Premier League Darts Arena Preview – First Direct Arena
First Direct Arena, LeedsCapacity: 13,500Week 1Thursday 5 February
Week One. The opening night of the 2015 Betway Premier League returns to Leeds’ First Direct Arena, which last year made its record-breaking debut appearance on the tour. Located in Claypit Lane, we’re fully expecting the arena atmosphere to more resemble a bear pit by the time Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson emerge for their World Championship Final rematch. They’ll be well used to the atmosphere, but how will affect the debutants? New boys Kim Huybrechts and Stephen Bunting will face Michael van Gerwen and James Wade respectively, neither of which will be an easy game to start.
Betway Premier League Rewind: Last year in Leeds…
Week 7Thursday 20 March 2014
Darting history was made at this arena last year, as a record 11,000 spectators poured in to witness Week 7 of the Betway Premier League. That smashed the previous highest attendance of 10,000, set at the O2 Arena in 2013. With the crowd cranking up the decibels, Phil Taylor proved his miserable start to the season was well behind him as he crushed Wes Newton 7-1, with an eye-watering average of 106.71.
Elsewhere that night, Michael van Gerwen downed Gary Anderson 7-5 to depose challenger Peter Wright for top spot in the table. Snakebite himself was held to a 6-6 draw by eventual league winner Raymond van Barneveld, on an evening that also saw Dave Chisnall v Simon Whitlock and Robert Thornton v Adrian Lewis end in stalemates.
Full results:
Dave Chisnall 6-6 Simon WhitlockRobert Thornton 6-6 Adrian LewisGary Anderson 5-7 Michael van GerwenWes Newton 1-7 Phil TaylorPeter Wright 6-6 Raymond van Barneveld
