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Darts legend Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson resume their battle for a Betway Premier League play-off place in Newcastle tonight.

Although not paired against each other at the Metro Radio Arena, the PDC duo will have a keen eye on each other’s games as they set their sights on a top four place.

Somerset-based Scot Anderson will hope fellow countryman Peter Wright fails to pull the power on 16-time World Champion Taylor as he focuses on a crucial encounter with Dave Chisnall.

Taylor moved to third last week by drawing with Raymond van Barneveld and then beating Chizzy, while 2011 winner Anderson moved behind Wright on leg difference by sinking current leader Michael van Gerwen.

Fifty-three-year-old Taylor knows victory will book his place at the O2 Arena later this month and dent his rivals’ ambitions. However, if both he and Anderson win the pair will occupy third and fourth entering the final league night.

Taylor said: “It’s a massive game. I’m really up for it and I opted not to play in the two tournaments last weekend to get myself ready for this – that’s how important it is to me.

“It’s a race for the ticker-tape now, so everybody’s going to push forward and the pressure’s on. I’ve been very impressed by Peter this season.

“He’s been confident and I think he’s wound a few players up and they’ve bitten to it, but he’s doing it on the board, he’s hitting the right shot that’s hurting players and the other players don’t know how to handle it.

“It’s good to watch to be honest, he’s been a little breath of fresh air. He beat me earlier in the season, but it gives me something to look forward to this week.

“It’s a clean slate and I’ll get up there and just get on with it. I’ve beaten him more times than he’s beaten me, but he’s confident on TV and thinks he’s unbeatable, so bring it on.”

Anderson added: “I’ve silenced a few critics this year but I want to play well every week. This season it’s been good and bad from me, but when I’ve been bad I’ve been absolutely sick about it, which seems to be firing me up a little bit more.

“Chizzy’s been brilliant this season. He’s been so unlucky to get the losses he has had with the way he’s played, but it’s very competitive this year and the Premier League’s full of great players.”

Dutch aces van Gerwen and van Barneveld lock horns having already qualified for the play-offs, while Rob Thornton meets Adrian Lewis in a dead rubber.

See Betway Premier League stars Dave Chisnall, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson at two of the biggest darts events of the year!

Chisnall and Lewis top the Lock, Stock and Three Smoking Arrows bill at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Saturday 27 September that also boasts darts legends Eric Bristow, Keith Deller and Bobby George.

Hosted by leading darts firm UK Sports Management, current PDC professionals Justin Pipe, Kevin Painter, Colin Lloyd and Steve Beaton will also appear alongside Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle – all introduced by MC Russ Bray.

Apocalypse 2014 sees the return of one of last year’s most popular exhibitions. Anderson will be joined by UKSM trio Pipe, Painter and White, along with Deller, Bristow, Mardle, Beaton and John Lowe. Bray will again host the event on Saturday 6 December at  the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre.

Tickets for both titantic tungsten tussles are selling fast and are available now from our online shop.

Picture by Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Andrew Gilding has been told by Justin Pipe to stick to his game and let his form fire him up the world rankings.

The UK Sports Management duo head to Wigan this weekend for the latest Players Championship rounds with a place at this summer’s BetVictor World Matchplay firmly in rising star Gilding’s sights.

Goldfinger’s stunning start to 2014 has seen him climb a staggering 30 places to 48 in the PDC’s global Order of Merit.

However, Pipe has warned his Quantax-backed colleague against changing too much if he wishes to maintain his momentum.

“You’ve got to take it as it comes, you’re either going to hit the top 32, the top 16 or the top ten, or you’re not,” said Cosmo Darts player Pipe, who enjoyed a similar climb on his way to Pro Tour success in 2012.

“It’s no good thinking about it and changing things to become what you think will be a better dart player. You can obviously tinker with your set up and try different things there, but Andrew does everything right.

“He gets to the venue early and he gets on that practice board. He does everything right – he doesn’t need to change anything.

“You don’t need to change the things to progress up the rankings, because that will come if you are playing well. If you think about you are going to lose.

“I never look at the rankings and if I’m number nine in the world or 19, I just want to go out and win, playing whoever I’ve got to play. You can’t change things to climb the rankings, you’ve just got to go out and play your game.”

Admitting that joining Pipe, Ian White and Kevin Painter at UKSM served a huge confidence boost, Gilding said: “All my goals are coming in nicely.

“My goal with the European Tour was to get as many games on the stage as possible and I got three at the German Darts Masters, so I was happy with that.

“I’m very close to getting to the World Matchplay as well now. Another good thing is that on the one-year rolling Order of Merit between now and the Matchplay qualifying cut-off date I’ve only got £250 to come off my money for the year.

“Maybe my next goal should now be to push for the top 32 for the year so I can qualify seeded for the Players Championship Finals.

“It gave me confidence to know that people think I can be with this group of people. I’m pretty much a newcomer to the PDC and to be included in that company with the likes of those people is just a great boost.”

Want to see Justin Pipe at your local club or event? The Force is available to book for exhibitions and public appearances! Contact Tracy O’Toole at UK Sports Management today on 0845 519 5550 or email [email protected] for more information on rates and dates.

Picture by Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Gary Anderson’s Betway Premier League Darts play-off bid could hinge on tonight’s meeting with reigning champion and current table-topper Michael van Gerwen.

The Somerset-based Scot who lifted the title in 2011 joined 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor on 14 points with a pair of draws in Manchester seven days ago.

Ahead of this evening’s action in Birmingham, Anderson said: “I know that if I win my games the rest should take care of itself. I’m in touch but I’m giving points away and making a mess of games.

“Looking back I’ve thrown a few games away and some players have had the game of their lives against me, so I can’t complain, I’ve just got to buckle down and get on with it.”

