i think we need one. and here's some BIG news to kick it off. I can't wait for this.
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WORLD champion Adrian Lewis will take on big rival Phil Taylor in a battle of the Potteries powerhouses to kick off the new season of the McCoy's Premier League.
The hotly-anticipated clash will headline the opening night of the 2012 competition at the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena on Thursday, February 9
Cross Heath ace Lewis, who turns 27 on Saturday, starts the tournament as second favourite behind Taylor, his one-time mentor and five-time champion.
The pair met on the opening night of last year's competition, when Lewis won 8-2, and although 15-time world champion Taylor gained revenge in the reverse fixture Birmingham, it was the youngster who took an 8-3 win in their semi-final clash.
Andy Hamilton, the 2012 World Championship runner-up, from Dresden, will make his Premier League bow against world number three James Wade, the 2009 champion.
The 44-year-old former publican is rated a 25/1 outsider to clinch the £150,000 crown at the first attempt.
PDC chairman Barry Hearn said: "With Gary Anderson defending his title, Lewis coming into the tournament as a two-time world champion and Taylor and Wade looking to win back the Premier League trophy, we're all hugely excited.
"The line-up features the biggest names in darts, with our in-form players and stars looking to join the elite group to have lifted this trophy."
The £450,000 15-week event sees eight stars competing across 14 league nights for places in May's play-offs at the O2 Arena in London.
The sold-out second league night, in Aberdeen, will feature a rematch of the classic 2004 World Championship final as Taylor meets Kevin Painter, while "Jackpot" Lewis meets Raymond van Barneveld and Hamilton, pictured below, faces Anderson.
There are also no tickets left for the week six meeting at Glasgow, where so much controversy was caused last season when Lewis took on Anderson in a match to the end the night.
The former Newcastle Community High School student was pelted with coins and beer during a white-knuckle contest with the home favourite last March, eventually shrugging off the intimidation to recover from 3-0 down to win 8-3.
This time around, Lewis will be on first, against Wade, while Hamilton will step up to the oche against "The Power" Taylor.
Lewis and Hamilton meet in a rematch of this month's World Championship final in week three at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, while Lewis takes on Anderson in a repeat of the 2011 Premier League showdown in week four in Exeter.
Taylor will end the normal league nights against Anderson in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with "The Hammer" against Painter and Lewis versus Simon Whitlock.
The top four from the final table will then progress to the play-offs at the O2 on May 17, when semi-finals and final will determine the champion.
The bookies make 51-year-old Taylor the 13/8 favourite to cast off his World Championship disappointment and regain the title from Anderson.
Lewis is priced at 4/1, while Hamilton is a 25/1 outsider.
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WORLD champion Adrian Lewis will take on big rival Phil Taylor in a battle of the Potteries powerhouses to kick off the new season of the McCoy's Premier League.
The hotly-anticipated clash will headline the opening night of the 2012 competition at the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena on Thursday, February 9
Cross Heath ace Lewis, who turns 27 on Saturday, starts the tournament as second favourite behind Taylor, his one-time mentor and five-time champion.
The pair met on the opening night of last year's competition, when Lewis won 8-2, and although 15-time world champion Taylor gained revenge in the reverse fixture Birmingham, it was the youngster who took an 8-3 win in their semi-final clash.
Andy Hamilton, the 2012 World Championship runner-up, from Dresden, will make his Premier League bow against world number three James Wade, the 2009 champion.
The 44-year-old former publican is rated a 25/1 outsider to clinch the £150,000 crown at the first attempt.
PDC chairman Barry Hearn said: "With Gary Anderson defending his title, Lewis coming into the tournament as a two-time world champion and Taylor and Wade looking to win back the Premier League trophy, we're all hugely excited.
"The line-up features the biggest names in darts, with our in-form players and stars looking to join the elite group to have lifted this trophy."
The £450,000 15-week event sees eight stars competing across 14 league nights for places in May's play-offs at the O2 Arena in London.
The sold-out second league night, in Aberdeen, will feature a rematch of the classic 2004 World Championship final as Taylor meets Kevin Painter, while "Jackpot" Lewis meets Raymond van Barneveld and Hamilton, pictured below, faces Anderson.
There are also no tickets left for the week six meeting at Glasgow, where so much controversy was caused last season when Lewis took on Anderson in a match to the end the night.
The former Newcastle Community High School student was pelted with coins and beer during a white-knuckle contest with the home favourite last March, eventually shrugging off the intimidation to recover from 3-0 down to win 8-3.
This time around, Lewis will be on first, against Wade, while Hamilton will step up to the oche against "The Power" Taylor.
Lewis and Hamilton meet in a rematch of this month's World Championship final in week three at Belfast's Odyssey Arena, while Lewis takes on Anderson in a repeat of the 2011 Premier League showdown in week four in Exeter.
Taylor will end the normal league nights against Anderson in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with "The Hammer" against Painter and Lewis versus Simon Whitlock.
The top four from the final table will then progress to the play-offs at the O2 on May 17, when semi-finals and final will determine the champion.
The bookies make 51-year-old Taylor the 13/8 favourite to cast off his World Championship disappointment and regain the title from Anderson.
Lewis is priced at 4/1, while Hamilton is a 25/1 outsider.
