The evening session in the PDC World Darts Championship on Saturday is the final session of action before the tournament takes a break for the Christmas period but the event is set to go out with a bang inside the Alexandra Palace in London.
Two of the biggest names in the game will grace the stage across the evening with a couple of rising stars on show on what should be a belting night of action to send us into Christmas.
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Daryl Gurney vs John Henderson
Daryl Gurney: Round 1 beat Ronny Huybrechts 3-1 – Ave: 100.51 180s: 7
John Henderson: Round 1 beat Marko Kantele 3-0 – Ave: 90.09 180s: 2
Head to Head: 3-1
The evening gets underway with the World Grand Prix winner Daryl Gurney taking on the man who he beat in the semi-final of that tournament in John Henderson for the right to face Michael Smith or Rob Cross in the last 16.
Gurney was top class in the opening round but he had to be because Ronny Huybrechts laid it down to him. It was actually a performance that said that the Northern Irishman is a real contender this week. He now faces another tough test from a close friend in John Henderson who can really do it on his day as we saw in Dublin when he took out van Gerwen.
I’m looking forward to this match. I expect to see 180s here. Gurney ploughed in seven in the first round while Henderson can go big with them too. When he was last in this round three years ago he banged in nine in a loss to Mark Webster. Gurney might have a bit in hand but this won’t be a blowout so we can see a dozen 180s before it is done.
Phil Taylor vs Justin Pipe
Phil Taylor: Round 1 beat Chris Dobey 3-1 – Ave: 96.33 180s: 3
Justin Pipe: Round 1 beat Bernie Smith 3-2 – Ave: 89.24 180s: 2
Head to Head: 9-3
Phil Taylor continues his bid for a fairy tale ending to his career when he takes on the controversy ridden Justin Pipe in the second match of the evening with Keegan Brown or Zoran Lerchbacher awaiting the winner.
Neither of these men were particularly sharp or any good in the first round. Pipe had to resort to coughing when his opponent threw for the match to stay alive. Taylor never had to go that far but he would have had to dig deeper than he would have liked.
I don’t see Pipe being the man to beat Taylor but we should expect a better performance from him purely because he has nothing to lose. That might see him win a set or two but I’m not interested in a bet because I would imagine Pipe is going to get crucified by the crowd which adds a different complexion to things.
Raymond Barneveld vs Kyle Anderson
Raymond Barneveld: Round 1 beat Richard North 3-0 – Ave: 102.00 180s: 3
Kyle Anderson: Round 1 beat Peter Jacques 3-1 – Ave: 93.08 180s: 4
Head to Head: 5-5
The most evenly matched game of the evening would appear to be the final one of the night when Raymond Barneveld takes on Kyle Anderson a contest which has all the hallmarks needed to be a cracking encounter.
Both men are very heavy scoring and I guess the outcome will be determined by who plays the deciding fifth legs the best and who can hit those pressure combinations between 80-130 with more regularity but I really don’t see much between these two.
Given the way they both score and the fact we are likely to get six if not seven sets in this one I would be surprised if we don’t see 14 180s in this one. If they do go the distance we need a 180 per set from each but they are heavier scorers than that. I’m on the overs in the maximums market.
Tips
WON – Back D.Gurney vs J.Henderson – Over 11.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Boylesports
Back it here:
Back R.Barneveld vs K.Anderson – Over 13.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 1.90 with Bwin
Back it here:
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