The 2009 Premier League Darts season was a whirlwind of fresh faces, stunning performances, and unprecedented upsets, ultimately crowning a new champion for the first time in its history. While Phil “The Power” Taylor started strong, new blood like Mervyn King and James Wade quickly emerged as his fiercest rivals. The season saw dramatic mid-season controversies, the introduction of exciting “challenger” matches featuring future stars like Gary Anderson, and a truly shocking semi-final where King dethroned Taylor. Ultimately, James Wade held his nerve in a thrilling final against King, becoming only the second player ever to lift the coveted Premier League trophy.
A Fresh Start: New Faces and Early Dominance
Following Phil Taylor’s dramatic comeback win in 2008, the 2009 Premier League brought new energy. Two exciting players, **Mervyn King and Jelle Klaasen**, joined the lineup, replacing Adrian Lewis and Peter Manley. Returning stars included Phil Taylor, James Wade, Raymond Van Barneveld, John Part, Terry Jenkins, and Wayne Mardle.
The season kicked off at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Night 1 saw a draw between James Wade and John Part, but the highlight was **Phil Taylor’s dominant 8-4 victory over Raymond Van Barneveld, boasting a 107 average.** Fresh from a record-breaking World Championship win, Taylor was determined to avoid the slow start he made in the previous season. Mervyn King also made an impressive debut, securing a win against Wayne Mardle, while Jelle Klaasen earned a draw.
Rivals Emerge: Wade and King Stake Their Claim
The early weeks continued to showcase high-quality darts. Mervyn King, in particular, was justifying his selection, consistently averaging over 100. In Week 3, King delivered an 8-2 demolition of John Part, averaging over 103 for the second week running. Meanwhile, **James Wade’s campaign truly ignited when he averaged an incredible 107.77 in a rout of Raymond Van Barneveld.**
Wade’s momentum continued into Week 4, where he faced Phil Taylor. Having beaten Taylor in his very first Premier League game a year prior, Wade repeated the feat, securing an **8-4 victory despite Taylor averaging over 104.** This win solidified Wade as a major contender. Raymond Van Barneveld also found his form, achieving his first win of the tournament against Terry Jenkins with another high average.
Week 5 in Newcastle was notable for **Mervyn King’s continued fantastic form.** He averaged 102.97 and managed to secure a draw against Phil Taylor, who himself averaged a stratospheric 106.36. King’s debut season was arguably one of the greatest seen in the Premier League, rivaling James Wade’s performance the year before. **Both King and Wade were clearly poised as the main rivals to Phil Taylor’s long-standing dominance.**
Controversy and Comebacks: The Mid-Season Drama
However, King’s stellar run hit a snag. In the weeks following his draw with Taylor, he suffered back-to-back defeats. This downturn coincided with a controversial incident during their Week 5 match where King inadvertently threw a dart over Phil Taylor. Although likely unintentional and a result of being caught up in the game, **the crowds never let King forget it, leading to persistent booing and heckling.** King’s frustration grew, often asking, “What have I done?” in post-match interviews.
Meanwhile, Wayne Mardle endured a disastrous campaign, with only one win by Week 3. After Week 9, he was forced to withdraw from what would be his final Premier League appearance due to mumps. **Crucially, all of Mardle’s results, and the results other players achieved against him, were wiped clean.** This had a significant impact on the standings, particularly for Mervyn King, who dropped from a solid 3rd place to a precarious 4th, making his spot in the top 4 shaky.
The Challenger Era Begins: New Talent on Display
To fill the void left by Mardle, the Premier League introduced “challengers” for the first time. These players would compete in exhibition matches against one of the league’s top stars. The first challenger was Robert Thornton, playing in front of a home crowd in Aberdeen, but he was beaten 7-2 by James Wade. Adrian Lewis made a return as a challenger, losing to Raymond Van Barneveld, while darts legend Dennis Priestley faced his old rival Phil Taylor, playing well but unable to conquer “The Power.”
The following week saw two newcomers to the PDC step up. 2008 Lakeside Champion Mark Webster struggled with home crowd pressure in Cardiff and was beaten by Jelle Klaasen. However, **the most outstanding challenger performance came from Gary Anderson, who produced an incredible 107.40 average in a 7-4 victory over John Part.** This sensational debut hinted at the future success of Anderson, who would go on to win the Premier League title twice in his career.
Finals Night Shocker: A New Champion Guaranteed
After all the twists and turns, the top four players heading into finals night were rather predictable: **Phil Taylor, James Wade, Raymond Van Barneveld, and Mervyn King.**
The semi-finals delivered high drama:
- In a repeat of the previous year’s semi-final, **James Wade faced Raymond Van Barneveld.** The result was the same, with Wade winning a close 10-8 encounter, extending Van Barneveld’s wait for a Premier League final appearance.
- However, the second semi-final produced one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. **Phil Taylor, who had never lost on finals night and was a massive favourite, underperformed.** He missed several crucial doubles, allowing **Mervyn King to secure a stunning 10-6 victory.** This meant that for the very first time, the Premier League of Darts would crown a new champion.
The Grand Finale: Wade Claims the Crown
The final pitted James Wade against Mervyn King. Wade made a dream start, storming into a **7-0 lead**, leaving commentators to question if King had already played his final against Taylor and had nothing left in the tank. King, however, proved them wrong, mounting a spirited comeback and winning 8 legs in total.
Despite King’s valiant effort, **James Wade held firm, securing the 13 legs required to win the title.** He triumphed 13-8, becoming only the second man in history to win the Premier League of Darts. It was a fitting end to a truly quality season, marked by high drama, emerging talent, and a memorable shift in the darting hierarchy.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
