The 2015 Betway Premier League Darts was a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation; the eleventh edition of the tournament. The event began at the Leeds Arena in Leeds on 4 February, and ended at The O2 Arena, London on 21 May. The tournament was shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. This was the second year that the tournament was sponsored by Betway.
Raymond van Barneveld was the defending champion, but he lost to Michael van Gerwen 10–8 in the semi-finals. Gary Anderson won his second Premier League Darts title by beating van Gerwen 11–7 in the final.
For the first time in the Premier League's history, 6-time winner Phil Taylor did not qualify for the play-offs.
Format The tournament format was identical to that since 2013. During the first nine weeks (phase 1) each player plays the other nine players once. The bottom two players are eliminated from the competition. In the next six weeks (phase 2), each player plays the other seven players once. Phase 2 consists of four weeks where five matches are played followed by two weeks where four matches are played. At the end of phase 2 the top four players contest the two semi-finals and the final in the play-off week.
Players The competitors who competed at the tournament were announced following the 2015 PDC World Darts Championship final on 4 January 2015, with the top four of the PDC Order of Merit joined by six Wildcards.
Robert Thornton (world number 8), Wes Newton (number 16), and Simon Whitlock (number 7) did not return from last year. James Wade returned this year following his absence from the 2014 Premier League, along with two debutants, Kim Huybrechts, the first Belgian to compete in the league, and Stephen Bunting, the 2014 BDO world champion who had a successful first year with the PDC.
PlayerAppearance inPremier LeagueConsecutiveStreakOrder of Merit rankPrevious best performanceQualification Michael van Gerwen 3rd 3 1 Winner (2013) Order of Merit Phil Taylor 11th 11 2 Winner (2005–2008, 2010, 2012) Order of Merit Gary Anderson 5th 5 3 Winner (2011) Order of Merit Adrian Lewis 8th 6 4 Runner-up (2011) Order of Merit Peter Wright 2nd 2 5 5th (2014) PDC Wildcard James Wade 7th 1 6 Winner (2009) PDC Wildcard Dave Chisnall 2nd 2 9 7th (2014) PDC Wildcard Kim Huybrechts 1st 1 17 Debut PDC Wildcard Raymond van Barneveld 10th 10 10 Winner (2014) Sky Sports Wildcard Stephen Bunting 1st 1 24 Debut Sky Sports Wildcard
Venues
Leeds Bournemouth Liverpool Belfast Leeds ArenaThursday 5 February Bournemouth International CentreThursday 12 February Liverpool ArenaThursday 19 February Odyssey ArenaThursday 26 February Exeter Nottingham Glasgow Dublin Westpoint ExeterThursday 4 March Nottingham ArenaThursday 11 March SSE HydroThursday 18 March 3ArenaThursday 25 March Manchester Sheffield Aberdeen Cardiff Manchester ArenaThursday 2 April Sheffield ArenaThursday 9 April AECCThursday 16 April Cardiff International ArenaThursday 23 April Birmingham Newcastle upon Tyne Brighton London Arena BirminghamThursday 30 April Newcastle ArenaThursday 7 May Brighton CentreThursday 14 May The O2 ArenaThursday 21 May
Prize money The prize money was dramatically increased to £700,000 from £550,000 in 2014.
Stage Prize money Winner £200,000 Runner-up £100,000 Semi-finalists (x2) £75,000 5th place £60,000 6th place £50,000 7th place £45,000 8th place £40,000 9th place £30,000 10th place £25,000 Total £700,000
Results
League stage
5 February – Week 1 (Phase 1) Leeds Arena, Leeds Score Dave Chisnall 94.16 7 – 1 Peter Wright 87.20 Raymond van Barneveld 85.68 1 – 7 Adrian Lewis 113.80 Kim Huybrechts 98.54 3 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 107.72 Gary Anderson 99.66 7 – 5 Phil Taylor 104.72 Stephen Bunting 95.03 6 – 6 James Wade 95.56 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 145 Most 180s: Adrian Lewis 5 Night's 180s: 20
12 February – Week 2 (Phase 1) Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Score Peter Wright 100.25 1 – 7 Gary Anderson 106.94 Michael van Gerwen 109.44 7 – 3 Stephen Bunting 103.43 Adrian Lewis 97.97 2 – 7 Phil Taylor 108.33 James Wade 104.09 7 – 2 Kim Huybrechts 93.57 Dave Chisnall 91.53 7 – 5 Raymond van Barneveld 91.73 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: James Wade 143 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen & Stephen Bunting 4 Night's 180s: 21