World number one and 2014 Alexandra Palace victor van Gerwen admitted he could feel his rivals breathing down his neck after staying a point ahead of Dutch compatriot Raymond van Barneveld by beating Dave Chisnall.

“I’m on top of the table but I can feel the other players breathing down my neck,” said van Gerwen. “I want to win all my remaining games and play well all the time.

“Last week, when I needed to I hit the doubles at the right time. I’m probably at 90-95 per cent of my best but I’m still winning, and that’s a nice thing.”

Chisnall doubles up with games against Taylor – who also faces van Barneveld – and Robert Thornton and is under no illusions as to the importance of his schedule.

“I’ve got four games left and that’s eight points I can win, so that can still get me there,” said the St Helens thrower. “It depends on the other games but I’m looking forward to this week.

“I’m playing Robert Thornton and Phil Taylor, and hopefully I can do the double there. Phil’s still the best player in the world – when he’s ‘on’ he’s something different – so it will be good to play him. I think I’m playing well, so I’ve just got to tidy up a little bit on my doubles.”

UK Open winner Adrian Lewis must avoid defeat in his encounter with the colourful Peter Wright if he is to stand a chance of reaching the final four.

“Adrian’s a great player and he’s fighting for his life, but I’ve got a good record against him on TV and I want to keep that,” said Wright.

“All I’m thinking about going into the game is winning, but I want to make sure my average is over 100 to make sure Adrian’s on top of his game.”

See Betway Premier League stars Dave Chisnall, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson at two of the biggest darts events of the year!

Chisnall and Lewis top the Lock, Stock and Three Smoking Arrows bill at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Saturday 27 September that also boasts darts legends Eric Bristow, Keith Deller and Bobby George.

Hosted by leading darts firm UK Sports Management, current PDC professionals Justin Pipe, Kevin Painter, Colin Lloyd and Steve Beaton will also appear alongside Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle – all introduced by MC Russ Bray.

Apocalypse 2014 sees the return of one of last year’s most popular exhibitions. Anderson will be joined by UKSM trio Pipe, Painter and White, along with Deller, Bristow, Mardle, Beaton and John Lowe. Bray will again host the event on Saturday 6 December at  the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre.

Tickets for both titantic tungsten tussles are selling fast and are available now from our online shop.

Darts legend Phil Taylor admits he is ‘fighting for his career’ when he aims to continue his Betway  Premier League resurgence against Apocalypse 2 star Gary Anderson tonight.

The 16-time World Champion has lifted the lid on his worst-ever start to a season and said he is now battling back to reclaim not only his global title but top spot in the PDC Order of Merit.

Taylor is now unbeaten since week five in Exeter, ominously moving into the top four, a point ahead of Anderson, who part of a dazzling bill for December’s Apocalypse event in Stevenage.

Taylor picked up a European Tour victory on Easter Monday when he defeated Michael van Gerwen in the German Masters final and is keen to push on now to claim a play-off place during week 12 in Manchester.

“I’m fighting for my career, to see if I can get back to world number one and World Champion one more time, but my main objective is to get to the Premier League play-offs,” said Taylor.

“I’ve got to improve on Thursday against Gary. He’s been playing superbly and last Thursday against Adrian he was brilliant.

“In my opinion, Gary is one of the best players I’ve ever played against so this is a massive game for me. I want to get to the play-offs and he’s in my way, so I’m focusing on him and only him.

“I’m a big fan of his and when he hits his doubles he’s virtually unbeatable, and I know how to play him and what I’ve got to do – play out of my skin and average 110 to put him off.”

Anderson, the 2011 Premier League champion, has also shown a return to his best form this year with four PDC ProTour victories, and has won three of his last four games to keep pace with the top four.

The Scot will follow his meeting with Taylor with a clash against fellow countryman Robert Thornton later in the evening, and could jump above Taylor – or Peter Wright – in the table with a pair of victories.

“People said I was finished but I’m trying to prove them wrong,” said Anderson. “I had a struggle for two years, but since the World Championship I’ve been trying to get back to the top.

“It’s not quite 100 per cent but it’s getting there. The top four is still open and anyone could qualify – and if I win both matches I’ll be in there this week.

“To get one win out of two would be good and it would be great to win both, which is what I’ll be trying to do – but I know how tough it’s going to be because I’m up against two fantastic players.”

Anderson joins UK Sports Management aces Justin Pipe, Ian White and Kevin Painter at the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre on Saturday, December 6 for Apocalypse 2.

Favourites Keith Deller, Eric Bristow and John Lowe also feature, alongside popular pairing Steve Beaton and Terry Jenkins. Tickets are selling fast and are available from our ticket shop.

Picture by Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Having suffered European Tour final heartache already this year, Justin Pipe is ready to go one better at the German Darts Masters and emulate his Austrian Open triumph from 2012.

The Force, who is represented by leading darts firm UK Sports Management, took glory in the inaugural PDC continental tournament two years ago.

He looked well-poised to add the German Darts Championship to his CV only to miss six darts for the match and fall 6-5 to Betway Premier League favourite and occasional practice partner Gary Anderson.

However, buoyed by sustained impressive form, Pipe – backed by Cosmo Darts and Rix Motors – said he was raring to go in Berlin…

Quantax-backed Pipe will go up against UKSM stable-mates Ian White and Kevin Painter when one of last year’s most popular events returns in December.

Co-ordinated by the firm aiming to become the preferred darts management company, Apocalypse 2014 pits the trio against Anderson, Terry Jenkins and Steve Beaton, as well as fans’ favourites Keith Deller, Eric Bristow, Wayne Mardle and John Lowe.

Taking place at the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre on Saturday 6 December and hosted by PDC MC Russ Bray, tickets are available from our ticket shop.

Picture by PDC