Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson meet again this week and Sky Sports Rod Studd reveals how they became two of the biggest names in darts. World No 1 Van Gerwen and defending champion Gary Anderson will go head-to-head once again on night two of the Premier League in Newcastle, live on Sky Sports.But the two champions did not always enjoy their current success. Darts expert Studd looks back at Anderson and Van Gerwens difficult route to the top of the sport... The making of Michael Talented Dutchman Van Gerwen could not sustain his exciting early form Michael van Gerwen started playing at the age of 13 and he was a teenage prodigy who was born to be king. He had a nine-darter and had won the World Masters in the BDO before he had reached his 18th birthday. After this wonderful start as a teenager, it looked like he would sweep all before him. But then he lost in the first round of the 2007 BDO World Championship against Gary Robson - a big mate of Gary Anderson - and he switched soon afterwards to the PDC. Van Gerwen endured an agonising defeat to Phil Taylor in 2008 What followed was a bizarre decline. Van Gerwen could not get going at all, and in the 2008 PDC World Championship, people will remember he missed double 12 to beat Phil Taylor. After that it all went horribly wrong and he had three or four barren years. He really looked like he was going to completely disappear off the darting radar and people were saying, What is all the fuss about? He really looked like he was going to completely disappear off the darting radar and people were saying, What is all the fuss about? Rodd Studd During 2012, Van Gerwen would win some youth tournaments and he believes that helped to get his confidence back. Even though he was beating opponents that werent Phil Taylor, he was winning titles. He would go on to defeat Mervyn King in that years World Grand Prix final - and that changed everything. He then reached the final of the Grand Slam of Darts straight afterwards and got to the final of the World Darts Championship, where he lost to Phil Taylor. Michael van Gerwen beat Phil Taylor to win the Grand Slam of Darts in 2015 The fact that he didnt win those tournaments was immaterial as it was now evident that he had gone back to playing how he was at 16 or 17.From then on, winning became inevitable because he was playing at such a high level.Anderson finally arrives Anderson suffered a string of early exits in major tournaments at the start of his career Gary really came on the scene in early 2000s and was always regarded as a top operator in the BDO. Similar to Michael, everyone knew he had this latent talent and he promised a great deal, but never really delivered it on the big stage. He threw his darts in the lake at the Lakeside time and time again. You just wondered whether he was going to do it or not. Rodd Studd He played eight World Championships in the BDO and lost in the first round five times. His best was a semi-final in 2003, when he lost to Ritchie Davies. For a man of his ability, that record was just inexplicably poor. He threw his darts in the lake at the Lakeside time and time again. You just wondered whether he was going to do it or not.But then Anderson had a brilliant year in 2007, which really showed how good he was. He won the International Darts League and the World Darts trophy, which was where BDO players took on PDC players. In the final, everyone thought, Hang on a minute, this bloke is top class, because he beat Phil Taylor in a really good final. Anderson produced a nine-darter in this years World Championship Just like Michael, when Anderson switched to the PDC in 2009, it took him a bit of time to get going. His record in his first few PDC World Championships was ordinary, aside from a final defeat to Adrian Lewis in 2011. He also won the Premier League that year, but failed to really build on that successful 12 months. The Scot successfully defended his world title this year Finally, in 2015, it all really clicked for Anderson as he won the World Championship, the Premier League, then defended the World Championship so memorably and wonderfully as well. The last 15 months or so have just been absolutely brilliant and he has established himself as the main challenger to Michael van Gerwen. Watch night two of the Premier League this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV Also See: Sky Live: PL night two MVG storms to victory in Wigan http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Maurkice-Pouncey-Jersey/ . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Darrius-Heyward-Bey-Jersey/ . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Hoodie/ . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Sean-Davis-Jersey/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Rocky-Bleier-Jersey/ . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins flexed some muscle for their first three-game sweep of the season. The Chicago White Sox were easily overpowered in this lopsided series. Brian Doziers two-run homer was one of a career-high four long balls hit off John Danks, and the Twins beat the White Sox 8-4 on Thursday. "It always helps a lot when youve got everybody hitting in the lineup," said Dozier, who homered for the third time in his last four games. "Hopefully that wont let up, and we can continue the hot bats and the pitching and defence." Oswaldo Arcia went deep in the second inning ahead of Dozier. Clete Thomas and Eduardo Escobar hit back-to-back shots in the fourth, sending the White Sox to their seventh defeat in the last eight games. They fell to a league-worst 13-28 on the road and 5-13 in June. "The game is hard enough when youre not playing well," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "When youre not playing well, you can see all the warts." Danks (1-4) lasted only five innings, giving up 12 hits and six runs. Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn hit consecutive home runs against Scott Diamond (5-6) in the sixth inning, but that wasnt nearly enough. The six combined homers on this humid, breezy afternoon matched a record at Target Field, which opened in 2010. The Twins last swept the White Sox in a three-game series Sept. 14-16, 2010, in Chicago. Theyd never done it here before. "Youre only as good as your last game, but theres a confidence level," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. The White Sox dropped to 29-41, the first time theyve been 12 games under .500 since the last day of the 2007 season, when they finished 72-90. That was the only year in the history of the AL Central, which was created in 1994, the White Sox have finished in fourth place. Theyve never finished last in the Central, but theyre well on their way this summer, with starting pitching joining this week the list of problems topped by fielding and scoring. "We truly feel like were way too good to be playing like this," Danks said. "We feel were just as talented as any team in the league." The signs of struggle were everywhere. Alejandro De Azas drag bunt attempt in the fifth inning sailed about 20 feeet in the air all the way to Dozier for an easy catch at second base.dddddddddddd Then in the sixth, shortstop Alexei Ramirez let a soft two-out grounder get through his legs for an error. Two batters later, Justin Morneaus two-run single with the bases loaded stretched the lead to 8-4. Danks, whose season started late because of surgery last summer on his left shoulder, fell to 0-4 in his four road starts with a 7.29 ERA. Nine of the 10 home runs hes allowed have been on the road. "Home runs are exciting, but as long as were putting them on the board youve got to be happy," Diamond said. Quipped Gardenhire: "As long as theyre ours being hit into the seats, thats OK." Diamond won for only the second time in his last eight starts, with only one completion of six innings in that span. This turn, he lasted 5 1-3 innings with seven hits and four runs allowed. One of those was unearned, due to a throwing error by third baseman Trevor Plouffe in the fourth. Reliever Jesse Crain has been one bright spot for the White Sox, at least. The former Twins right-hander set Chicagos franchise record with his 28th consecutive scoreless appearance, passing J.J. Putzs mark from 2010. Crain, who has 37 strikeouts in 28 innings during the streak, has allowed only two runs all season, most recently on April 12. NOTES: The six victories (out of nine) were the most on a homestand by the Twins since winning six of 12 here on from July 14-24, 2011. ... Ventura expressed encouragement about RHP Jake Peavys first real exercise -- riding the stationary bike -- since he broke a rib two weeks. Peavy is expected to miss another two to four weeks. ... Twins CF Aaron Hicks (strained left hamstring) is on track to begin a rehab assignment next week. Backup OF Wilkin Ramirez (post-concussion symptoms) started one on Thursday with Class A Fort Myers. ... The Twins play three games at Cleveland beginning on Friday. RHP Samuel Deduno (3-1, 3.26 ERA) will pitch the opener, with LHP Scott Kazmir (3-4, 5.89 ERA) starting for the Indians. ... The White Sox start a three-game series in Kansas City on Friday by sending LHP Hector Santiago (2-5, 3.30 ERA) to the mound at Kauffman Stadium. 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