The 2017 Premier League Darts season was a spectacle of unparalleled drama and incredible skill, culminating in one of the most astonishing finals in the sport’s history. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen entered as the overwhelming favourite, but faced fierce competition from legends like Phil Taylor in his farewell season and rising stars such as Peter Wright. From record-breaking averages to nail-biting finishes and heartbreaking eliminations, this season had it all. Ultimately, the grand finale saw Peter Wright agonizingly miss multiple darts to claim his first Premier League title, allowing Van Gerwen to stage a miraculous comeback and defend his crown in a moment that left players and fans alike in disbelief.
The Contenders: A Star-Studded Lineup
This season brought together the elite of darts, featuring a mix of seasoned champions and hungry challengers. The clear favourite was **defending champion Michael van Gerwen**, who had utterly dominated Phil Taylor in the previous year’s final. The lineup also included:
- **Phil Taylor**: The legendary ‘Power’ embarking on his final Premier League campaign.
- **Gary Anderson**: The ‘Flying Scotsman’, a two-time World Champion.
- **Peter Wright**: ‘Snakebite’, known for his flamboyant style and consistent improvement.
- **Adrian Lewis**: ‘Jackpot’, a former two-time World Champion, known for his explosive scoring.
- **James Wade**: ‘The Machine’, a consistent major winner.
- **Dave Chisnall**: ‘Chizzy’, a prolific maximum hitter.
- **Raymond van Barneveld**: ‘Barney’, a five-time World Champion and fan favourite.
- **Kim Huybrechts**: ‘The Hurricane’, returning after a year out.
- **Jelle Klaasen**: ‘The Cobra’, making his first appearance since 2009.
Early Rounds: Upsets, Averages, and Near Misses
The season kicked off in Newcastle with immediate drama. **Kim Huybrechts** set a high standard, averaging over 100 but still **losing 7-5 to James Wade** – a frustrating pattern that would define his campaign. Raymond van Barneveld showcased his fighting spirit, coming from 4-1 down to beat Adrian Lewis 7-5, with ‘Jackpot’ missing crucial darts for a draw.
**Phil Taylor** began his swansong with a solid 7-3 victory over Dave Chisnall. The highlight of Week 1, however, was the incredible 6-6 draw between **Michael van Gerwen (107.94 average) and Gary Anderson (103.19 average)**, a testament to the high quality expected.
Week 2 in Nottingham saw Adrian Lewis punish an off-form Dave Chisnall 7-2. Even with a mere 92.07 average, **Phil Taylor managed a draw against James Wade**, demonstrating his unmatched experience. Gary Anderson delivered a dominant performance, annihilating Jelle Klaasen with a tonne-plus average. Peter Wright, surprisingly, averaged less than 90 against MVG, who powered to a 105.21 average. Van Gerwen stormed to a 6-0 lead and nearly secured a whitewash, but Wright clawed back three legs, though the hill was too steep.
The Drama Intensifies: Records and Eliminations
Week 3 brought a phenomenal encounter between Scottish World Cup teammates. **Gary Anderson averaged 106.59 but incredibly lost 7-5 to Peter Wright, who averaged an astounding 109.48**. This was just the beginning of Wright’s incredible form. Adrian Lewis’s notorious inconsistency resurfaced with an average in the high 80s in a 7-4 loss to James Wade. Phil Taylor defeated his great rival Raymond van Barneveld by the same scoreline.
Both **Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen** continued to struggle, often playing well but receiving no reward. Klaasen was on the wrong end of another tonne-plus average from MVG, while Huybrechts averaged an impressive **105.06 yet still contrived to lose to Dave Chisnall** – a truly cruel run of form.
**Week 4** saw **Jelle Klaasen secure his first and ultimately only win of the season** over Dave Chisnall. This night was also remarkable for featuring **four draws in a row**, including a classic between Van Gerwen and Lewis where both averaged over 100.
A Night for the History Books: Exeter’s Record-Breaking Performance
Premier League 2017 Week 5 in Exeter was overshadowed by **Michael van Gerwen’s withdrawal due to a back injury**. However, the remaining players more than compensated for his absence. Dave Chisnall, stepping in for MVG, secured two crucial wins against both Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade, propelling him back into playoff contention. Klaasen and Huybrechts drew in a less-than-stellar game.
