The second round of the World Matchplay gets going on Tuesday evening on what looks like being a tasty night of darts inside the iconic venue that is the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. There are two highlights on the card but all four matches should be top quality.
We were due to see Michael van Gerwen on the night but his exit has opened this tournament right up with the eight men on show all in the half of the draw he vacated so each will be looking to take advantage of his demise.
Dave Chisnall vs Michael Smith
The opening match of the night sees two of the best English players in the world going at it when Dave Chisnall takes on the man of the moment in Michael Smith over the best of 21 legs for a place in the quarter final.
Chisnall eased his way past a disappointing Keegan Brown in the first round while Smith was far too good for Jonny Clayton to make it to this stage. These two have met 14 times in the past with Smith leading 7-6 with a draw among them. Smith is unbeaten in four against Chisnall and has not lost to him since 2015. After his wonderful run in Shanghai recently you can tell Smith is full of confidence. He was one of the best players in the first round of the tournament and I fancy he will come through this with a little in hand.
The bet I like here though is the odds against on Smith to hit the most 180s. He ploughed in six of them in the first round to Chisnall’s two and he is actually a serial 180 hitter. Chisnall is too when he is at his best but his throw looked very snatchy on Saturday evening. The more fluent and natural throw of Smith can see him hit the most 180s.
Daryl Gurney vs Joe Cullen
The second match of the night sees the World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney taking on a man who keeps threatening a huge major tournament in Joe Cullen for a place in the quarter finals at Blackpool.
Gurney must still be wondering how he is still in this competition. My pocket certainly is after Steve West spurned 11 match darts against him in the first round. Cullen was on easy street against Gerwyn Price on Sunday afternoon. Cullen leads the head to head 5-3 although Gurney has won their last two matches.
Gurney was terrible in the first round and I mentioned ahead of that match how he has been flattering to deceive for a while both on the floor and on the stage. Cullen will not get a better chance to make it into the quarter finals here. I think he’s the value in this one especially if there is no dramatic improvement from the Northern Irishman.
Adrian Lewis vs Jeffrey de Zwaan
The first match to feel the advantage of Michael van Gerwen’s demise is Adrian Lewis. Instead of facing the Green Machine he gets a crack at his successor Jeffrey de Zwaan in the third match of the evening.
Lewis should be confident of winning this match. He has won seven of their eight meetings including their last two which were earlier this year. If he is to win this match he will definitely need to improve on his first round showing. It all looked a struggle for Lewis as he seemed to feel the pressure of being a favourite on the big stage again.
The good thing for de Zwaan is he was actually nowhere near his best in beating MVG. He didn’t hit a single 180 which is unlike him and only hit nine scores of 140 or more yet still averaged more than Lewis. If he can put on his normal scoring power on top of his finishing he has every chance here but the odds look about right to me so I’ll sit this one out.
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Gary Anderson vs Raymond Barneveld
The pick of the matches on the night is saved for the final one as Gary Anderson takes on Raymond Barneveld in a real heavyweight clash between two men who have never truly shown their best in this tournament.
Barneveld continued that trend in the first round where he was very poor but fortunately for him Kyle Anderson was little better than useless. Gary Anderson was very strong in the first round and it will certainly have done him no harm that Stephen Bunting pushed him close in their match. There are times when I think Barneveld is a danger to the big names but this stage isn’t one of them. I expect Anderson to power away from him at some point here.
Tips
Back M.Smith Most 180s vs D.Chisnall for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Boylesports
Back him here:
Back J.Cullen to beat D.Gurney for a 4/10 stake at 2.35 with Betfair
Back him here:
Back G.Anderson (-2.5 legs) to beat R.Barneveld for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with BetBright
Back him here:
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