Taylor comeback earns draw

Lewis, who teamed up with his Stoke rival to win the World Cup for England last Sunday, was in dominant form during the early stages.

He broke Taylor's throw in the second leg with a 138 checkout and had a 100 per cent record on his doubles as he raced into a 5-0 lead.

Taylor, who had not even had a dart at a double to this point, got off the mark in the sixth leg.

After Lewis won the next for 6-1, it was role reversal as Taylor poured in regular 180s on the way to taking five legs in a row to level at 6-6.

Lewis responded to hit double 10 in the next to edge 7-6 in front but Taylor was able to salvage a draw, hitting double 16 at the third attempt to ensure a share of the spoils.

Great game

"It was a great game," said Taylor, whose three-dart average of 112.79 was the second highest in Premier League history.

"Adrian was brilliant under pressure and it was a fantastic advert for the sport.

"Early on I was scoring well but not getting chances because his finishing was superb.

"I started scoring a bit heavier and took my doubles out, and when I got back to six-each he held his nerve.

"This result shows that everything I'm doing, with my preparation and practice, is doing me good."

Lewis said: "Phil's comeback was amazing and I couldn't have done much there against that.

"For him to hit a 112 average against me and not win shows that I played well.

"It's one of the best games I've played in, and to share the stage with Phil for a game like that is a great honour."
Adrian Lewis Quotes of the week

"It's one of the best games I've played in, and to share the stage with Phil for a game like that is a great honour."

Debut delight

Kevin Painter enjoyed a tournament debut to remember with an 8-6 triumph over defending champion Gary Anderson.

Painter opened with a 180 and stormed into a 5-0 lead, including checkouts of 134 and 114, as Anderson struggled with his doubling.

The Scot finally broke his duck in the sixth leg, his 12th attempt at a double in the match finding the target.

And, with Painter having lost his way, Anderson won five of the next six legs to leave things all-square at 6-6, despite twice having to finish in the 'madhouse' of double one.

Painter nailed a 128 checkout to move 7-6 in front and made no mistake on double 16 in the next.

Stalemate

Raymond van Barneveld won the final two legs to claim a 7-7 draw in a see-saw battle with Simon Whitlock.

The Dutchman went 4-2 up before Whitlock found his range after the interval, winning three straight legs to move into the lead.

Van Barneveld stopped the rot to level at 5-5 but Whitlock took the next two to ensure he could not be beaten.

The Australian failed to complete victory, instead Van Barneveld hit a 61 checkout to take it all the way and sealed a stalemate with a double-eight finish in the final leg.

Wade Hammer-ed

In the opening match of the new season, world championship runner up Andy Hamilton powered to an 8-5 win over James Wade.

Hamilton, making his Premier League bow, made his move from 4-4, reeling off the next three legs to guarantee himself at least a draw.

And although Wade kept it alive by taking the 12th leg, Hamilton closed out victory in the next on double top.