It just keeps getting better and better for Unicorn star Adrian Lewis. The youngster has been awarded the final prestigious place in the 2007 Holsten Premier League. Lewis has only been playing top level darts for just over two years but has made a big impression on the big stage and he won the 8th and final spot ahead of the likes of Unicorn stablemate John Part and ‘Hawaii 501’ Wayne Mardle.
The 21-year-old from Stoke will line up with mentor Phil Taylor, Unicorn stars Colin Lloyd and Peter Manley, along with Dennis Priestley, Roland Scholten, Raymond Van Barneveld and Terry Jenkins, when the event gets under way in Plymouth on February 1.
It gives Lewis a great chance to shine in front of massive crowds up and down the country and big TV audiences ‘live’ on Sky Sports, as the fight for the Premier League title goes all over the UK.
“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Lewis. “I had hoped that I was in with a chance of getting into the Premier League but when Barry Hearn rang to tell me the good news, I couldn’t believe it!”
Lewis revealed he thought he had missed out. “There has been so much speculation on who would get the last place, so when I didn’t hear anything I thought I’d be watching it on Sky Sports again! I was speechless when Barry Hearn made the call.”
Already 35,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament, which has grown into a huge darting event in just two years.
Unicorn’s star man Phil Taylor will be bidding for a hat-trick of Premier League crown’s in a tournament that he has remained unbeaten in. Already some darts experts are tipping Lewis to claim a semi-final spot in his debut year. It is just reward for a lot of hard work and is the common-sense decision, with Adrian currently in 8th spot in the PDC Order of Merit.
The Holsten Premier League has a record prize fund of £265,000 in 2007, with £75,000 going to the winner at Brighton at the end of May. Lewis is guaranteed at least £15,000 before he even throws a dart in anger.
It’s a big year for Lewis who admits that he has to kick on during 2007. “I seem to get complacent and start to cruise when I get ahead in matches. The defeat to Andy Jenkins at the World Championship really hurt me, so I will knuckle down.”
Lewis will celebrate his 22nd birthday in Gibraltar, where he will be hoping to claim the Stan James Players Championship title this weekend.
BY STUART PYKE
