The second round of the World Matchplay darts gets underway on Tuesday night with a tasty schedule of action inside the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. We are up to the best of 21 legs for this round as we determine the first four quarter finalists.
The bottom half of the draw is in focus on Tuesday evening which means we see the former world champion Gary Anderson and UK Open winner Peter Wright taking to the oche.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Mensur Suljovic vs Justin Pipe
Two slow players get the action underway on Tuesday as Mensur Suljovic takes on Justin Pipe for a place in the last eight. Pipe actually leads the head to head between these two 9-2 but Suljovic is much the better player of the two right now hence he is a big favourite.
Credit must go to Pipe for putting on such a display against Jelle Klaasen in the first round. He banged in a near 91 average with six 180s but Suljovic was equally as good. I can understand the early record between these two but the latter part is mystifying given that Suljovic is so improved.
That makes me wonder if there is an issue for the Austrian when he comes up against Pipe. None of the side markets interest me with the lack of rhythm involved so I’ll sit this one out.
Darren Webster vs Steve West
Two giantkillers from the first round do battle in the second as Darren Webster takes on Steve West with one of them guaranteed to be a semi-finalist. Webster accounted for James Wade in extra time on Saturday night while West was far too good for a Michael Smith who played decent enough himself.
Webster’s win over Wade was an extension to his good form and confidence after winning a tour event earlier in the month. West is becoming quite the seed killer in these big events after he touched off Phil Taylor at the World Grand Prix.
All the lines in this match are on the high side. I’m not completely sure that West can reproduce his efforts here but Webster is plenty short enough to chance. This feels like a match to leave alone.
Gary Anderson vs Daryl Gurney
The match of the night is the third match onto the stage as Gary Anderson takes on Daryl Gurney for the second time in the space of a couple of weeks. They recently played in the US Masters in Las Vegas which Gurney won 8-4 and while I don’t take too much notice of World Series events I think it could set the scene for this match.
That wasn’t the first time Gurney has beaten Anderson on TV either. He did it in the Players Championship Finals a couple of years ago. Anderson has beaten Gurney at the World Championship so both have TV wins against the other.
I’ve a gut feeling that Gurney will really come of age this week which means he wins this but I’ve backed him for his quarter so I don’t need to take the risk that he overcomes his toughest obstacle in winning the section but I can’t resist a punt on the 180s. The line is 12.5 and Anderson hit 10 on his own in his first round win over Christian Kist.
I think Gurney is now such a danger to Anderson that he will have prepared properly for this and will be bang on it from the off which means the 180s will flow from him. They will from Gurney too because that’s what he does. I’m on the overs.
Peter Wright vs Cristo Reyes
The final match of the evening is potentially the most intriguing one for a number of reasons not least Peter Wright having a 7-1 head to head lead over Cristo Reyes. Another reason is that Wright was awful in the first round whereas Reyes quietly put in one of the best performances of that round.
I don’t expect Wright to be as bad in this match. He’s had a couple of days to get the travelling and jet lag out of his system and prepare properly for this but by the same token I don’t think Reyes will roll over for him. Ultimately I expect a missed double or two to cost the Spaniard but not before he has got to eight legs.
Wright does lead 7-1 in their career meetings but all seven best of 11 matches have gone 6-4 or 6-5, their last four meetings have been 6-5, and their longer format match was 10-7. These two produce tight matches and the way they both played in the first round Reyes should at least make this tight if not produce the shock win.
Tips
WON – Back G.Anderson vs D.Gurney – Over 12.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfred
Back it here:
Back C.Reyes (+3.5 legs) to beat P.Wright for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Coral
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
