2009 Premier League Darts

The 2009 Whyte & Mackay Premier League was a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation.

2009 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Winner
James Wade
Runner-up
Mervyn King
Score
13–8
Date
5 February–25 May 2009
Edition
5th
Number of players
8
Venues
15
Premier League Darts
< 2008 | 2009 | 2010 >

The tournament kicked off at the Echo Arena Liverpool, which hosted the biggest ever crowd for a PDC event of almost 8,000 in 2008.

New venues in Edinburgh and Exeter joined some of the UK's biggest arenas, including Belfast's Odyssey Arena, Manchester's MEN Arena, Birmingham's National Indoor Arena, the Sheffield Arena and Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.

The tournament came to a conclusion with the play-offs on Monday 25 May at the Wembley Arena – coinciding with the Football League play-offs at the neighbouring Wembley Stadium over the same weekend. Phil Taylor was defending his Whyte & Mackay Premier League title once again, however he failed to retain it after losing to Mervyn King 10–6 in the semi-finals. James Wade beat King 13–8 in the final, to claim the £125,000 first prize and the first Premier League not to be claimed by Taylor.

Qualification

The top six players from the PDC Order of Merit following the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship were confirmed on 5 January. Jelle Klaasen and Wayne Mardle were named as the two Sky Sports wild card selections on 9 January.^[1]

Qualifiers are as follows:

1. Phil Taylor
2. James Wade
3. Raymond van Barneveld
4. John Part
5. Terry Jenkins
6. Mervyn King
7. Wayne Mardle
8. Jelle Klaasen

Venues

Fifteen venues were used in the 2009 Premier League, with the only changes from 2008 being Edinburgh and Exeter replacing Plymouth and Bournemouth.

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Manchester

Coventry

Exeter

Nottingham

Sheffield

Brighton

Birmingham

Aberdeen

Liverpool

London

Belfast

Newcastle

Cardiff

Locations of the 2009 Premier League venues in the United Kingdom.

Liverpool	Edinburgh	Coventry	Belfast	Newcastle
Echo Arena Liverpool 5 February	Royal Highland Showground 12 February	Ricoh Arena 19 February	Odyssey Arena 26 February	Metro Radio Arena 5 March
Manchester	Brighton	Birmingham	Glasgow	Exeter
MEN Arena 12 March	Brighton Centre 19 March	National Indoor Arena 26 March	SECC 2 April	Westpoint Arena 9 April
Nottingham	Aberdeen	Sheffield	Cardiff	London
Trent FM Arena 16 April	AECC 23 April	Sheffield Arena 30 April	Cardiff International Arena 7 May	Wembley Arena 25 May

Prize money

The prize fund increased again with the top prize now reaching £125,000, and the total prize fund rising to £400,000.

Stage	Prize Money
Winner	£125,000
Runner-up	£65,000
Semi-finalists (x2)	£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

Results

• Players in italics are challengers, and games involving them are best of 12 legs, not best of 14 as the regular matches, and they also don't count towards the standings.

League stage

5 February – Week 1 Echo Arena, Liverpool Player Legs Player [2] James Wade 93.12 7 – 7 John Part 88.23 Jelle Klaasen 97.50 7 – 7 Terry Jenkins 96.95 Mervyn King 97.63 8 – 1 Wayne Mardle 85.76 Raymond van Barneveld 96.55 4 – 8 Phil Taylor 107.50 High Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 161

12 February – Week 2 Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh Player Legs Player [3] John Part 92.43 7 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 99.87 Wayne Mardle 88.62 7 – 7 Terry Jenkins 95.82 Phil Taylor 101.94 8 – 2 Jelle Klaasen 82.41 James Wade 90.56 1 – 8 Mervyn King 104.00 High Checkout: Wayne Mardle 160

19 February – Week 3 Ricoh Arena, Coventry Player Legs Player [4] Terry Jenkins 99.36 7 – 7 Phil Taylor 101.86 Raymond van Barneveld 103.19 4 – 8 James Wade 107.77 Mervyn King 103.09 8 – 2 John Part 94.98 Jelle Klaasen 88.49 6 – 8 Wayne Mardle 88.29 High Checkout: Wayne Mardle 156

26 February – Week 4 Odyssey Arena, Belfast Player Legs Player [5] John Part 87.90 8 – 1 Wayne Mardle 88.68 Mervyn King 97.61 8 – 4 Jelle Klaasen 88.38 James Wade 105.35 8 – 4 Phil Taylor 104.69 Terry Jenkins 101.71 6 – 8 Raymond van Barneveld 106.51 High Checkout: Jelle Klaasen 158

5 March – Week 5 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne Player Legs Player [6] Jelle Klaasen 94.51 6 – 8 James Wade 91.46 Phil Taylor 106.36 7 – 7 Mervyn King 102.97 Wayne Mardle 90.76 7 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 95.70 John Part 92.14 8 – 5 Terry Jenkins 92.62 High Checkout: James Wade 170

