The second round of the European Championship begins on Friday night on what should be a decent session of darts out in Gottingen, made much more competitive with the exit of Michael van Gerwen from the tournament on Thursday evening.
His defeat opens up this half of the draw and leaves Rob Cross and Daryl Gurney as the highlights on the Friday evening card, although there are a number of players taking to the stage who will fancy their chances now.
Joe Cullen vs Rob Cross
We actually get underway with one of the more interesting matches on the night as Joe Cullen continues his search for a first televised title when he goes up against Rob Cross for a place in the quarter finals.
These two are in the same quarter which Michael van Gerwen vacated so the winner here is going to feel the immediate benefit. Both men played pretty well in their first match. Cullen saw off Merv King 6-2 and Cross beat Darren Webster 6-3 and you would think the longer format will bring out the best in both here. Cullen has actually won both their previous televised meetings but Cross has won both their European Tour clashes this year. I fancy Cross to win this but I can’t really find a way in on the match betting but I do like one.
That is for Cross to hit a checkout above 114.5. He has covered this in his last five televised matches both here, in the Champions League and in the World Grand Prix and he is a renowned big finisher. Cullen should score well enough to keep him interested and in truth this line isn’t even high enough to need a difficult finish. Any good finisher with a line below 121 should be taken and I’ll do just that.
Daryl Gurney vs Simon Whitlock
The pick of the matches on paper on Friday night is the second game of the evening where the former champion Simon Whitlock takes on a TV event winner himself in Daryl Gurney for a spot in the last eight on Sunday.
Both men were very impressive in their first round victories but towards the end of it missed doubles crept into Gurney’s game and that has been a scourge of his recently so that could be a way in for Whitlock. I fancy the Aussie here I have to say but I’ve got enough tied up in him this weekend that I’m happy to let some of that ride and not get involved again here.
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Dave Chisnall vs Jonny Clayton
Two more men who had excellent showings in the first round meet in the penultimate match of the evening as Dave Chisnall takes on Jonny Clayton for the right to face the winner of the previous match in the last eight.
I guess the big question is whether Clayton can repeat his first round performance and do so over a longer format. You would have to think on recent evidence that is unlikely but it shouldn’t be completely ruled out so while I fancy Chisnall to win this, I wouldn’t say I’m completely confident in the St Helens man.
One area where I am more confident though is in the 180 hitting. Chisnall hit six of them in beating Dimitri Van den Bergh on Thursday night and in a better atmosphere against an opponent playing well I expect him to at least match that if not better it. He has a 5.5 180s line for this one and that looks too low to me.
Ross Smith vs Ricky Evans
The final match of the night was meant to be Michael van Gerwen against Glen Durrant but Ross Smith and Ricky Evans had another ideas it has to be said. It is the latter two who will meet for a spot in a televised quarter final.
Given what is at stake you would have to think this will be a nervy and tense affair at times and that could make this a close match but everything to me points to Ricky Evans despite all the money being for his opponent. Evans sits 22 places above Smith in the world rankings and holds a 4-1 lead in their previous meetings, at a time where Evans probably wasn’t as consistent as he is these days.
Smith has to get over the extra attention and that age old issue of backing up a big win the next day. He fully deserved to beat van Gerwen but this is another day. That performance from Smith came out of the blue, possibly because he didn’t think he would win. The pressure is different here and so I’m with the better player and that is Evans.
Tips
Back R.Cross Highest Checkout – Over 114.5 for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfair
WON – Back R.Evans to beat R.Smith for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Betfair
Back them here:
WON – Back D.Chisnall – Over 5.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
Back him here:
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