Gerwyn Price opened the third week of the
Premier League Darts with a stunning 6-3 win over
Michael Smith to reach the semi-finals.
The world number one played an excellent match with 108.54 average and 85.7% on the doubles, while Smith also averaged 103.55. Smith took the first leg with a 15-darter, before Price held throw as well and breaking Bullyboy with a 80 checkout.
Price retained this break during the match, before finishing the match in stunning fashion with a 170 finish in the 9th leg. The Iceman will face
Michael van Gerwen in the last four, as the Dutchman overcame double trouble to beat Joe Cullen 6-3. Mighty Mike missed 16 darts on the doubles during the game, while he needed seven matchdarts to finally take the win against
The Rockstar.
New format
The eight participants play sixteen times a tournament. The format is such that a player meets the other participants twice in a quarterfinal. During two weeks of play, in the eighth and sixteenth week, the draw is made on the basis of the points.
Points can be scored with results in the sixteen tournaments. A semi-final earns two points, a second place three points and a tournament win five points and a £10,000 bonus.
Based on these points the new Premier League Darts ranking is formed. The four best players advance to the Premier League Darts play-offs.