19 February – Week 3 (Phase 1) Liverpool Arena, Liverpool Score James Wade 90.19 6 – 6 Dave Chisnall 93.27 Peter Wright 93.45 6 – 6 Raymond van Barneveld 102.94 Phil Taylor 100.03 7 – 1 Stephen Bunting 84.62 Michael van Gerwen 101.14 7 – 4 Gary Anderson 95.74 Adrian Lewis 92.16 6 – 6 Kim Huybrechts 88.98 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Phil Taylor 151 Most 180s: Raymond van Barneveld & Gary Anderson 5 Night's 180s: 31
26 February – Week 4 (Phase 1) Odyssey Arena, Belfast Score Kim Huybrechts 107.01 4 – 7 Dave Chisnall 107.01 Gary Anderson 98.64 7 – 4 James Wade 94.60 Michael van Gerwen 106.28 6 – 6 Adrian Lewis 98.32 Stephen Bunting 91.08 4 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 97.50 Phil Taylor 102.68 6 – 6 Peter Wright 97.55 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Adrian Lewis 112 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen & Dave Chisnall 6 Night's 180s: 35
5 March – Week 5 (Phase 1) Westpoint Exeter, Exeter Score Raymond van Barneveld 102.65 5 – 7 Kim Huybrechts 105.59 James Wade 104.42 5 – 7 Phil Taylor 106.48 Adrian Lewis 91.45 3 – 7 Stephen Bunting 96.02 Peter Wright 94.65 6 – 6 Michael van Gerwen 95.57 Dave Chisnall 110.78 7 – 2 Gary Anderson 99.23 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Kim Huybrechts 170 Most 180s: Kim Huybrechts & Dave Chisnall 6 Night's 180s: 26
12 March – Week 6 (Phase 1) Nottingham Arena, Nottingham Score Stephen Bunting 100.99 7 – 3 Dave Chisnall 99.55 Raymond van Barneveld 88.38 3 – 7 James Wade 97.84 Phil Taylor 99.73 3 – 7 Michael van Gerwen107.61 Gary Anderson 108.98 7 – 1 Adrian Lewis 103.08 Kim Huybrechts 97.77 5 – 7 Peter Wright 98.57 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Stephen Bunting 164 Most 180s: Dave Chisnall & Gary Anderson & Peter Wright 4 Night's 180s: 25
19 March – Week 7 (Phase 1) SSE Hydro, Glasgow Score James Wade 103.79 6 – 6 Adrian Lewis 102.00 Peter Wright 93.40 6 – 6 Stephen Bunting 89.95 Raymond van Barneveld 104.18 7 – 4 Phil Taylor 115.80 Kim Huybrechts 98.04 5 – 7 Gary Anderson 100.70 Dave Chisnall 90.68 4 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 93.18 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 144 Most 180s: Phil Taylor 9 Night's 180s: 42
26 March – Week 8 (Phase 1) 3Arena, Dublin Score Adrian Lewis 96.51 2 – 7 Dave Chisnall 100.84 Gary Anderson 96.80 7 – 4 Stephen Bunting 95.57 Peter Wright 87.81 3 – 7 James Wade 92.15 Michael van Gerwen 108.71 7 – 2 Raymond van Barneveld 104.37 Phil Taylor 104.04 7 – 4 Kim Huybrechts 96.73 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 160 Most 180s: Michael van Gerwen 7 Night's 180s: 31
2 April – Week 9 (Phase 1) Manchester Arena, Manchester Score Michael van Gerwen 100.97 7 – 4 James Wade 100.64 Phil Taylor 93.55 4 – 7 Dave Chisnall 95.78 Stephen Bunting 94.47 6 – 6 Kim Huybrechts 94.22 Adrian Lewis 96.29 7 – 4 Peter Wright 91.09 Gary Anderson 108.83 6 – 6 Raymond van Barneveld 100.18 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Peter Wright 170 Most 180s: Gary Anderson 7 Night's 180s: 28
9 April – Week 10 (Phase 2) Sheffield Arena, Sheffield Score Adrian Lewis 96.77 7 – 4 James Wade 97.02 Gary Anderson 93.78 3 – 7 Dave Chisnall 106.91 Phil Taylor 86.80 2 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 95.43 Stephen Bunting 95.43 5 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 102.98 Dave Chisnall 114.17 7 – 1 James Wade 87.12 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 150 Most 180s (In 1 match): Dave Chisnall 6 Night's 180s: 32
16 April – Week 11 (Phase 2) AECC, Aberdeen Score Dave Chisnall 102.96 3 – 7 Phil Taylor 103.53 Stephen Bunting 93.92 2 – 7 Adrian Lewis 97.96 James Wade 101.65 6 – 6 Gary Anderson 104.27 Raymond van Barneveld 98.98 7 – 3 Michael van Gerwen 99.25 Stephen Bunting 95.30 6 – 6 Phil Taylor 98.63 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: James Wade 170 Most 180s (In 1 match): Phil Taylor & Gary Anderson 5 Night's 180s: 28
