The second round of the World Grand Prix begins on Tuesday night when the bottom half matches in the last 16 take place inside the CityWest Hotel in Dublin. The first round in this half of the draw saw a couple of big names depart so everyone in action here will be nervy.
Nerves won’t be quite as high though knowing that we are up to the best of five sets now so there is a little more wriggle room so I’m expecting the quality to ramp up and the tournament really begin in earnest from here.
Terry Jenkins vs Benito van de Pas
Experience vs youth to get the round of matches underway. Terry Jenkins had a really good win in the first round against James Wade and having twice made the final of this tournament we know he likes the format and the surroundings. Benito van de Pas’ win over Gerwyn Price in the first round was his first ever win here and now he’ll aim to kick on.
Head to head’s in this tournament are largely irrelevant because of the changed format but it is 2-2 between them anyway which suggests this might be a close match but I like Jenkins here. His double percentages in the first round were excellent at 52% to start and an incredible 73% to finish. In comparison van de Pas was 31% to start and only 32% to finish. That has to change if the Dutchman is to win this but it is about his average so I’m with Jenkins in this one.
Kim Huybrechts vs Stephen Bunting
This should be a good match between two players who are evenly matched on the odds and probably on the dartboard at the present time too. Were Stephen Bunting to be at his very best he would win this but he isn’t quite there yet. Neither is Kim Huybrechts though.
Bunting played very well in the first round to take care of Robert Thornton and as a former semi-finalist in this tournament he should be feeling good about things this week. Huybrechts did well to come from a set down against Ian White but he was nowhere near his best. We know Huybrechts can improve though so I’m reluctant to take Bunting and the price isn’t quite high enough to make me risk it so I’ll leave this one alone.
Gary Anderson vs Kyle Anderson
The world champion Gary Anderson takes on the Australian version of the Anderson’s in Kyle in a match you would expect Gary to win and probably win quite comfortably. He looked very good in taking care of Jamie Caven in the first round while Kyle Anderson looked quite nervy in beating Cristo Reyes.
It is hard to see Gary Anderson not coming through this a touch easily but Kyle Anderson is much better as an underdog and even more so against a top name so I don’t see much value on the Scot either to win or on a handicap so I’m happy to sit this one out.
Adrian Lewis vs Raymond Barneveld
The pick of the evening’s matches has been saved for last as two men surprisingly yet to win this title meet in the best of the second round games. Adrian Lewis looked fantastic in seeing off Jelle Klaasen in the opening round but Raymond Barneveld wasn’t too far behind him in defeating Mervyn King.
Both men doubled well in their first matches and both scored pretty well too so this should be a really close match if they both produce the same standard as the first round. If anything you would think both would improve so we should be in for a classic. Barneveld has looked more like his old self in recent times so he might just edge this but the prices are about right in my eyes.
Tips
Back T.Jenkins to beat B.van de Pas for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Boylesports
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