Is Adrian Lewis Premier League Darts’ most underrated arrowsmith?

Not a bad haul, unless you are named Taylor or Van Gerwen. Yet, the tale can be spun from a different perspective, with Jackpot yet to properly lay claim to many a major, and without a truly high profile win, for a while. His job looks half-done.

Jackpot a lucky price for punters

Watching Green Machine Van Gerwen hoovering up the biggest cheques and top prizes, when Taylor’s throne seemed set to be his, must surely have prickled.

Yet, steadily, over the past calendar year, Lewis has emerged to compete and re-state his credentials from also-ran to among the cream of this crop, quietly clawing his way back into contention for the biggest honours while warming up with World Cup of Darts and Auckland Masters wins.

Though, many will remain unconvinced until Lewis lifts another major and improves his Premier League performances but, ahead of Night Three, he at least looks to be doing the latter.

Excellent on the opening evening against frequent banana skin Michael Smith, Lewis put early doubts to bed with a scintillating 7-1 smashing of the younger dartsman, with an average of over 100.

While, on his second outing Dave Chisnall became another scalp, with Lewis scampering to a 6-1 lead before requiring a tremendous 12-darter to finish off the talented opposition 7-4.

Next, perhaps his biggest Premier League test arrives in Ireland, as Jackpot faces MvG in a delicious darts duel on the Dublin oche, a dust-up the Midlands man is 7/2 to win.

“We need to ruffle his feathers”

Speaking before the competition, Lewis told press “we need to ruffle his feathers,” regarding Van Gerwen and, if he leaves the Emerald Isle victorious, those 8/1 odds for Premier League triumph might just rocket.

This is exactly the kind of clash Jackpot requires to make his name top-billing again, but on his own merit. Mighty Mike has alternated between middling and majestic form over the past few months, so there has never been a better time to try and beat him, as James Wade and Taylor (in another Coral UK Open qualifier) can attest.

At the moment, if anyone can ruffle those lethal lime green feathers it is Lewis who, now 31, could be edging back to his best vintage.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in such good form,” Jackpot himself told media.

“You will see this from me more consistently. I’m working hard with Ian White and this is what you will see.”

One factor attributed to the powerful finisher’s recent bluster and bolder throwing, as he sits just one Premier League maximum behind MvG in the table for most 180s, is his trading of arrows for a heavier variety.

“They are flying in brilliantly. I’ve thrown six nine darters with them now. I’m enjoying it at the moment and if you don’t enjoy it, you don’t perform,” added the Englishman.

So, if you fancy a flutter on this excellent dartsman, who somehow seems to have slipped off the favourite radar into into outsider territory, there is a fantastic Night Three special offer of 13/2 for Lewis to catch up or overtake Van Gerwen by bagging most maximums in their match.

One thing looks certain, Lewis want his name back in lights, and not as the sub-heading but the star of the show. Watch out Anderson and MvG, Jackpot is hunting his first Premier League trophy and he smells blood.

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