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Chizzy consolidates place in top four after winning double
DAVE CHISNALL picked up a brilliant Betway Premier League double in Sheffield to take a huge step towards sealing his Play-Off place, as Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis also picked up wins at the Motorpoint Arena.
With the second phase of the tournament kicking off following last week's elimination of Peter Wright and Kim Huybrechts on Judgement Night, Chisnall and James Wade doubled up to compete twice in Sheffield.
Whilst Wade was defeated twice, Chisnall produced two outstanding displays as he overcame the left-hander 7-1 with a 114.17 average - his highest ever in a televised game - after earlier seeing off World Champion Gary Anderson 7-3.
That double earned Chisnall four league points to strengthen his position in second place in the league table - and crucially give him an eight-point cushion over his rivals battling for a Play-Off place.
Chisnall had landed key finishes of 150 and 124 as he turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 advantage on his way to victory against Anderson, hitting six 180s and a 106.91 average.
He was in even more dominant form on his return to the stage against Wade, limiting the 2009 champion to only two darts at a double in a performance which saw his average second only to Phil Taylor in Premier League history.
Chisnall took the first five legs without reply and had missed double 12 for a 138 finish before Wade took leg six by finishing 62 - but the left-hander's fightback was short-lived as the St Helens ace posted a fifth 180 of the game in a 12-darter and double ten for a 14-darter to complete the win.
"It's nice to get two wins because it was always going to be hard," said Chisnall. "I felt comfortable throughout the night and I got a great start by defeating Gary.
"It was always going to be a confidence boost beating the World Champion and I just wanted to take the same game up on stage against James, which I did.
"I've done my job by winning two out of two, and I played well - importantly I finished well tonight. I felt good up on stage but I've put a lot of practice in and it's all working out.
"This time last year I was on seven points, so it's a big improvement to be up to 17 already!"
Chisnall now sits just one point behind the unbeaten league leader van Gerwen, who edged out Stephen Bunting 7-5 in their Sheffield encounter.
Bunting hit back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3 and 5-4, but he paid for missing a dart at the bull to claim a point in leg ten when van Gerwen levelled on double nine, hit two 180s to break throw with a 12-darter and then took out 70 for the win.
"I wasn't at my best tonight but I got the win and another two points so I'm happy with that," said van Gerwen. "I missed a lot of doubles but I produced the darts when I needed to.
"I let Stephen back into the game and he scored well, but at five-all I wanted to have one big leg and I started with 180 and 180, and the 12-darter was amazing for me and very important."
The Betway Premier League continues at the GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen, with Taylor and Bunting playing twice on the night and World Champion Anderson up against Wade on home soil.
Betway Premier League
Night Ten, Thursday April 9.
Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield.
Adrian Lewis 7-4 James Wade.
Gary Anderson 3-7 Dave Chisnall.
Phil Taylor 2-7 Raymond van Barneveld.
Stephen Bunting 5-7 Michael van Gerwen.
Dave Chisnall 7-1 James Wade.