Whitlock .vs. Taylor for Premier League Opener

dionsiseire

A World Championship final rematch between Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock will raise the curtain on a new season of Premier League darts on February 11.

The ever-popular Premier League roadshow kicks-off at the O2 Arena on Thursday February 11 - in the first if 14 weekly rounds televised live on Sky Sports, and in HD, ahead of the finals weekend.

And the tournament could not have a better opening night with the action culminating in a rematch of the high-quality final witnessed at the Alexandra Palace just a few weeks ago.

Australian Whitlock played some stunning darts to make the final and pushed 'The Power' all the way but just lost the crucial legs as Taylor claimed a 15th world title.

A reward for Whitlock is a Sky Sports wildcard spot in the Premier League - and an immediate shot at revenge against four-time winner Taylor - who lost his crown last year with a semi-final defeat against Mervyn King.

Whitlock defeated Raymond van Barneveld, Terry Jenkins and eventual Premier League winner James Wade at Ally Pally, so the big names along with the big crowd will hold no fear for him.

Defending champion Wade plays world number two Raymond van Barneveld in another huge clash on the opening night, while Ronnie Baxter celebrates his return to Premier League Darts against Jenkins and King, the 2009 runner-up, takes on the second Sky Sports Wildcard Adrian Lewis.

The second week, at the BIC in Bournemouth, sees van Barneveld take on Lewis at the scene of the Dutchman's nine-dart finish in the 2006 Premier League Darts, when he hit a perfect leg against Peter Manley.

Wade will meet King in Bournemouth in a repeat of last year's final, while Taylor takes on Baxter and Jenkins faces Whitlock.

The visit to Belfast in week three sees Taylor meet Wade, who took victory over the world number one at the Odyssey Arena in 2009, while Whitlock takes on van Barneveld.

The clashes between the players ranked one and two in the world, Taylor and van Barneveld, will take place on week four in Exeter and week eight in Cardiff.

Each league night will be played from 7pm-10pm and screened live on Sky Sports in High Definition. League games are the best of 14 legs, with two points awarded for a win (first player to eight legs) or one point awarded for a 7-7 draw.

dionsiseire

2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Fixtures
Week One
February 11 - The O2, London
Ronnie Baxter v Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King v Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 856 0202 or www.theo2.co.uk

Week Two
February 18 - BIC, Bournemouth
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor v Ronnie Baxter
James Wade v Mervyn King
Tickets: 0844 576 3000 or www.bic.co.uk

Week Three
February 25 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Mervyn King v Ronnie Baxter
Adrian Lewis v Terry Jenkins
Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Tickets: 02890 739 074/0844 277 4455 or www.odysseyarena.com

Week Four
March 4 - Westpoint Arena, Exeter
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Ronnie Baxter v Simon Whitlock
Mervyn King v Terry Jenkins
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 99 99 55 or www.ticketzone.co.uk

Week Five
March 11 - M.E.N. Arena, Manchester
James Wade v Ronnie Baxter
Phil Taylor v Mervyn King
Terry Jenkins v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock
Tickets: 0844 847 8000 or www.men-arena.com

Week Six
March 18 - The Brighton Centre
Phil Taylor v Terry Jenkins
Raymond van Barneveld v Mervyn King
Ronnie Baxter v Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock v James Wade
Tickets: 0844 847 1515 or www.brightoncentre.co.uk

Week Seven
March 25 - NIA, Birmingham
Mervyn King v Simon Whitlock
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Raymond van Barneveld v Ronnie Baxter
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 338 8000 or www.theticketfactory.com

Week Eight
April 1 - CIA, Cardiff
Terry Jenkins v Mervyn King
Simon Whitlock v Ronnie Baxter
Adrian Lewis v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
Tickets: 02920 22 44 88 or www.livenation.co.uk

Week Nine
April 8 - SECC, Glasgow
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock v Terry Jenkins
Ronnie Baxter v Phil Taylor
Mervyn King v James Wade
Tickets: 0844 395 4000 or www.ticketSOUP.com

Week Ten
April 15 - Sheffield Arena
Terry Jenkins v Adrian Lewis
Ronnie Baxter v Mervyn King
James Wade v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Tickets: 0114 256 5656 or www.sheffieldarena.co.uk

Week 11
April 22 - Liverpool Echo Arena
Terry Jenkins v Ronnie Baxter
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Mervyn King
Phil Taylor v Simon Whitlock
Tickets: 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com

Week 12
April 29 - AECC, Aberdeen
Ronnie Baxter v James Wade
Mervyn King v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Simon Whitlock v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: 08444 77 9000 or www.aecc.co.uk

Week 13
May 6 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Adrian Lewis v Ronnie Baxter
Mervyn King v Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Terry Jenkins v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 493 6666 or www.metroradioarena.co.uk

Week 14
May 13 - Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Simon Whitlock v Mervyn King
Terry Jenkins vJames Wade
Ronnie Baxter v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: 0844 124 624 or www.trentfmarenanottingham.com