12 March – Week 6 MEN Arena, Manchester Player Legs Player [7] Raymond van Barneveld 105.82 8 – 3 Mervyn King 100.80 Jelle Klaasen 90.57 7 – 7 John Part 88.63 Terry Jenkins 94.97 5 – 8 James Wade 92.50 Phil Taylor 99.17 8 – 4 Wayne Mardle 90.44 High Checkout: Jelle Klaasen 170

19 March – Week 7 Brighton Centre, Brighton Player Legs Player [8] Mervyn King 89.27 5 – 8 Terry Jenkins 94.92 Wayne Mardle 91.31 3 – 8 James Wade 98.74 Raymond van Barneveld 91.51 8 – 3 Jelle Klaasen 85.99 Phil Taylor 104.05 8 – 3 John Part 95.14 High Checkout: Phil Taylor 170

26 March – Week 8 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham Player Legs Player [9] Wayne Mardle 85.06 2 – 8 Mervyn King 96.24 Terry Jenkins 89.88 6 – 8 Jelle Klaasen 95.40 John Part 99.28 7 – 7 James Wade 99.22 Phil Taylor 101.32 8 – 2 Raymond van Barneveld 96.76 High Checkout: Mervyn King 126

2 April – Week 9 SECC, Glasgow Player Legs Player [10] Raymond van Barneveld 103.32 8 – 1 John Part 94.75 Terry Jenkins 92.74 8 – 2 Wayne Mardle 87.00 Jelle Klaasen 93.43 6 – 8 Phil Taylor 101.31 Mervyn King 86.50 8 – 3 James Wade 84.55 High Checkout: Mervyn King 119

9 April – Week 10 Westpoint Arena, Exeter Player Legs Player [11] John Part 88.95 8 – 6 Mervyn King 87.43 Phil Taylor 97.51 7 – 7 Terry Jenkins 94.89 James Wade 100.45 8 – 5 Raymond van Barneveld 98.58 John Part † 90.67 7 – 7 Jelle Klaasen 89.47 High Checkout: John Part 150

16 April – Week 11 Trent FM Arena, Nottingham Player Legs Player [12] Jelle Klaasen 97.23 7 – 7 Mervyn King † 95.80 James Wade 108.17 8 – 1 Terry Jenkins 95.71 Mervyn King 97.62 7 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 96.84 Phil Taylor 103.85 7 – 7 James Wade † 94.18 High Checkout: James Wade 145

23 April – Week 12 AECC, Aberdeen Player Legs Player [13] James Wade 105.26 7 – 2 Robert Thornton 86.59 Terry Jenkins 97.18 7 – 7 Mervyn King 99.42 Jelle Klaasen 89.70 5 – 8 Raymond van Barneveld 96.88 John Part 100.05 3 – 8 Phil Taylor 116.01* High Checkout: Phil Taylor 161

30 April – Week 13 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield Player Legs Player [14] Raymond van Barneveld 101.86 7 – 5 Adrian Lewis 98.70 Phil Taylor 98.94 7 – 4 Dennis Priestley 97.31 Terry Jenkins 98.87 8 – 3 John Part 83.33 James Wade 102.00 8 – 4 Jelle Klaasen 90.23 High Checkout: James Wade 170

7 May – Week 14 Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff Player Legs Player [15] Jelle Klaasen 94.90 7 – 3 Mark Webster 84.72 John Part 93.54 4 – 7 Gary Anderson 107.40 Raymond van Barneveld 93.76 7 – 7 Terry Jenkins 93.61 Mervyn King 95.49 2 – 8 Phil Taylor 106.74 High Checkout: Gary Anderson 121

Notes

† – Wayne Mardle didn't play in week ten because of a virus. John Part played two matches in week ten, with Mardle due to play two matches in week eleven, giving Part the night off that week.^[16] However, Mardle was rushed into hospital with mumps on 15 April, which ruled him out of week eleven.^[17] This meant that Mervyn King and James Wade each played twice during week eleven, with Mardle now due to play five matches in the last three weeks. Mardle had been due to play two matches in both weeks thirteen and fourteen, which would give King the night off in Sheffield, and Wade the night off in Cardiff.^[18] However, Mardle was re-admitted to hospital, ruling him out of week twelve, and in accordance with tournament regulations after missing three consecutive Premier League match nights, was removed from the tournament. Mardle's match results from the tournament were also annulled, hurting some of the remaining players more than others. Following Mardle's removal from the tournament, in order for each remaining night to have four matches, there was a series of challenge matches featuring Robert Thornton, Adrian Lewis, Dennis Priestley, Mark Webster and Gary Anderson.^[19]

* – Phil Taylor's average of 116.01 was, at the time, the highest recorded three-dart average in televised darts history. He broke his own record of 114.53, set against Wes Newton during the 2008 UK Open.

