2018 Champions League of Darts

2018 Paddy Power Champions League of Darts
Tournament information
Dates	22–23 September 2018
Venue	Brighton Centre
Location	Brighton
Country	England
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Legs
Prize fund	£250,000
Winner's share	£100,000
High checkout	160 Gary Anderson (group stage, third match)
Champion(s)
Gary Anderson
«2017 2019»

The 2018 Paddy Power Champions League of Darts^[1] was the 3rd annual staging of the tournament, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. It took place from 22–23 September 2018 at the Brighton Centre, Brighton.

The defending champion Mensur Suljović lost 4–11 against Gary Anderson in the semi-final; a rematch of the 2017 final.

Anderson went on to win his first Champions League title by defeating compatriot Peter Wright 11–4 in the final. It was Anderson's 10th major title and 8th in the PDC. It was also Anderson's 3rd major title of the season after winning that year's UK Open and World Matchplay.

A noticeable controversy was the walk-ons before the group match between Simon Whitlock and Peter Wright, where Wright's walk-on music, "Don't Stop the Party" by Pitbull, was played when Whitlock walked onto the stage, instead of his own track, "Down Under" by Men at Work. Whitlock performed Wright's renowned sidestep dance across the stage, causing much laughter on stage and in the crowd. Wright subsequently walked on to his own music, and the Pitbull track was played twice.

Format

The eight qualifiers were split into two groups, playing each other once in a best of 19 legs match. The top two of each group then proceed to the semi-finals. Both semi-finals and the final were a best of 21 legs match.

Prize money

Stage (number of players)		Prize money (Total: £250,000)
Winner	(1)	£100,000
Runner-up	(1)	£50,000
Semi-finalists	(2)	£25,000
Third in group stage	(2)	£15,000
Fourth in group stage	(2)	£10,000

Qualifiers

The top 7 players on the PDC Order of Merit following the 2018 World Matchplay qualified. Reigning champion Mensur Suljović was given a guaranteed place in the tournament, as he is the defending champion. As Suljović was also one of the top 7 players, the eighth ranked player also qualified.

1. Michael van Gerwen (semi-finals)
2. Peter Wright (runner-up)
3. Rob Cross (group stage)
4. Gary Anderson (winner)
5. Daryl Gurney (group stage)
6. Mensur Suljović (semi-finals)
7. Simon Whitlock (group stage)
8. Dave Chisnall (group stage)

Results

Group stage

All matches first-to-10 (best of 19 legs)

NB: P = Played; W = Won; L = Lost; LF = Legs for; LA = Legs against; +/− = Plus/minus record, in relation to legs; Avg = Three-dart average in group matches; Pts = Group points

Group A Pos. Player P W L LF LA +/– Avg Pts 1 Michael van Gerwen (1) 3 2 1 29 19 +10 102.89 4 2 Gary Anderson (4) 3 2 1 28 22 +6 99.64 4 3 Daryl Gurney (5) 3 2 1 27 25 +2 94.33 4 4 Dave Chisnall (8) 3 0 3 12 30 –18 93.53 0

22 September[2] 101.48 (4) Gary Anderson 8 – 10 (5) Daryl Gurney 95.28 111.23 (1) Michael van Gerwen 10 – 2 (8) Dave Chisnall 94.51 22 September 99.79 (4) Gary Anderson 10 – 3 (8) Dave Chisnall 87.99 100.17 (1) Michael van Gerwen 10 – 7 (5) Daryl Gurney 91.21 23 September 96.45 (5) Daryl Gurney 10 – 7 (8) Dave Chisnall 97.08 100.05 (1) Michael van Gerwen 9 – 10 (4) Gary Anderson 97.65

Group B Pos. Player P W L LF LA +/– Avg Pts 1 Mensur Suljović (6) 3 3 0 30 16 +14 100.61 6 2 Peter Wright (2) 3 2 1 27 20 +7 101.71 4 3 Rob Cross (3) 3 1 2 21 28 −7 92.06 2 4 Simon Whitlock (7) 3 0 3 16 30 –14 92.54 0

22 September[2] 91.79 (3) Rob Cross 8 – 10 (6) Mensur Suljović 96.46 101.22 (2) Peter Wright 10 – 7 (7) Simon Whitlock 96.41 22 September 94.03 (3) Rob Cross 10 – 8 (7) Simon Whitlock 89.83 102.13 (2) Peter Wright 7 – 10 (6) Mensur Suljović 105.53 23 September 99.81 (6) Mensur Suljović 10 – 1 (7) Simon Whitlock 91.00 101.77 (2) Peter Wright 10 – 3 (3) Rob Cross 89.70

Knockout stage

	Semi-finals (best of 21 legs) 23 September					Final (best of 21 legs) 23 September
	A1	Michael van Gerwen (1) 100.89	9
	B2	Peter Wright (2) 101.46	11
						B2	Peter Wright (2) 93.85	4
						A2	Gary Anderson (4) 101.47	11
	B1	Mensur Suljović (6) 92.01	4
	A2	Gary Anderson (4) 102.26	11

References

1. Allen, Dave. "Paddy Power Backs Champions League - Schedule Confirmed". PDC. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
2. Phillips, Josh. "2018 Paddy Power Champions League Day One". PDC. Retrieved 22 September 2018.