The Players Championship Finals come to a close on Sunday when the remainder of the penultimate tournament of the season is played out across two sessions of play from the quarter finals onwards inside the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
The quarter finals of the tournament take place in the afternoon where four very good matches are in store for us, while the last four and the final come along in the evening. Time restrictions will mean we will be unable to preview the latter stages but we’ll get stuck into the quarter finals.
Damon Heta vs Mervyn King
The opening quarter final of the tournament offers up the chance for a spot in the semi-final to a player who isn’t used to getting that far in a big event in recent times when the Australian rising star Damon Heta goes up against Mervyn King for a place in the last four.
Both these players have come through the draw quite nicely so far. It would be pushing it to say that either have had a particularly tough draw but you can only beat what is in front of you and that is exactly what they have done. There hasn’t been a whole lot in their averages at any stage either so the general feeling here is that this is going to be a close match. That is a theory that I share because neither will want to let go of this opportunity without a good scrap. That makes me think that the best bet here is over 16.5 legs with 10-7 or closer either way seeing us to a winner. It is hard to see these two not delivering that sort of score.
Peter Wright vs Michael Smith
The pick of the quarter finals, as far as the world rankings are concerned at the very least is the second one between the world champion Peter Wright and a Michael Smith who is plugging away to try and find something close to his best form.
Both these players have form issues. Wright is actually playing well but the perfectionist that he is he isn’t happy with his form whereas Smith is scoring like a dream in the main but missed doubles at key moments continues to hold him back. If he can have a good day on the doubles he could win this tournament let alone this match. I sense it is becoming a mental issue for Smith though because you can start to tell when these missed doubles are going to come along and that isn’t a good thing. I expect Wright to win this match but I can’t be getting involved with anyone intent on talking themselves down so I’ll leave this one alone.
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Gerwyn Price vs Joe Cullen
The third quarter final of the afternoon sees two more star names meeting when Gerwyn Price takes on a man who has had a good time of it in the last six weeks or so away from the TV cameras in the form of Joe Cullen.
Cullen has won a European Tour event and a Winter Series event in the last few weeks so if he takes that form to the big stage he is going to be a danger for anyone he plays. There have been signs that the schedule has just caught up with Price and he could do with a bit of a break but I’m sure he’ll give it his all to take this tournament down before that break comes along. I don’t think there will be an awful lot in this and Cullen on a handicap might be the best way to attack this match but he has burnt me a few times recently and I’m not willing to be toasted again so I’ll leave this one alone too.
Michael van Gerwen vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
The last of the quarter finals sees the defending champion Michael van Gerwen continuing his title defence in an all-Dutch clash with the World Grand Prix finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode in what is actually a pretty big match for both players.
You feel van Gerwen needs a TV title to take into the World Championship with him and this is his last chance to get it, while van Duijvenbode will be out to show that there was no fluke about his run to the final of the World Grand Prix by attempting to follow that up in this match. That puts pressure on both men and actually in recent times you’d say van Duijvenbode has dealt with that sort of scrutiny the better of the two but he hasn’t played van Gerwen in those matches. Experience is with MVG here but something tells me he’s vulnerable. I’ve no great desire to bet to find out either way.
Tips
WON – Back D.Heta vs M.King – Over 16.5 legs for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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