Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Thurs 8 Feb
Ten of the world’s top darts players will return to Motorpoint Arena Cardiff for the 2018 Unibet Premier League on Thursday 8 Feb. Cardiff has become a firm favourite with darts fans since the Premier League first visited the Motorpoint Arena in 2007 – it’s now a popular night out in its own right.
This year’s event will be the second night of the 2018 season after which another thirteen weeks will lead up to Finals Night at The O2 in London, taking in nights in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and for the first time; Germany.
New faces on the circuit this year include Rob Cross, Daryl Gurney, Mensur Suljović and Gerwyn Price who will all make their debut in the Unibet Premier League following the confirmation of the field for the roadshow event.
Cross capped an incredible debut year as a professional by winning the World Championship final at Alexandra Palace just a few weeks ago. It was a fairytale ending to his first year in professional darts which saw him working as an electrician only last year. World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney joins Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljović and the 2017 UK Open finalist (and former Neath and Cross Keys hooker) Gerwyn Price will add a Welshman to the fray.
Michael van Gerwen will be bidding to win his fourth Premier League title as the defending champion when the 2018 season begins at Dublin’s 3Arena. Van Gerwen and Cross are joined as automatic selections from the world’s top four ranked players by the 2017 Premier League finalist Peter Wright, and two-time champion, Scotsman, Gary Anderson.
Former champion Raymond van Barneveld joins Gurney, Suljović and Price amongst the six Wildcard selections, alongside 2012 runner-up Simon Whitlock and former World Youth Champion Michael Smith, who both return to the Premier League field this year.
Following his retirement after the World Championships in January, sixteen-times World Champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is not in the mix, opening up a void which no doubt one of the debuting stars will look to take advantage of. A great evening of entertainment will sure be on the cards, and one to be recommended if you’re looking to experience something different on the sporting front.
Tickets: from £23. Info: 029 2022 4488 / motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk
words OWEN SCOURFIELD