The real story of the night, however, was **Peter Wright’s breathtaking performance**. He delivered a **119.50 average in a dominant 7-2 victory over Adrian Lewis**, who himself averaged an impressive 109.15. **Wright’s average remains the second-highest in Premier League history**, and the match as a whole featured the **highest combined average of both players in darts history at 228.65 points** – a truly monumental achievement.
Judgement Night: Farewell to Two Contenders
**Judgement Night in Cardiff** brought an unfortunate end for **Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen**. Huybrechts, already eliminated, withdrew from the night following the sad passing of his mother, controversially giving Peter Wright a 7-0 win by default. Meanwhile, Klaasen, who had been struggling with tendonitis and required surgery, was defeated by Phil Taylor, confirming the elimination of both ‘The Hurricane’ and ‘The Cobra’.
Unprecedented Quality and the Playoff Race
Weeks 10 and 11 were extraordinary in terms of sheer quality. Both nights saw a nightly average from all players of over 102. **Week 10** featured only one game where neither player hit a tonne-plus average. The highlight was **James Wade averaging 110.82 yet losing 7-5 to MVG, who averaged an incredible 113**. **Week 11** was equally impressive, with only one game lacking at least one tonne-plus average. This time, **Gary Anderson shone brightest, posting a 113.44 average in a dominant 7-2 demolition of fellow countryman Peter Wright.**
In the final few weeks, **Dave Chisnall made a valiant last-minute rally for the playoffs**, remaining undefeated after Week 10. However, a few too many early-season draws ultimately cost him, and he finished a mere two points behind fourth-place Gary Anderson. Anderson himself finished just one point behind Phil Taylor in third. The top of the league was equally tight, with only a single point separating MVG and Peter Wright, meaning Wright narrowly missed out on topping the league table.
The Grand Finale: A Playoff Night for the Ages
The playoff night was arguably the **greatest in Premier League history** in terms of quality and sheer darting drama. The two semi-final tussles were:
Semi-Final 1: Michael van Gerwen vs. Gary Anderson
This was a phenomenal game where both players averaged over 102. They shared the first fourteen legs, locked at 7-7, until **Van Gerwen found an extra gear, turning on the afterburners to secure his spot in the final.**
Semi-Final 2: Peter Wright vs. Phil Taylor (The Farewell Fight)
This match pitted **Phil Taylor, aiming for a final Premier League final appearance**, against **Peter Wright, seeking his first ever playoff final**. A slow start from Taylor allowed Wright to establish early leads of 4-0 and 6-3. However, ‘Snakebite’ then began to miss crucial doubles, allowing the legendary Taylor to battle back to a 6-6 tie. The tension was palpable as Taylor then took an 8-7 lead and had **five darts to go ahead 9-7**. He missed them all. Later, he missed **another dart to win the game 10-8**. Seizing these reprieves, **Wright won two legs on the trot to end Taylor’s fairy-tale Premier League run** and reach his first final.
The Final: A Heartbreaking Near Miss
The drama was far from over. Peter Wright, despite having recently won the UK Open, had a notorious record of **losing all his major finals against Michael van Gerwen**, who seemed to be his ‘bogeyman’. However, this history seemed irrelevant as **Wright burst out of the blocks, taking commanding leads of 5-1 and 7-2.**
MVG, the ‘Green Machine’, rallied with his characteristic intensity, bringing the game back to a winnable position. Still, Wright manufactured **another opportunity to win at 10-9**. What followed was agonizing: **Wright missed an incredible six darts to claim the title**. His head fell into his hands in disbelief as Van Gerwen, even looking a little surprised himself, took the game to a decisive final leg.
Wright had the advantage of throwing first in the decider, but the weight of his missed darts clearly affected him. He threw “absolutely nothing of worth.” Seizing the moment, **MVG kicked off with a devastating 180**, effectively sealing the win. **Michael van Gerwen defended the Premier League title for the first time in his career**, leaving a visibly stunned Peter Wright to ponder what might have been. Even after the game, Van Gerwen admitted he couldn’t believe Wright had missed those crucial darts. Despite his obvious devastation, Wright handled the loss with remarkable sportsmanship, congratulating Van Gerwen and vowing to get him next time – a promise he would eventually keep, claiming the biggest title of them all.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