23 April – Week 12 (Phase 2) Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff Score Stephen Bunting 90.53 7 – 1 Gary Anderson 82.98 James Wade 93.93 0 – 7 Michael van Gerwen 116.90 Raymond van Barneveld 99.66 7 – 5 Dave Chisnall 103.79 Phil Taylor 104.65 6 – 6 Adrian Lewis 96.89 Gary Anderson 105.94 7 – 5 Michael van Gerwen 104.40 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Michael van Gerwen 154 Most 180s (In 1 match): Michael van Gerwen 5 Night's 180s: 26
30 April – Week 13 (Phase 2) Arena Birmingham, Birmingham Score Dave Chisnall 100.33 7 – 4 Adrian Lewis 101.94 Raymond van Barneveld 98.59 7 – 5 Gary Anderson 94.54 James Wade 94.65 6 – 6 Stephen Bunting 93.15 Michael van Gerwen 112.91 7 – 4 Phil Taylor 107.58 Adrian Lewis 89.64 2 – 7 Raymond van Barneveld 95.82 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Raymond van Barneveld 161 Most 180s (In 1 match): Michael van Gerwen & Raymond van Barneveld & Stephen Bunting 5 Night's 180s: 32
7 May – Week 14 (Phase 2) Newcastle Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne Score Dave Chisnall 104.50 7 – 1 Stephen Bunting 90.19 Adrian Lewis 108.91 7 – 5 Michael van Gerwen 103.38 James Wade 95.28 6 – 6 Raymond van Barneveld 94.55 Phil Taylor 101.71 5 – 7 Gary Anderson 102.95 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 137 Most 180s : Adrian Lewis 7 Night's 180s: 29
14 May – Week 15 (Phase 2) Brighton Centre, Brighton Score Phil Taylor 108.87 7 – 1 James Wade 100.29 Raymond van Barneveld 101.62 7 – 4 Stephen Bunting 100.27 Adrian Lewis 94.46 3 – 7 Gary Anderson 97.26 Michael van Gerwen 111.90 6 – 6 Dave Chisnall 106.01 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 161 Most 180s : Michael van Gerwen & Stephen Bunting 5 Night's 180s: 27
Play-offs – 21 May The O2 Arena, London Score Semi-finals (best of 19 legs) Dave Chisnall 98.34 9 – 10 Gary Anderson 98.40 Michael van Gerwen 106.44 10 – 8 Raymond van Barneveld 100.44 Final (best of 21 legs) Michael van Gerwen 105.81 7 – 11 Gary Anderson 104.85 Night's Average: Highest Checkout: Dave Chisnall 152
Table and streaks Table After the first nine weeks (phase 1), the bottom two in the table are eliminated. Each remaining player plays a further seven matches (phase 2). The top four players then participate in the playoffs.
When players are tied on points, leg difference is used first as a tie-breaker, after that legs won against throw and then tournament average.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:10px;" abbr="Position"|# ! width=200 |Name ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Played"|Pld ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Won"|W ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Drawn"|D ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Lost"|L ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Points|Pts ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Legs For"|LF ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Legs Against"|LA ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Leg Difference"|+/- ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Legs Won Against Throw"|LWAT ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Tons"|100+ ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Ton Plus"|140+ ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Maximums"|180s ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Average"|A ! style="width:20px;" abbr="High Checkout"|HC ! style="width:20px;" abbr="Checkout Percentage"|C% |- bgcolor=#ccffcc !1 |align=left| || 16 || 10 || 3 || 3 ||23|| 101 || 71 || +30 || 38 || || || 58 || 105.15 || 160 || 47.87% |- bgcolor=#ccffcc !2 |align=left| || 16 || 10 || 2 || 4 ||22|| 97 || 67 || +30 || 38 || || || 62 || 101.39 || 161 || 42.17% |- bgcolor=#ccffcc !3 |align=left| W || 16 || 9 || 2 || 5 ||20|| 90 || 80 || +10 || 28 || || || 57 || 99.83 || 152 || 38.14% |- bgcolor=#ccffcc !4 |align=left| || 16 || 8 || 3 || 5 ||19|| 90 || 82 || +8 || 31 || || || 48 || 97.64 || 161 || 41.86% |- bgcolor=#ffcccc !5 |align=left| || 16 || 6 || 3 || 7 ||15|| 87 || 83 || +4 || 30 || || || 43 || 102.95 || 151 || 39.55% |- bgcolor=#ffcccc !6 |align=left| || 16 || 5 || 4 || 7 ||14|| 76 || 89 || −13 || 23 || || || 51 || 98.63 || 147 || 38.04% |- bgcolor=#ffcccc !7