With three weeks remaining in the regular Premier League Darts season the need for points is getting ever stronger for those who are looking to survive into the second phase of the league stage which means the five matches on show in Glasgow on Thursday night take on extra significance.
As well as those looking to survive we will also see the top two meet in Glasgow so we are set for an important night in the competition and one where the fortunes of many could be determined or go a long way to being so.
Daryl Gurney vs Mensur Suljovic
We get underway with a battle between two men who won their first major last year as the World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney takes on the Champions League winner Mensur Suljovic over the best of 12 legs.
This is one of those matches which could be significant in the elimination mix. These two men go into the night in the two places immediately above the drop zone so the winner here will take a massive step towards survival while the loser will be struggling to avoid being eliminated. In truth I don’t think there is a huge amount between these two and with the pressure that is added to the contest this is an easy one to swerve.
Michael van Gerwen vs Michael Smith
The top two meet in the second match of the evening when Michael van Gerwen will look to pull away with a Michael Smith who is level on points with the defending champion going into the evening.
Michael Smith has beaten van Gerwen this season although that was in a UK Open qualifier and nothing the magnitude of this contest. I think he will be hard pushed to beat him again but all of that is reflected into the prices which detracts from any betting potential in this match.
Gary Anderson vs Simon Whitlock
The Glasgow crowds will get to see their hero in action in the third match of the evening when Gary Anderson takes on the man in fourth place in the table in Simon Whitlock. Both men will be wanting the win here to push for a semi-final spot.
Anderson has really struggled for results in the Premier League this season despite being dominant in the floor events at times. Whitlock flew out of the traps this season but his very best form has just tailed off in recent times so again this one doesn’t really interest me from a betting standpoint.
Peter Wright vs Raymond Barneveld
The beaten finalist of last year, Peter Wright, faces a massive match in the penultimate game on the night when he takes on Raymond Barneveld. Wright goes into the week in the bottom two in the table and desperately needs a win. Barneveld is in fifth and could move into the top four if he can pick up a victory.
Wright is really struggling at the minute. He was walloped by Michael Smith last week and looked to be nursing or carrying an injury and then at the weekend he lost in the second round of both Players Championship events to Brendan Dolan and Jan Dekker. That is worrying.
Barneveld may not be firing on all cylinders but he isn’t doing a whole lot wrong at the same time so I expect him to play well here and as long as he has no mares on his doubles or anything like that I fancy he’ll have enough to pick up the victory.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Rob Cross vs Gerwyn Price
The night ends with the world champion in action as Rob Cross takes on a man who is bottom of the pile in Gerwyn Price and who could actually be eliminated barring something insane with leg difference should results go against him.
I think we can safely say that Price will be eliminated, whether it is this week or whenever. He has been found to be not good enough at this level and will exit the competition in three matches time. After a sticky start Cross has found his feet and I expect him to win this and probably win it well but the time will come when Price plays with freedom with his fate sealed and that could see him damage a handicap so I’ll sit this out too.
Tips
WON – Back R.Barneveld to beat P.Wright (DNB) for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with BetVictor
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