Play-offs – 25 May

Wembley Arena, London

	Score
[20]
Semi-finals (best of 19 legs)
Phil Taylor 95.78	6 – 10	Mervyn King 89.86
James Wade 97.93	10 – 8	Raymond van Barneveld 95.26
Final (best of 25 legs)
Mervyn King 85.83	8 – 13	James Wade 90.38
High Checkout: Mervyn King 156 (Final)

Table and Streaks

Table

Pos	Name	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	LF	LA	+/-	LWAT	100+	140+	180s	A	HC
1	Phil Taylor	12	7	4	1	18	88	58	+30	29	194	128	56	104.43	170
2	James Wade W	12	7	3	2	17	81	66	+15	28	181	114	43	97.44	170
3	Raymond van Barneveld	12	5	3	4	13	76	71	+5	25	188	122	43	99.13	167
4	Mervyn King RU	12	4	4	4	12	76	70	+6	28	203	114	37	96.67	130
5	Terry Jenkins	12	2	5	5	9	74	83	−9	26	207	129	46	95.89	141
6	John Part	12	2	5	5	9	63	86	−23	18	180	72	25	92.38	150
7	Jelle Klaasen	12	1	4	7	6	66	90	−24	26	173	93	33	91.24	170

Top four qualify for Play-offs after Week 14.
NB: LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw. Players separated by +/- leg difference if tied.

Streaks

Player		Week																Play-offs
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		11		12	13	14	SF	F
Phil Taylor		W	W	D	L	D	W	W	W	W	D		D		W	W	W	L	—
James Wade		D	L	W	W	W	W	W	D	L	W		W	D	W	W	—	W	W
Raymond van Barneveld		L	D	L	W	D	W	W	L	W	L		D		W	W	D	L	—
Mervyn King		W	W	W	W	D	L	L	W	W	L		D	D	D	—	L	W	L
Terry Jenkins		D	D	D	L	L	L	W	L	W	D		L		D	W	D	—
John Part		D	D	L	W	W	D	L	D	L	W	D	—		L	L	L
Jelle Klaasen		D	L	L	L	L	D	L	W	L	D		D		L	L	W
Wayne Mardle		L	D	W	L	D	L	L	L	L	—		—		Withdrawn
Challengers	Robert Thornton	—													L	—
	Adrian Lewis	—														L	—
	Dennis Priestley	—														L	—
	Mark Webster	—															L
	Gary Anderson	—															W

NB: W = Won; D = Drawn; L = Lost; N/A = Did Not Play; – indicates match did not count towards final standings

Player statistics

The following statistics are only for league stage games that contributed to the final standings. Annulled fixtures, challenge matches and play-offs are not included.

Phil Taylor

• Longest unbeaten run: 6
• Most consecutive wins: 3
• Most consecutive draws: 2
• Most consecutive losses: 1
• Longest without a win: 3
• Biggest victory: 8–2 (v. Jelle Klaasen, v. Raymond van Barneveld and v. Mervyn King)
• Biggest defeat: 4–8 (v. James Wade)

James Wade

• Longest unbeaten run: 5
• Most consecutive wins: 4
• Most consecutive draws: 1
• Most consecutive losses: 1
• Longest without a win: 2
• Biggest victory: 8–1 (v. Terry Jenkins)
• Biggest defeat: 1–8 (v. Mervyn King)

Raymond van Barneveld

• Longest unbeaten run: 3
• Most consecutive wins: 3
• Most consecutive draws: 1
• Most consecutive losses: 1
• Longest without a win: 3
• Biggest victory: 8–1 (v. John Part)
• Biggest defeat: 2–8 (v. Phil Taylor)

Mervyn King

• Longest unbeaten run: 4
• Most consecutive wins: 3
• Most consecutive draws: 3
• Most consecutive losses: 2
• Longest without a win: 5
• Biggest victory: 8–1 (v. James Wade)
• Biggest defeat: 2–8 (v. Phil Taylor)

Terry Jenkins

• Longest unbeaten run: 3
• Most consecutive wins: 1
• Most consecutive draws: 2
• Most consecutive losses: 3
• Longest without a win: 5
• Biggest victory: 8–3 (v. John Part)
• Biggest defeat: 1–8 (v. James Wade)

John Part

• Longest unbeaten run: 2
• Most consecutive wins: 1
• Most consecutive draws: 2
• Most consecutive losses: 2
• Longest without a win: 4
• Biggest victory: 8–5 (v. Terry Jenkins)
• Biggest defeat: 1–8 (v. Raymond van Barneveld)

Jelle Klaasen

• Longest unbeaten run: 2
• Most consecutive wins: 1
• Most consecutive draws: 2
• Most consecutive losses: 3
• Longest without a win: 6
• Biggest victory: 8–6 (v. Terry Jenkins)
• Biggest defeat: 2–8 (v. Phil Taylor)