The final session of the second round of the PDC World Championship takes place at the Alexandra Palace on Friday evening with the last eight players taking to the stage looking to book their spot in the last 32 of the tournament.
We almost come to expect shocks in this tournament now, they have been coming along so often, but on a very competitive evening of darts there probably isn’t many results which will be considered a major surprise so we should be in for a great night.
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Ian White vs Devon Petersen
The opening match of the night sees Ian White taking on Devon Petersen for a place in the third round in what is a huge match for the pair of them. The South African star is looking to get himself back in the big time while a good run here could propel White’s career immeasurably.
There are always doubts whenever White appears on the big stage because rarely does he take his best darts to the TV tournaments and so backing him needs a strong leap of faith. Petersen is more than capable of beating White but he isn’t particularly consistent either so this one looks like a pretty easy one to skip from a betting point of view.
Jelle Klaasen vs Keegan Brown
The second match of the night sees Jelle Klaasen beginning his quest for a second world title when he goes up against the capable underachiever Keegan Brown for a place in the third round against James Wade.
Brown was one of the better players in the first round when he averaged 95.78 and rattled in a bunch of 180s against Karel Sedlacek and if he can repeat that in this match then he is entitled to be very tough to beat here. Klaasen hasn’t had his best season but set play might just be his saviour here and he can time his peaks and troughs and still come through.
I like Brown in this match. I think the benefit of the match on the stage already will come through here and even if he isn’t quite as good as he was against Sedlacek he should still have Klaasen covered. I think it is worth taking a chance on him covering a 1.5 set handicap here as if he gets ahead early he’ll flow naturally and given the year Klaasen has had he could easily fade quite quickly if behind.
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Gerwyn Price vs Nathan Aspinall
The penultimate match of the second round sees the Grand Slam of Darts winner Gerwyn Price launching his quest for a first world title when he takes on the youngster Nathan Aspinall for the right to meet either Kyle Anderson or Noel Malicdem in the last 32.
Price goes into this tournament much fancied by many, including myself, and since the event begun he has seen his chances increase with the exits of Peter Wright and Mensur Suljovic from his half of the draw. Aspinall has played a match which obviously he won but he didn’t average 90 and the form that Price is in that is likely to a minimum requirement for the youngster if he is to come through this match.
I expect Price to win this but the evidence we’ve seen this week is that he is likely to have to go beyond three sets in order to book his spot in the third round. Price to win and both to win a set is attractive enough here.
Jonny Clayton vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
The final match of the second round sees Jonny Clayton taking on the quarter finalist from last year in Dimitri Van den Bergh for the right to take on Luke Humphries in the last 32 later in the tournament.
Van den Bergh brings a big reputation into this tournament with him but in recent TV appearances he has failed to justify that hype and aside from his nine dart finish against Stephen Bunting in the Grand Slam, we’ve not really seen the best of the Belgian and I sense he could be vulnerable against Clayton.
Clayton made the quarter finals in Wolverhampton and again in Minehead so he comes here in good touch and if Van den Bergh doesn’t find the form he showed here last year I think the Welshman is more than capable of taking him out. To be fair at their very best DVDB is only a marginal favourite if he’s that so 5/4 on the seeded player shouldn’t be ignored.
Tips
WON – Back K.Brown (-1.5 sets) to beat J.Klaasen for a 4/10 stake at 2.38 with Coral
Back him here:
Back G.Price to beat N.Aspinall and both players to win a set for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfred
Back him here:
Back J.Clayton to beat D.Van den Bergh for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with 888sport
Back him here:
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