Gerwyn Price moves above Michael van Gerwen at the top of the Premier League tableThe First Direct Arena, Leeds hosts the 13th of 17 individual venues on Thursday April 27 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday May 25
Thursday 20 April 2023 23:38, UK
Gerwyn Price moved above Michael van Gerwen at the top of the Cazoo Premier League standings despite losing 6-4 to Nathan Aspinall in the final of night 12 in Rotterdam.
Price rattled off five straight legs to defeat Michael Smith 6-3 and brushed aside compatriot Jonny Clayton in the semi-finals, which was enough to guarantee top spot when Aspinall claimed a final-leg win over Van Gerwen earlier in the evening.
Aspinall beat Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semi-finals to set up a repeat of the final with Price in night two, where he claimed a maiden night win of the campaign and moved to third in the season-long standings.
The Englishman fired a 124 finish to open with a 12-dart break of throw but missed two leg darts in the next, allowing Price to level and then edge ahead with a 140 checkout in the third.
Aspinall responded with a 13-darter and followed a break in the next by posting a 12-dart hold to open a two-leg advantage, before taking out another 13-darter in the eighth to move within a leg of victory.
Price squandered four chances at double before taking out D10 to hold throw and temporarily close the gap, only for Aspinall to sign off an impressive victory with a 71 checkout.
Clayton posted three ton-plus finished to beat Chris Dobey 6-4 in the opening match of the night, while world champion Michael Smith squandered five leg darts to move into a 4-1 advantage before suffering a quarter-final exit against Price.
Smith's defeat moves him outside the top-four with four regular-season weeks remaining, while Van den Bergh made a 127 checkout and rattled off four straight legs on his way to a 6-3 win against rock-bottom Peter Wright.
Aspinall signed off his impressive victory over Van Gerwen with a 118 finish and a 15-dart break of throw in the decider, then nailed a 126 checkout and posted a 99.22 average to hold off Van den Bergh in the semi-finals.
The other semi-final saw Price throw seven perfect darts on his way to claiming one of two 12-dart legs and a convincing victory over Clayton, with the three points earned this week for a runner-up finish giving him a one-point advantage over Van Gerwen in top spot.
Aspinall started the week outside of the top-four after quarter-final defeats in three of the past five weeks, although his latest win bolsters his hopes of making the season-ending playoffs in London next month.
"We are in week 12 and last week really hurt me," said Aspinall, who suffered a final-leg defeat to Wright in Brighton last Thursday. "To bounce back like I did tonight…I have changed something.
"I have worked so hard to try and find what I needed to find to keep myself calm in situations. It has all come together tonight. I am just really happy to get a night win and get back in the top four.
"I am really proud of myself. After last week I didn't think I would be able to walk back on the stage. I needed to refocus myself. I am doing it for my girls. I came here with a new attitude, and I have won."
The Premier League roadshow heads to the First Direct Arena, Leeds on Thursday, April 27 for Night 13 of the league phase.
Michael Smith and Chris Dobey open the evening before Peter Wright faces Michael van Gerwen, who will be looking to move to back top of the table and secure a fourth night win of the season.
Elsewhere, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton face-off before Nathan Aspinall and Dimitri Van den Bergh round out the quarter-finals.
We're back for more Premier League Darts action from the First Direct Arena, Leeds on Thursday, April 27 for Night 13 of the league phase - live on Sky Sports Action 7pm.
