There are three weeks of the regular season left in the Premier League Darts event and there are still two spots on finals night at the o2 Arena left to be decided, so we are in for another huge night of action inside the Manchester Arena on Thursday.
Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross are all but guaranteed their places at the o2 but there is a four-way shootout for the other two places, and that battle will be in the spotlight over the course of Thursday evening.
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Rob Cross vs Michael Smith
The opening match of the night is pretty much a dead rubber in terms of making it to the o2 but for Rob Cross it is anything but as he continues to chase top spot and the cash bonus that comes with it. He faces Michael Smith to get the action started.
Cross has a very good record in this particular match up in the past and won the reverse fixture between the two 7-3 earlier in the campaign. Cross had a decent weekend in the European Tour and everything is good about his game at the minute but I intimated that I thought Smith would be dangerous now he is playing with freedom and he showed that for long periods last week.
I think this is a trappy match for Cross and I wouldn’t want to be on him at odds on. If I was betting at evens or shorter I would rather be on Smith to hit the most 180s. He has hit 20 180s in the last four weeks compared to just 12 from Cross, indeed Cross has only hit three in his last two matches. Smith can just thunder in the scores now and given that he won 3-2 on the 180s when losing 7-3 earlier in the season, him hitting most 180s will do me here.
Peter Wright vs Mensur Suljovic
The pressure will then move onto Mensur Suljovic for the second match of the night as he goes in search of the win he desires to keep his top four hopes very much in his own hands. He takes on a Peter Wright who has been out of contention for a while and who is playing out time.
I’ve mentioned throughout the season how Suljovic doesn’t convince me and he has already slipped up against one man playing for nothing by drawing with Michael Smith last week and he has to avoid likewise here. Wright is in a bit of a slump at the minute but he can just play now which might bring a performance out of him. Suljovic should win but I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t and at the prices I’ve no interest in backing him.
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Daryl Gurney vs Michael van Gerwen
Two men who go looking for the points for different reasons meet in the penultimate match of the evening as Daryl Gurney takes on Michael van Gerwen. MVG goes into the week on top of the pile but if Rob Cross has won earlier in the night he’ll need to win to get that spot back. Gurney is clinging on in the race for the top four and could be cut adrift with a loss here.
Gurney definitely has the scoring power to trouble van Gerwen, as he showed earlier in the campaign when he turned him over, and he will be looking to be the first player to do the double over the world champion this season. Generally MVG remembers his defeats and looks to put the record straight and I would expect him to do that here. When the match comes around I might allow myself a small flutter on Gurney but with no huge confidence.
James Wade vs Gerwyn Price
The final match of the night is the biggest one of the lot as the two men sitting in third and fourth heading into the evening meet in a huge game for both as James Wade takes on Gerwyn Price for two very valuable points.
Whoever wins this will take up pole position in the race for the o2 while the loser will probably have to win their last two matches to make it there. With that in mind I’m expecting a pretty tight contest here, in keeping with the close battles they have had in the past, including the 6-6 draw in their first meeting this season.
With that in mind I’ll have a small play on the draw here. Both men have played MVG twice so a draw wouldn’t be the worst result in the world. I’m not normally one to play draws in this tournament but since the format has increased we’ve had six draws in 16 matches. These two have accounted for four of those and can make it five here.
Tips
Back M.Smith Most 180s vs R.Cross for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betway
Back him here:
Back J.Wade vs G.Price – Draw for a 2/10 stake at 5.50 with Betfred
Back him here:
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