Smith secures hat-trick of consecutive nightly wins and keeps hopes of finishing top of the table alive

Michael Smith has secured a hat-trick of Premier League Darts nightly wins and kept his hopes of finishing top of the table alive thanks to a brilliant win over Gerwyn Price in the night 15 final.

Undoubtedly the two best players on the night in Sheffield, Gerwyn Price looking to secure top spot in the Premier League Darts table was up against Michael Smith who was keen to take a third straight nightly win in a blockbuster final.

After averages of 111 and 105 to reach the final, Price was arguably a minor favourite heading into the tie but it was the world number one Michael Smith who started the better, holding throw in the opening leg to go one up. As Price made a mess of a rare shot at double 16, Smith came within the width of the wire from punishing. When Smith missed, Price would return and level the match at 1-1.

Then it was Smith's turn to nail double 16 as part of an 86 checkout to regain the lead. Price would level things back up thanks to double 12 before Smith continued the run of successful holds of throw to nudge back ahead at 3-2.

Price levelled back up on his trusty double 10 but the question remained, could he pressure the Smith throw? With the Welshman sat waiting on tops there was some element of pressure on 'Bully Boy' as the threw for the same double but you would never have known it as he nailed tops first time of asking to move 4-3 in front.

Then after Price missed seven darts for a level game, Smith pounced to move two in front and just a leg away from a hattrick of nightly wins. A few moments later Smith secured the win and a third straight weekly victory.