Darts Sports

Michael van Gerwen beats Michael Smith to win Night Five and go top of the 2022 Premier League.

Michael van Gerwen became the first player to win back-to-back nights in this year’s Premier League as he defeated Michael Smith 6-4 at The Brighton Centre on Thursday night.

‘The Green Machine’ backed up his win in Exeter last week, taking the £10,000 bonus prize and going top of the table in the process.

Van Gerwen, 32, started the night by beating James Wade in a last-leg decider, before averaging 101.79 in a 6-2 victory against Joe Cullen, who received a bye in his quarter-final after Gerwyn Price’s withdrawal due to injury, in the semi-final.

After beating Smith in the final, van Gerwen was delighted to finally stamp his authority on the 2022 edition of the weekly roadshow, saying: “I feel good, and I feel comfortable on stage at the moment.

The best shots from Night 5 of the 2022 Premier League.

“I know what I’m capable of but sometimes you have to give yourself a bit of time to show it.

“It’s always a good feeling to be top of the table, it gives you confidence.

“The way I’m playing, I feel like winning a big tournament is coming soon; hopefully it will be the Premier League but there’s a long way to go.”

In what was the best final of this year’s Premier League so far, both players averaging over 100, with Smith hitting five 180s as he showed good signs following his UK Open final defeat on Sunday.

The 31-year-old beat two-time champion Gary Anderson in what was a below-par performance from the Scot in his first match.

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He then overcame Jonny Clayton in a scrappy affair, but one he was always in control of as he won 6-2.

The big story preceding the night was Price’s hand injury which ruled him out of the action. The 2021 World Champion took to Twitter to clear up any long-term worries fans may have about him, stating the injury was caused by an “accident”.

He will miss the second European Tour this weekend, but will hope to be back in Premier League action next week when he takes on van Gerwen in Nottingham.

Elsewhere, Smith will play Wade first up, while Anderson will hope to get his season going when he faces Clayton. Peter Wright, the new world number one, plays Cullen in the Motorpoint Arena.

The top four in the table after 16 nights qualify for the semi-finals, with a £1 million prize fund on offer.

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