on that.
"I'm experienced in the
Premier League and Gerwyn is new, and I do feel for🎉 him. He's a good mate and we get
along great but the Premier League's tough.
"That's not the Gerwyn Price I🎉 know and it
made it difficult for me because I'm feeling the pain he's going through but I had to
🎉 do a job.
"I got there in the end but it was ugly. It wasn't a good performance but
I'll take🎉 the two points."
Michael Smith rose to the occasion in his "home" Premier
League night as the St Helens ace whitewashed🎉 Raymond van Barneveld 7-0 in an
outstanding display.
The former World Youth Champion's seventh win of the season saw
him hit🎉 seven doubles from eight attempts - with his only miss being a wired bullseye
to complete a 170 finish -🎉 while he also averaged 103.15.
Finishes of 86, on the bull,
and 70 gave Smith two early breaks as he took🎉 command, and he also finished 116 in leg
six before completing the win to seal both points.
"My finishing went really🎉 well but
I'll take my first whitewash in the Premier League," said Smith.
"I knew this kind of
performance was coming🎉 and you can't be at your best every single match but to get
close to it tonight is really nice.🎉 It shows that the hard work's paying off.
"I've not
been playing well in the Premier League but I've still been🎉 winning. It had to come
some time and I'm glad it came today, I enjoyed it and it was a🎉 nice night for me.
"I'm
just glad to get past Judgement Night and I can relax now and start looking forward🎉 now
and focus on the top four."
World Champion Rob Cross claimed his sixth victory of the
tournament as he overcame🎉 Gary Anderson 7-5 to continue his impressive run of form and
claim a first career win over the Scot.
Anderson hit🎉 back from 2-0 down to level and
remained all square following six legs, but Cross took out 67 and 75🎉 to regain the edge
and fired in a 180 as he held firm in a decider to claim the points.
"It🎉 wasn't great
tonight but a couple of big moments helped," said Cross. "The 75 to go 5-3 up was big
🎉 and I managed to hold my throw from there.
"If you're winning you're not doing a lot
wrong - it doesn't🎉 matter if it's scruffy or perfect. I've played brilliantly against
Gary before and lost so to get the win tonight🎉 is really pleasing.
"I've really enjoyed
the Premier League, the crowds are amazing and I look forward to it every
Thursday."
The🎉 Unibet Premier League season will continue on Thursday April 12 at The
FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield with the season's tenth🎉 league night. For tickets, visit
flydsaarena.co.uk or call 0114 256
