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Michael van Gerwen marks Premier League return with a bang

Darts

World No. 1 Michael van Gerwen marked his return to the Premier League after an injury-enforced absence with a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Kim Huybrechts at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

The Dutchman missed the show in Exeter seven days ago due to a back injury, which also forced him out of last week's UK Open, and he was stretched on his comeback by his Belgian opponent, who missed two darts at double four in the 11th leg which would have guaranteed him a draw and at least a point.

Instead, reigning world and Premier League champion Van Gerwen, who had earlier missed out on a nine-darter after a wayward throw at treble 19 following seven treble 20s, swooped in to take the lead and he closed out the match with little fuss to move up to second in the table.

Peter Wright, fresh from his first major title win at the UK Open, went top after defeating James Wade 7-5 and compatriot Gary Anderson guaranteed double Scottish delight after breezing past Dave Chisnall 7-3 in the night's main event.

Phil Taylor suffered his first loss of the competition after going down 7-4 to former protege Adrian Lewis.

Lewis later revealed on Twitter that pregnant wife Sarah was in hospital with a blood clot on her lung.

Raymond van Barneveld claimed his first victory since the opening night in Newcastle by hitting back from 4-1 down to beat fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen 7-5.

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