So the new Betway Premier League is underway, and while I was watching the action it got me thinking: what if it was possible to have the best 10 players of all-time to make up the ultimate Premier League line-up?
Many times we have seen lists and heard arguments as to who are the best players of all-time. Here are my thoughts on who would make the cut:
- Phil Taylor
The first player has to be Phil Taylor. We will never see his like again on the oche, and in my opinion his record of 16 world titles will never be bettered.
- Eric Bristow
The five-time world champion won every event that was on offer to him back in the day. The Crafty Cockney would have loved the glitz and razzmatazz of the Premier League, and not to mention he was always a showman.
- John Lowe
Old Stoneface is my third player to be selected. Lowe won three world titles and was the first man to hit the televised nine-dart leg.
- Jocky Wilson
Twice world champion, the late, great Scot dominated the British Professional Championship during the 1980s, collecting four titles. He was a huge character within the game and would add controversy and a bit of spice to the event.
- Raymond van Barneveld
Barney is a five-time world champion and has appeared in a total of eight world finals. The Dutchman would certainly have the crowds on his side, so he deserves his place in the line-up.
- Alan Evans
Sixth spot goes to another player who his sadly no longer with us. Alan was one of the first men we ever saw throwing darts on a television screen, and his ability was never questioned He loved to play to the crowd and the Premier League atmosphere would have been right up his street.
- Bob Anderson
The 1988 world champion and the first man to win the Winmau World Masters three times in a row, the Limestone Cowboy enjoyed success all over the world. Bob’s still hitting the 180s on the exhibition scene and must be in the line-up.
- Martin Adams
The eighth spot goes to the second man to have won a hat-trick of World Masters in consecutive years. Wolfie has also won three world titles and has been around the business end of tournaments for it seems like forever. Only last week he lifted the Dutch Open trophy for the fourth time at the grand old age of 59.
- Dennis Priestley
The Menace won the World Championship on two occasions and also lifted the World Masters title along with numerous other times. Dennis dominated the game for a period of time, and that was no mean feat when you consider a certain Mr Taylor was around at the same time.
- Michael van Gerwen
The final player in my line-up goes to the current PDC world number one, Michael van Gerwen. Even though MVG only has one world title to his name, he won 18 titles on the tour in 2015, which says it all.
So that’s my ultimate Premier League line-up. I’m sure there are plenty of you who would have picked some different choices to mine.
Players just to miss out from my line-up included: back-to-back News of the World champion Mike Gregory, Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis, James Wade, Keith Deller, Bobby George and the list goes on.
Let us know who would make your top 10. Send a tweet to @A_Devonshire180 and use the hashtag #UltimateLeague
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