It was a double-win delight for Team Unicorn duo James Wade & Michael Smith.

James Wade stole the show as he ended Michael van Gerwen's winning start to the 2019 Unibet Premier League season with an emphatic 7-3 victory over the Dutchman at Westpoint Exeter.

Night Four of the campaign saw four-time champion Van Gerwen taste defeat in a televised match for the first time since November, as Wade repeated his 2016 Premier League triumph over the world number one.

Eight missed doubles in the opening six legs from Van Gerwen saw Wade make the most of his opportunities to stay in the contest at 3-3.

The second half of the game saw Wade turn on the style, romping home to a memorable win without allowing Van Gerwen a shot at double in the final four legs.

Wade found a crucial double 19 with his last dart in hand for a 65 finish to break throw and take the lead for the first time, before holding throw to take full control of the tie.

A clinical 121 checkout on the bullseye followed as Wade sealed a point, before finishing the job in the next leg, finding double 18 at the third attempt to record an impressive win and fire himself up to second in the table.

"I think, performance-wise, it was my worst performance of the season but I took my chances and hit a few more doubles than Michael," said Wade.

"He didn't play his game there and gifted me some opportunities. I didn't play as well as I wanted to and that frustrates me, but I'll move on and enjoy things.

"A lot of people fold against Michael when they shouldn't and I stuck at it tonight, so I'm delighted to win and I'm really happy to be second in the league."

2018 Premier League finalist and Team Unicorn star Michael Smith claimed his first win of the season against Raymond van Barneveld to climb off the foot of the table and send the departing Dutchman bottom in the process.

Van Barneveld took a 3-1 lead, before Smith won three successive legs to go in front, only for Van Barneveld to halt the Smith charge and make it 4-4.

That was as good as it got for the former Premier League champion as injury-hit Smith battled through the pain barrier to land a 90 checkout to go 6-4 up, before finding his favourite double top in the following leg to end his winless start to the season.

Team Unicorn will now be in action at the Ladbrokes UK Open over the next few days at the Butlins Minehead resort. Good Luck to all of our players!

Posted in Unicorn Darts