RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD heeft vanavond grote kansen om zijn Play-Off plaats veilig te stellen omdat hij twee keer speelt in The SSE Arena in Belfast (...)
De Nederlander, die de Premier League in 2014 won, staat zes punten achter de nummer vier van de league op dit moment. Van Barneveld moet de Premier League nog zes wedstrijden spelen.
Van Barneveld speelt tegen de koploper van de league, Phil Taylor, en in zijn tweede wedstrijd speelt Barney tegen Robert Thornton, die vanavond ook twee keer in actie komt.
"It's a big night, the funny thing is that I started the Premier League really well by winning 7-2 against Phil, and I thought it was going to be a great Premier League - and a couple of weeks later I thought it was the worst Premier League ever!
"I was a bit unfortunate against Peter Wright and the draw against Michael van Gerwen. Maybe I should have drawn against Michael Smith and I think I deserved three or four points more than the seven points I've earned now, but it's all about finishing.
"I've played two games against James Wade so far and they could have been draws but it all went to James. This is darts - I've been around the game for 32 years and sometimes I can't understand the game anymore!
"You can play such good darts now and not necessarily win any more. Last year Phil hit a 116 average and he got beaten by me, but we're playing with the absolute best of the best players and you have to turn up each week.
"Everyone is sharp; James Wade is playing fantastic darts, Adrian is playing okay, Gary is playing good, Michael is playing phenomenal, Phil is playing exceptionally well.
"Robert and me are struggling and I have to win every single match from now on to maybe get into the top four. I realise that maybe isn't possible but I showed last year that I can.
"I'm not nervous, I'm focused on both matches. If I play relaxed darts then I'm always good. Last year I had a point less when I survived Judgement Night, six points, and I tried to do my best each week and funnily enough the results came.
"If I can win both matches on Thursday, which I can, then maybe it's all open."
Van Barneveld is op dit moment de enige die Phil Taylor verslagen heeft in de Premier League van dit jaar. Van Barneveld heeft ook de laatste vier ontmoetingen tussen beiden gewonnen, inclusief de halve finale van 2014, het jaar waarin van Barneveld het toernooi won.
"In the first couple of years I had one or two draws against him, but I never ever seemed to beat him until three years ago,
"My results against Phil in the Premier League for the last three years are phenomenal so I'm really happy, although in knockout tournaments Phil has been the better player in nine out of ten games.
"I think he will be sharp on Thursday, of course he would love to beat me but I'm playing to survive. Phil is already quite certain of a place in the top four and I have to fight to get there along with four or five other players." Voegde van Barneveld daar aan toe.
Er is nog een klein aantal kaarten beschikbaar voor vanavond. Je kunt kaarten kopen door te bellen naar 028 9073 9074 (UK) of online via www.ssearenabelfast.com.
Betway Premier League
Week 11 - 14 april
The SSE Arena, Belfast
Robert Thornton - Peter Wright
Raymond van Barneveld - Phil Taylor
James Wade - Adrian Lewis
Michael van Gerwen - Gary Anderson
Raymond van Barneveld - Robert Thornton
Best of 12 legs