Premier League Darts: Why nine players replacing Gary Anderson isn't such a bad idea after all
Nathan Aspinall
Nathan Aspinall

Premier League Darts: Why nine players replacing Gary Anderson isn't such a bad idea after all

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Wed February 06, 2019 · 6y ago

Our darts expert Chris Hammer assesses the PDC's decision to replace the injured Gary Anderson with nine weekly guest invites during this season's Premier League.

The PDC's idea to replace Gary Anderson in the Premier League with nine different players on a weekly basis is as creative as it's proved unpopular with the masses on social media.

Chairman Barry Hearn is probably clinging onto the old cliche of 'there's no such thing as bad publicity' amidst the rage that has seemingly come of this boldest of moves but will this latest example of the organisation's desire to showcase some of its newer stars to bigger audiences win the critics over as the season unfolds?

Many fans have previously called for the Premier League to be shaken up one way or another - yet when this news broke, the default reaction was to name a former participant who they thought should be given yet another chance on this roadshow. That would have hardly been visionary. But perhaps it was simply just the 'right' thing to do.

  • WEEKLY GUEST PLAYERS IN BOLD

    • Night 1, February 7
    Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
    • Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
    • Chris Dobey v Mensur Suljovic
    • Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith
    • Peter Wright v Rob Cross

    Tickets: 0844 493 6666 or

    Night 2, February 14
    SSE Hydro, Glasgow
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Peter Wright v Michael Smith
    • Rob Cross v James Wade
    • Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwen Price
    • Daryl Gurney v Glen Durrant
    • Mensur Suljovic v Michael van Gerwen

    Tickets: 0844 395 4000 or 

    Night 3, February 21
    3Arena, Dublin
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Gerwyn Price v James Wade
    • Steve Lennon v Peter Wright
    • Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
    • Michael Smith v Daryl Gurney
    • Mensur Suljovic v Raymond van Barneveld

    Tickets: 0818 719 300 (Ire) or 

    Night 4, February 28
    Westpoint Arena, Exeter
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price
    • Daryl Gurney v Rob Cross
    • Mensur Suljovic v Peter Wright
    • Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
    • Michael Smith v Raymond van Barneveld

    Night 5, March 7
    BHGE Arena, Aberdeen
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Michael Smith v Rob Cross
    • Daryl Gurney v James Wade
    • Mensur Suljovic v Gerwyn Price
    • Raymond van Barneveld v Peter Wright
    • Michael van Gerwen v John Henderson

    Tickets: 08444 77 9000 or

    Night Six, Thursday March 14
    Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Nathan Aspinall v Michael Smith
    • James Wade v Mensur Suljovic
    • Rob Cross v Raymond van Barneveld
    • Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
    • Peter Wright v Daryl Gurney

    Tickets: 0843 373 3000 or

    Night Seven - Thursday March 21
    Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross
    • James Wade v Peter Wright
    • Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney
    • Michael Smith v Mensur Suljovic
    • Max Hopp v Raymond van Barneveld

    Tickets: 030 20 60 70 88 99 (Ger) or

    Night Eight - Wednesday March 27
    Rotterdam Ahoy
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Gerwyn Price v Michael Smith
    • James Wade v Dimitri van den Bergh
    • Rob Cross v Mensur Suljovic
    • Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
    • Raymond van Barneveld v Daryl Gurney

    Tickets: 0900 300 1250 (Ned) 0031 88 123 24 25 (Outside Ned) or

    Judgement Night - Thursday March 28
    Rotterdam Ahoy
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Daryl Gurney v Mensur Suljovic
    • Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price
    • Rob Cross v Jeffrey de Zwaan
    • Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
    • James Wade v Michael Smith

    Tickets: 0900 300 1250 (Ned) 0031 88 123 24 25 (Outside Ned) or

    Fixtures for Nights Ten-16 will be confirmed following Judgement Night.

    Night Ten - Thursday April 4
    The SSE Arena, Belfast
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 028 9073 9074 or

    Night 11 - Thursday April 11
    M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 0344 8000 400 or

    Night 12 - Thursday April 18
    Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 029 2022 4488 or

    Night 13 - Thursday April 25
    Arena Birmingham
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 0844 338 0338 or

    Night 14 - Thursday May 2
    The Manchester Arena
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 0844 249 1000 or

    Night 15 - Thursday May 9
    The FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 0114 256 5656 or

    Night 16 - Thursday May 16
    First Direct Arena, Leeds
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Four Matches

    Tickets: 0844 248 1585 or

    Play-Offs - Thursday May 23
    The O2, London
    TV Channel: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)

    • Two semi-finals and a final

    Tickets: 0844 856 0202 or

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