Premier League darts: Night 10 schedule and preview as the top two meet in Manchester
- Michael Graham
- 14 April 2022
Things are starting to heat up in the Darts Premier League, and there's bound to be a mix-up in the standings as the top two go head-to-head in Manchester.
The Premier League rolls into Manchester in week 10 and one or two players are starting to risk being left behind in the race for the play-offs.
With one of the top two guaranteed to leave without any points, though, there is a real opportunity for someone to capitalise and close the gap towards the top of the table.
For others, including world number two Gerwyn Price, time is just starting to run out. He needs to make his move and make it quickly if he is to keep himself in serious contention.
Week 10 order of play
19:45 Gary Anderson vs James Wade
20:15 Michael van Gerwen vs Jonny Clayton
20:45 Joe Cullen vs Michael Smith
Peter Wright vs Gerwyn Price
The night gets off to a fascinating start as world champion and world number one Peter Wright faces the out-of-sorts Gerwyn Price.
Price has struggled in the Premier League so far this year and finds himself languishing well off the pace.
He goes into night ten in sixth position with only five wins to his name so far, three of them coming in night three.
Wright, meanwhile, is one of the pacesetters and will be keen to extend his grip on one of the top three positions.
Gary Anderson vs James Wade
Gary Anderson is currently propping up the Premier League table and his case was not helped by missing week nine with Covid.
That automatically awarded him a 0-6 quarter-final defeat to Michael van Gerwen, and he really needs to start hauling himself back into contention.
Wade, on the other hand, has been a picture of consistency throughout the competition but is one of only two players yet to win a night.
He lost in the final last week to an inspired Van Gerwen, although he finds himself in fourth in the table and well-placed to take advantage of any slip-ups ahead of him.
Michael van Gerwen vs Jonny Clayton
The top two face each other in the quarter-finals in week ten, meaning Wade will definitely get the chance to close the gap on someone.
Van Gerwen and Clayton have won five of the previous night nights between them, with the Dutchman in particularly scintillating form.
He boasts a positive leg difference of 37, with Clayton, who is the closest challenger to him in that regard, a long way back with nine.
When these two met in the quarter-finals in week four, van Gerwen dominated and emerged with a 6-1 win, so Clayton will know he will have to be at his very best to avoid another early exit in Manchester.
Joe Cullen vs Michael Smith
Michael Smith is the other player who is yet to win a night in the 2022 Premier League so far and he will need to put that right if he is going to get himself in play-off contention.
The gap to James Wade in fourth place is five points, and it is unlikely Smith is going to be able to claw that back with semi-final appearances only.
Joe Cullen is in a much stronger position and is only a point shy of a play-off spot heading into night ten.
He will have to respond to a dismal 1-6 quarter-final thrashing by Jonny Clayton last time out, though.
The last time these two met in the Premier League quarter-finals it was a bit of a thriller, with Smith edging it 6-5.
