The 2006 Holsten Premier League the second year of the Professional Darts Corporation's popular darts league. The 2006 league was launched with the top six players in the PDC world rankings and the addition of a wildcard player, Raymond van Barneveld who decided to switch from the British Darts Organisation just weeks after reaching their 2006 World Championship final.
Barneveld, a four-times BDO World Champion went on to achieve the perfect nine-dart finish on 23 March against Peter Manley, on the fifth night of the 2006 Premier League at the Bournemouth International Centre. It was the same night that he faced Phil Taylor for the first time since his switch, the match ended in a 7–7 draw.
Taylor and Barneveld dominated the league stages, with both players winning every match in the league phase against the other 5 players in the league. Taylor came out on top 8–6 in their other meeting in Doncaster.
Given the form of Taylor and Barneveld in the group matches, there was much anticipation of a clash between the two in the final. However, it failed to materialise as Roland Scholten averaged 104.13 in the semi-final to hammer Barneveld (average 91.79) by 11 legs to 3. Phil Taylor averaged 105.03 in his 11–3 semi-final win over Colin Lloyd (average 99.42).
Phil Taylor successfully defended his title by seeing off Scholten in the final by 16 legs to 6. Taylor's average in the final was 101.41 to Scholten's 92.01.
Barneveld and Taylor would ultimately have their next meeting in the finals of the 2007 PDC World Darts Championship, with Barneveld ending Taylor's three-year reign as champion.
Format
The format had a slight change from 2005. Previously, all twelve legs of a match had to be completed – regardless of whether a winner had already been determined. From 2006, a match would finish when a player reached the 8 legs victory target, unless the match reached 7–7 when the points would be shared and the match drawn.
Venues
Like the inaugural Premier League Darts event, all 11 venues were used, but this time venues in Scotland (Aberdeen) and Wales (Newport) were also used.
Results
16 February – Week 1
King George's Hall, Blackburn
23 February – Week 2
Seaburn Leisure Centre, Sunderland
2 March – Week 3
AECC, Aberdeen
16 March – Week 4
Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
23 March – Week 5
Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth
Nine dart finish
The Premier League's first nine-dart finish occurred, when Raymond van Barneveld hit one during the ninth leg of his match against Peter Manley, checking out with T20, T19 and D12.
30 March – Week 6
Sands Centre, Carlisle
6 April – Week 7
Newport Centre, Newport
20 April – Week 8
The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster
27 April – Week 9
Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Stevenage
4 May – Week 10
Rivermead Centre, Reading
Play-offs – 29 May
Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth
Table and streaks
Table
NB: LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw. Players separated by +/- leg difference if tied.
Streaks
NB: W = Won
D = Drawn
L = Lost
N/A = Did not play
Player statistics
The following statistics are for the league stage only. Playoffs are not included.
Phil Taylor
Longest unbeaten run: 12
Most consecutive wins: 6
Most consecutive draws: 1
Most consecutive losses: 0
Longest without a win: 1
Biggest victory: 8–1 (v. Colin Lloyd and v. Peter Manley) Biggest defeat: Player Undefeated
Raymond van Barneveld
Longest unbeaten run: 7
Most consecutive wins: 4
Most consecutive draws: 1
Most consecutive losses: 1
Longest without a win: 1
Biggest victory: 8–1 (v. Ronnie Baxter) Biggest defeat: 6–8 (v. Phil Taylor)
Roland Scholten
Longest unbeaten run: 4
Most consecutive wins: 2
Most consecutive draws: 2
Most consecutive losses: 4
Longest without a win: 4
Biggest victory: 8–3 (v. Wayne Mardle) Biggest defeat: 3–8 (v. Raymond van Barneveld (twice) and v. Phil Taylor)
Colin Lloyd
Longest unbeaten run: 2
Most consecutive wins: 1
Most consecutive draws: 1
Most consecutive losses: 2
Longest without a win: 3
Biggest victory: 8–4 (v. Ronnie Baxter and v. Wayne Mardle) Biggest defeat: 1–8 (v. Phil Taylor)