Play-Offs
May 23 - Wembley Arena, London
Semi-Finals & Final
Tickets: 0844 815 0 815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk

2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Prize Fund
Winner £125,000
Runner-Up £65,000
Semi-Finalists £40,000
5th Place £32,500
6th Place £30,000
7th Place £27,500
8th Place £25,000
High Checkout (Per Night) £1,000
Total £400,000

Tournament Information:
Each player will play every other player twice. Matches to be billed home and away, indicating who will throw first in each match.
Matches to be played over 14 legs of 501 in the league section of the event. The first player to win eight legs will be deemed to be the winner of the match and no further legs will be played after this point. Four matches will be played per league night.
The top four players in the league table after the completion of the 14 league nights will progress to the play-offs at the Wembley Arena. Semi-Final matches to be played over the best of 19 legs and the Final to be played over the best of 25 legs.

Jbone07

It was a great final entertainment wise, I wouldn't agree that Whitlock pushed him all the way though. Looking forward to seeing can the wizard take that form into the PL

dionsiseire

Twas a sky sports article, so not my opinion

but i think in the first 5 sets, Whitlock gave as good as he got, he seems to be quick off the mark and if he can catch taylor cold, in a first to 8 could DEFINITELY give taylor a shock

sham69

Can't wait for this to start, am getting withdrawl symptoms after watching every game on sky recently.
I reckon Whitlock will give a good account of himself and possibly cause a few upsets along the way.
Glad to see Adie there aswell, he has been playing great stuff and hope he can keep it going and forget the trashing from Taylor.
Jenks has been a bit hot and cold lately but would like to see a return to form.
I don't expect much from barney, he looks a different player lately, maybe its the diabetes. I am sure he will come back stronger at some point in the season though.

Devastator

What a lineup we're getting in Belfast!! YEHAW!

Taylor Vs Wade (2nd consecutive year)...can Taylor avenge last year's defeat?
Whitlock Vs Barney

Can't wait for this now!:D

Any Double !

Devastator wrote: »

What a lineup we're getting in Belfast!! YEHAW!

Taylor Vs Wade (2nd consecutive year)...can Taylor avenge last year's defeat?
Whitlock Vs Barney

Can't wait for this now!:D

Your'e a lucky hoor to be able to walk down the road to it :D
Great match-ups there.
Enjoy and don't forget to wave at the cameras maybe waving a big poster saying hello to all your housebound buddies on Boards

Devastator

Any Double ! wrote: »

Your'e a lucky hoor to be able to walk down the road to it :D
Great match-ups there.
Enjoy and don't forget to wave at the cameras maybe waving a big poster saying hello to all your housebound buddies on Boards

sorry, little correction...walk down the road via a few pubs to it

Probably nowhere near camera;s(phew!), in the stands this year. Group of us going as part of a stag w'end & couldn't get table

Any Double !

Devastator wrote: »

sorry, little correction...walk down the road via a few pubs to it

Probably nowhere near camera;s(phew!), in the stands this year. Group of us going as part of a stag w'end & couldn't get table

Amazing that they always build pubs in our paths, terrible planning :D

Devastator

Any Double ! wrote: »

Amazing that they always build pubs in our paths, terrible planning :D

Yeah :mad: I'm such a subborn f**k I make a point of walking right through them....but they're usually very forgiving of my attitude and even offer refreshments for putting it there right in your way

Any Double !

Devastator wrote: »

Yeah :mad: I'm such a subborn f**k I make a point of walking right through them....but they're usually very forgiving of my attitude and even offer refreshments for putting it there right in your way

Yep very forgiving are pub Landlords, acommodating too:)

Jbone07

dionsiseire wrote: »

Twas a sky sports article, so not my opinion

but i think in the first 5 sets, Whitlock gave as good as he got, he seems to be quick off the mark and if he can catch taylor cold, in a first to 8 could DEFINITELY give taylor a shock

I totally agree. I think it comes down to conditioning. I think Whitlock will be more up for it then Taylor will be after No.15. Gonna put my cash where my mouth is before hand.

ramcelt23

dont mean to change subject but am headin to belfast again this year, was great atmosphere last year, but any1 have info on where the players stayed last year?? were stayin in hilton this year coz heard a rumour it cud be there, any info be great!!

Devastator

ramcelt23 wrote: »

dont mean to change subject but am headin to belfast again this year, was great atmosphere last year, but any1 have info on where the players stayed last year?? were stayin in hilton this year coz heard a rumour it cud be there, any info be great!!

Heard Wade was staying in Radisson 2 years ago, but some may be going out of city centre to likes of Culloden. It put up the england team when they played norn iron few years back



what does it matter??

ramcelt23

doesnt matter in the slightest 1 of the guys is coming with us for first time and was hoping to meet few of them thats all

Jake The Fat Ma

Anyone heading up to Belfast for the premier league

ramcelt23

yep sure am!! was great atmosphere last year at it