The second phase of the PDC Home Tour concludes on Wednesday when the last of the five groups are played out. Once again seven men will battle it out in their own homes for one of the four guaranteed spots in the next stage.
It could be that five players from the seven on show on Wednesday make it through to the third stage of the competition as currently six points sits in the best fifth placed slot from the previous four groups. There is all to play for on Wednesday.
The Format
Each day seven players will be in action on their home oches in a group stage format looking to progress. In every group in the tournament the seven players will each play each other once. In the first round the top three players in each group and the five best fourth-placed players go through to the second stage. Five groups are played out in the second phase with the top four in each making it through to the third stage along with the best fifth-placed player. The final stage begins with three more groups with the top two in each and the best third-placed player qualifying for the Championship Group where the champion is crowned. Each match throughout is the best of nine legs and the tournament will be streamed live on PDCTV or the consoles on the bookmaker websites.
Phase 2 Group 4 Recap
The group went with form on Tuesday as Luke Humphries dominated to come through in fine style. He won five of his six matches and only lost the other 5-4 to come out on top on leg difference from Ross Smith with both men on 10 points. Joe Murnan was a surprise qualifier in third place on eight points. Damon Heta was the other man to make it through by right with six points and a one leg better leg difference than Luke Woodhouse who is waiting to see if he has done enough to progress. Mike de Decker and Barrie Bates were eliminated from the competition.
It was a profitable day for us on Tuesday even though Mike de Decker wasn’t good enough to come through and win the group. That was our longshot on the day but the main bet won when Luke Humphries cruised past the challenge of Luke Woodhouse early in the morning. We needed Humphries to win 5-3 or better and he came through 5-2 with a pretty comprehensive victory to ensure we go into the final day this week in good shape.
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Phase 2 Group 5 Line Up
The Favourites
Ron Meulenkamp is the favourite for the group but he’ll need to be a lot better than he has been so far in the competition if he is to qualify let alone win the section. Ryan Meikle has had a decent month or so of it and he could be the biggest danger to the Dutchman although Andy Boulton will be looking to emulate him and snatch top spot himself. The other player in the field who is a single figure price is the Finland star Marko Kantele.
The Outsiders
There are three players in the group at double figures with the YouTuber come darts player Matt Edgar one of those. He talks a good game but in the PDC Home Tour he hasn’t really played one yet. Steve Brown will be looking to make it through to the next stage of the competition as well. The remaining player was meant to be Andy Hamilton but he has had to pull out because of injury so Alan Tabern gets a second chance to progress to the third phase.
Group Betting
There is a lot of plodders in this group so it could be ready to be shaken up by a rising star and that makes me think that Ryan Meikle could be a good bet at 4/1. He has had a decent time of it recently having won the Development Tour and then made the quarter final of the PDC World Youth Championship where he lost in a deciding leg against Jeffrey de Zwaan. That sort of thing should give him a lot of confidence and in my eyes he is the one to beat.
Ron Meulenkamp has already had two goes in the first stage and never qualified automatically out of either group so that puts me off. I’m not convinced by Marko Kantele even though he did well in the first phase while Matt Edgar, Steve Brown and Alan Tabern might be too inconsistent here. I respect Andy Boulton and wouldn’t be surprised if he is the biggest danger to the youngster but I’ve often thought this sort of thing is a young man’s game so I’m with Meikle here.
Match Betting
I’ll go with one bet in the match betting front and that comes in the form of Andy Boulton who I think can see off Ron Meulenkamp. Meulenkamp had two goes at getting out of the first phase and in the end he was able to progress as one of the best fourth placed players having made a complete mess of his first group. That doesn’t stand out as a stellar form guide to me and I think he needs to be taken on as a result.
I like Andy Boulton. He isn’t someone who is going to be flashy or catch the eye but he’s pretty solid and doesn’t do a whole lot wrong and generally holds his own against players around him in the rankings or below him. The crucial thing about this match is that Boulton has the throw. I think that could well be significant here so the fact it belongs to the Scot and that he is odds against to win the match I’m happy to be on him.
Tips
Back R.Meikle to win Phase 2 Group 5 for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with Coral
Back him here:
WON – Back A.Boulton to beat R.Meulenkamp for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfair
Back him here:
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