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THURSDAY NIGHT DARTS: PREMIER LEAGUE 2019 STARTS TONIGHT ON BBC AMERICA

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New York - Thursday, February 7, 2019 - The world's nine best players in professional darts compete for the coveted Premier League title over 17 nights of action from February to May with colorful fans packing arenas all across Europe. They'll battle it out each week in a race to make the Play-Offs at The O2 arena in London. BBC AMERICA'S Thursday Night Darts: Premier League 2019 starts TONIGHT at 11:00pm/10:00c.

Watch the weekly competition live on BBCAmerica.com on Thursdays starting at 2:00pm/1:00c.

This season, Premier League Champion Michael van Gerwen aka "Mighty Mike" (@MVG180) is aiming to make it four Premier League titles in a row, Raymond van Barneveld (@RayBar180) will feature in his final season before retirement and European Champion James Wade (@JamesWade180) makes his return to the field.

Following former Premier League winner Gary Anderson's withdrawal due to injury, nine 'contenders' made up of rising stars and local favorites will take part across the opening nine weeks, with Toon talent Chris Dobey taking to the stage on the opening night at the Utilita Arena.

It's rowdy, it's skillful - darts is a fan-fueled fringe sport phenomenon. The Premier League will be played across 17 nights in 2019 in the biggest ever season of the event. The withdrawal of Gary Anderson, due to a back injury, has seen the Premier League's format amended, with the remaining nine players still competing for the title and joined by nine invited Contenders across the opening nine league nights. Results from the original nine players will count towards the league table, with the Contenders not receiving league points - meaning that only one player is eliminated following Judgement Night. The remaining eight players then meet for a second time during the remaining seven league nights, before the top four players progress to compete in the Play-Offs, with the semi-finals and final deciding the destiny of the title.

Night One:
· James Wade "The Machine" v Raymond van Barneveld "Barney"
· Gerwyn Price "The Iceman" v Daryl Gurney "Superchin"
· Chris Dobey v Mensur Suljovic "The Gentle"
· Michael van Gerwen "Mighty Mike" v Michael Smith "Bully Boy"
· Peter Wright "Snakebite" v Rob Cross "Voltage"

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About the Players:

Michael Van Gerwen "Mighty Mike"
· #1 PDC World Ranking
· 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013 Premier League Winner
· 2015, 2014 Premier League Runner-Up
· Nation: Netherlands
· Walk on music: "Seven Nation Army" - White Stripes
· @MVG180 has over 344k followers on Twitter
· The current world number one, Dutch ace Michael Van Gerwen has enjoyed an extraordinary spell to establish himself as one of the sport's superstars.

Rob Cross "Voltage"
· #2 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: England
· Walk on music: "Hot Hot Hot" - Arrow
· @RobCross180 has over 67k followers on Twitter
· Rob's incredible impact on the PDC circuit saw him complete his first full year as a
· professional with his stunning title win over the greatest player ever, Phil "The Power" Taylor, in the World Darts Championship 2017.

Peter Wright "Snakebite"
· #3 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: Scotland
· Walk on music: "Don't Stop the Party" - Pitbull
· @SnakebiteWright has over 133k followers on Twitter
· Peter claimed his first televised title at the 2017 UK Open, ending a 20-year wait for one of the circuit's most flamboyant performers.

Daryl Gurney "Superchin"
· #5 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: Northern Ireland
· Walk on music: "Sweet Caroline" - Neil Diamond
· @Superchin180 has over 25k followers on Twitter
· Daryl has emerged as a top-level contender with impressive displays. He landed his second TV title at the 2018 Players Championship Finals, defeating Michael van Gerwen 11-9 in a thrilling final.

Michael Smith "Bully Boy"
· #6 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: England
· Walk on music: "Shut Up and Dance" - Walk the Moon
· @BullyBoy180 has over 58k followers on Twitter
· 2013 World Youth Champion, Smith joined the PDC circuit as a teenager and has progressed to the top level. Smith picked up his first World Series of Darts title in July 2018 with a win at the Shanghai Darts Masters.

Gerwyn Price "The Iceman"
· #7 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: Wales
· Walk on music: "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice
· @Gezzyprice has over 25k followers on Twitter
· A former rugby union professional who also had a brief stint in rugby league, Price took little time to establish himself in a third major sport after joining the PDC circuit in 2014. The biggest win of his career came in November 2018 as he claimed his maiden televised title with a remarkable Grand Slam of Darts success, overcoming Gary Anderson 16-13.

