A week of darting in Dublin ends on Saturday evening when the top two players in the world rankings do battle for the World Grand Prix title as Michael van Gerwen takes on Peter Wright in the final at the CityWest Hotel.
The two combatants made it into this final in completely opposite ways but that will not matter when they get onto the stage and start going at it. The first to five sets will stroll off with another match title and a decent first prize.
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Michael van Gerwen
It must be something about the even years that the world number one Michael van Gerwen likes in Dublin because he has won this tournament in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and he could well keep up that sequence here. He has only dropped two sets on his way to this final and has overpowered everyone who has been put in front of him.
The real eye catching element of MVGs play this week has been his starting. He has often been relentless on the starting double but it isn’t just the fact that he has been hitting the double well he has generally ploughed in a treble or two after it to get his opponents under pressure right from the start of the leg.
Peter Wright
The world number two could be forgiven for wondering if this is going to be his week after he escaped from a right hole in his semi-final against Mensur Suljovic. He was 3-0 down and running into a storm but he kept on believing and managed to turn the contest around in fine style before coming out as a 4-3 winner.
Wright has not always been convincing this week but he has come through the draw somehow and can play with an air of freedom in his first World Grand Prix final as few people expect him to beat the Green Machine. Wright will know he will have to click in much better than he has been doing but with the pressure lifted that might not be beyond him.
Head to Head
These two are regular foes as this will be meeting number 70 between the pair. As you would expect van Gerwen holds a significant lead on Wright to the tune of 52 wins to just 15 for the Scot. They have also been involved in a couple of draws. Wright has won four of their eight meetings in 2018 which includes their latest battle in the Champions League of Darts semi-final two Sunday’s ago. This is the first time they will have met in this tournament.
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Betting
I’m not sure how Peter Wright has made it this far but I think the title is one match beyond him. Michael van Gerwen had a set off against Daryl Gurney but he has looked supreme apart from that and I am expecting him to power his way to the title from here.
Wright claims he knows the way to beat MVG now and while that might be true I’m just not convinced enough about him on the doubles and I don’t think him coming out and saying that is going to help him much. Van Gerwen has looked the part this week and I expect him to win the title with a bit in hand.
Tips
WON – Back M.van Gerwen (-2.5 sets) to beat P.Wright for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Boylesports
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