Wednesday is the last day of action in the PDC World Darts Championship before Christmas and it is a double session day of darts with the afternoon one seeing two former world champions looking to make it into the third round.
We finally saw one of the top eight exit the tournament on Tuesday evening and that will keep the star names who finally get their campaign underway on Wednesday honest and focused to make sure they return still in the event after Christmas.
Ricky Evans vs Mickey Mansell
The opening match of the day sees a potential clash of styles taking place as the rapid fire action of Ricky Evans goes up against the more sedate and measured style of Northern Irish player Mickey Mansell with Michael van Gerwen waiting for the winner after Christmas.
Evans hasn’t had the best of years on the board it has to be said. He did qualify for the Grand Slam and the Players Championship Finals but offered up very little in either of them and you just feel he could be there for the taking here. I highlighted the terrible record Mickey Mansell has on this stage prior to his opening match but you wouldn’t have thought that was the case watching him in it. The fact that the New Zealand qualifier barely showed up in a way makes that performance even more impressive. I suspect the behind closed doors nature of the venue is allowing Mansell to show his best form because he is actually a very good floor player and that gives me confidence that he can replicate his first round performance. I’ll side with him here.
Gary Anderson vs Madars Razma
The first of the former world champions to take to the stage on Wednesday is a two-time winner of this event in Gary Anderson when he takes on the Latvian number one Madars Razma who has done well to make it this far but needs a massive elevation in his game to win here you would think.
That is certainly the case if Anderson is fit and firing but the doubt over the game is with the fitness of the Scot. Last time we saw him he was hobbling around on one leg and not playing very well. Even on one leg he should be good enough to beat Razma who has never really cracked the code on the big stage or at PDC level but the doubt over the fitness of Anderson puts me off chasing any of the fancier bets so I’ll sit this second match out.
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Stephen Bunting vs Andy Boulton
The second former world champion to get his World Championship campaign underway is Stephen Bunting and he goes up against an Andy Boulton who overcame the awkward test of Deta Hedman in the first round and will be looking to push on from here.
Bunting has had an indifferent year so you get the feeling this is a big tournament for him. He is has been putting the work in to prepare for this then there is enough talent within him to get the job done here and have a decent run in this competition but if he hasn’t he’ll get found out very quickly. The fact he was competing in the Home Tour earlier in the month is encouraging in that respect. Boulton averaged just over 90 in defeating Hedman but that average got inflated with an excellent last set in that match. Prior to that he looked very one-paced and played in patches which is something he won’t be able to get away with here. These two met during the Autumn Series when Bunting won 6-1 which highlights that he is the superior talent. I’ll back him to show that again here.
Mensur Suljovic vs Matthew Edgar
The final match of the afternoon session sees a Mensur Suljovic who has never really lived up to his quality on this stage taking on a Matthew Edgar who will be looking to build on a fine display in the opening round earlier in the week.
Suljovic won’t need reminding that he was shot out by Fallon Sherrock at this stage last year, his second successive first match defeat in this event after Ryan Searle dumped him out in this round two years ago. The draw looks kinder to him in this match but he still has to take advantage of that and come out on top. Edgar is never short of confidence and his win over Kuivenhoven in the first round will only have enhanced that so he has the chance to really lay it down to Suljovic and see what he’s made of. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is closer than it looks but there isn’t really anything that stands out to me here.
Tips
Back M.Mansell to beat R.Evans for a 3/10 stake at 2.30 with Boylesports
Back him here:
WON – Back S.Bunting to beat A.Boulton for a 3/10 stake 1.80 with Betfair
Back him here:
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