Gary Anderson sinks Phil Taylor in Premier League opener

World champion Gary Anderson edged out Phil Taylor once more on the opening night of Premier League Darts 2015 in Leeds.

Scotland's Anderson secured a thrilling 7-6 victory in sets to claim his first world crown at Taylor's expense at Alexandra Palace in January.

And he frustrated his rival once more, prevailing 7-5 in a nip-and-tuck encounter where there was never more than a leg between the two players before Anderson hit double four to snatch the cagey and decisive 12th leg.

Adrian Lewis was the star performer on the evening as he romped to a 7-1 demolition of defending Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Lewis was dumped out of the world championship by Van Barneveld but turned the tables on the Dutchman in emphatic fashion, racking up a 113.8 average as he closed out his evening's work with an 11-darter.

Michael van Gerwen overcame Kim Huybrechts 7-3 on the Belgian's debut in the event, rarely dropping his level after opening with a 180.

Van Gerwen complained about the temperatures in the arena but he proved too hot for Huybrechts to handle as a 145 checkout in the final leg saw him close with a 107.72 average.

Huybrechts' fellow debutant Stephen Bunting battled to a 6-6 draw with James Wade in the evening's final match - a marked contrast to Dave Chisnall's 7-1 triumph over an off-colour Peter Wright in the first game of the night.