James Wade "The Machine"
· #10 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: England
· Walk on music: "The Boys Are Back in Town" - Thin Lizzy
· @JamesWade180 has over 118k followers on Twitter
· The sport's most successful left-hander, James has enjoyed a fine decade at the top level to establish himself among the darts' top stars.

Mensur Suljovic "The Gentle"
· #8 PDC World Ranking
· Nation: Austria
· Walk on music: "Simply the Best" - Tina Turner
· @MensurSuljovic has over 16k followers on Twitter
· Austrian star broke into the world's top ten in 2016 after reaching his first televised final at the European Championship to follow his maiden ranking title during a successful year.

Raymond Van Barneveld "Barney"
· #28 PDC World Ranking
· 2014 Premier League Winner
· Nation: Netherlands
· Walk on music: "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
· @RayBar180 has over 235k followers on Twitter
· Dutch legend Raymond is one of the only three players in darting history to be crowned as a five-time World Champion following the success he has enjoyed in his glittering career.

Premier League Schedule:

Night One - Thursday, February 7

Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
· James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
· Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
· Gary Anderson v Mensur Suljovic
· Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith
· Peter Wright v Rob Cross

Night Two - Thursday, February 14

The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
· Peter Wright v Michael Smith
· Rob Cross v James Wade
· Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwyn Price
· Daryl Gurney v Glen Durrant
· Mensur Suljovic v Michael van Gerwen

Night Three - Thursday, February 21

3Arena, Dublin
· Gerwyn Price v James Wade
· Steve Lennon v Peter Wright
· Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
· Michael Smith v Daryl Gurney
· Mensur Suljovic v Raymond van Barnevel

Night Four - Thursday, February 28

Westpoint Exeter, Exeter
· Luke Humphries v Gerwyn Price
· Daryl Gurney v Rob Cross
· Mensur Suljovic v Peter Wright
· Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
· Michael Smith v Raymond van Barneveld

Night Five - Thursday, March 7

The BHGE Arena, Aberdeen
· Michael Smith v Rob Cross
· Daryl Gurney v James Wade
· Mensur Suljovic v Gerwyn Price
· Raymond van Barneveld v Peter Wright
· Michael van Gerwen v John Henderson

Night Six - Thursday, March 14

Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
· Nathan Aspinall v Michael Smith
· James Wade v Mensur Suljovic
· Rob Cross v Raymond van Barneveld
· Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
· Peter Wright v Daryl Gurney

Night Seven - Thursday, March 21

Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
· Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross
· James Wade v Peter Wright
· Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney
· Michael Smith v Mensur Suljovic
· Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld

Night Eight - Wednesday, March 27

Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam
· Gerwyn Price v Michael Smith
· James Wade v Dimitri Van Den Bergh
· Rob Cross v Mensur Suljovic
· Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
· Raymond van Barneveld v Daryl Gurney

Judgement Night - Thursday, March 28

Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam
· Daryl Gurney v Mensur Suljovic
· Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price
· Rob Cross v Jeffrey de Zwaan
· Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
· James Wade v Michael Smith

Fixtures for Nights Ten-16 will be confirmed following Judgement Night.

Night Ten - Thursday, April 4

The SSE Arena, Belfast

Night 11 - Thursday, April 11

M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Night 12 - Thursday, April 18

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Night 13 - Thursday, April 25

Arena Birmingham, Birmingham

Night 14 - Thursday, May 2

The Manchester Arena, Manchester

Night 15 - Thursday, May 9

The FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield

Night 16 - Thursday, May 16

First Direct Arena, Leeds

Play-Offs - Thursday, May 23

The O2, London

About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the critically acclaimed series "Killing Eve" starring Golden Globe(R) and SAG Award-winner Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer and from Phoebe Waller-Bridge; top-rated phenomenon "Doctor Who" starring Jodie Whittaker; Emmy(R) and IDA-winning "Planet Earth II" and the producers' next epic story of our planet, "Dynasties;" Emmy(R)-winning "Blue Planet II;" acclaimed drama "Luther" starring Golden Globe(R)-winner Idris Elba; ground-breaking unscripted series "Top Gear;" buzzy and hilarious "The Graham Norton Show;" and the world's biggest darts championships. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA's influential shows such as "Orphan Black" and "Broadchurch," among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and earned Emmy(R) Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, TCA Awards, Gotham Award and Golden Globes(R). Created in 1998, the irrepressible network has garnered one of cable's most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Get caught up, BBCA offers full episodes On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app and bbcamerica.com.