The 2018 season of Premier League Darts gets underway in Dublin on Thursday night when the 10 men involved in the competition go in search of an opening win to kick their campaigns into life on what is a decent card inside the 3Arena.
The pick of the matches sees the world number one Michael van Gerwen taking on the world champion Rob Cross but the undercard should make for some great viewing as well.
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Mensur Suljovic vs Simon Whitlock
The season begins with the debutant Mensur Suljovic taking on the returning Australian star Simon Whitlock for two valuable points in the competition. Many see these two as relegation candidates but one will have the chance to ease their fears.
Suljovic leads their head to head 4-3 but Whitlock won their last meeting in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix. That was a double start though so I’m not sure how much we can read into that. Suljovic warmed up for the event by making the semi-finals in Milton Keynes over the weekend whereas Whitlock was a beaten first round casualty. I think all things being equal Suljovic can get the job done on his Premier League debut but he is on debut so I’m in no rush to get involved here.
Gary Anderson vs Michael Smith
The second match of the opening night sees the two stablemates taking each other on when Gary Anderson faces Michael Smith to battle it out for two points to kick their season into life.
Anderson leads their personal battle 8-2 but I think we can safely say he is not 100% fitness wise so Smith might not have a better chance to see off the man who mentored him in his early times on the Tour. That said even when he is injured you write Anderson off at your peril.
The bet I like in this match is for Smith to hit more than 3.5 180s. When these two last met at the Grand Slam, Smith came out cooking on gas and ploughed in the 180s. We know he’s a serial 180 hitter and in a match which is going to have 10+ legs not needing as much as a 180 every other leg gives us enough of an edge to take the overs.
Daryl Gurney vs Raymond Barneveld
The second debutant to get their season underway is the Northern Irish player Daryl Gurney who shouldn’t be short of support in Dublin when he takes on the experienced campaigner Raymond Barneveld.
These two have not played each other too often in the past. Barneveld leads their head to head 3-1 but Gurney has made such an improvement in his game that the past matches hardly seem relevant. If we base our thoughts on the weekend in Milton Keynes then the Dutchman could be considered a good thing but this is a trappy one for both men and I’m happy to sit it out.
Michael van Gerwen vs Rob Cross
The penultimate match of the night is the one everyone is looking forward to as Michael van Gerwen takes on the debutant Rob Cross. It is very rare in this day and age that the world champion can be a debutant but that has been the dramatic rise of Cross.
A lot of this match will be about how quickly Cross can settle. If he settles quickly then he will have every chance but if he doesn’t then van Gerwen could be away and gone before the Englishman sparks into life.
Van Gerwen won’t lack for motivation in this match after their last meeting in the World Championship when the Dutch ace spurned a bunch of darts to progress to the final. We could see van Gerwen at his very best here and if we do, given that he has the throw in this match, the Green Machine can cover a 2.5 leg start.
Peter Wright vs Gerwyn Price
The evening concludes with the beaten finalist of last season in Peter Wright taking on the fourth and final debutant this year in Gerwyn Price in a repeat of the 2017 UK Open final.
Wright won that match which was one of eight wins he has had over the Welshman in their nine meetings. He won all five showdowns they had in 2017 so the career head to head is certainly on the side of the Scot here. Wright doesn’t look on top of his game to me though and I fancy he could be vulnerable here but this is Price’s debut which definitely counts against him so I’ll sit the get out stakes out.
Tips
Back M.Smith – Over 3.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
WON – Back M.van Gerwen (-2.5 legs) to beat R.Cross for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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