Jonny Clayton is still the leader of the standings after the third week of play in the Premier League Darts. The Ferret lost his first match against James Wade in Belfast on Thursday night, but that defeat was without consequences.
Clayton is on eight points, while Peter Wright also lost his first match and thus remains on seven points. Gerwyn Price moved up to second place with seven points after his historic night. The Iceman took the weekly title in Belfast after hitting nine darts in both the semi-finals and the final.
Wade eventually lost to Price in the final. With his place in the final, he is the new number four in the standings with five points. Michael van Gerwen, who lost to Price in the semi-final after a spectacular performance, is now fifth with four points.
Joe Cullen is sixth with three points, followed by Gary Anderson with two points. Michael Smith is still without a point after three weeks of play.
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.
Standings in Premier League Darts after Week Three
Name | Nights won | Matches won | Leg difference | Legs won | Points |
Jonny Clayton | 1 | 5 | +5 | 34 | 8 |
Gerwyn Price | 1 | 4 | +5 | 32 | 7 |
Peter Wright | 1 | 4 | +4 | 29 | 7 |
James Wade | 0 | 3 | +1 | 29 | 5 |
Michael van Gerwen | 0 | 2 | +3 | 25 | 4 |
Joe Cullen | 0 | 2 | -5 | 21 | 3 |
Gary Anderson | 0 | 1 | -4 | 18 | 2 |
Michael Smith | 0 | 0 | -9 | 9 | 0 |