It was meant to be Judgement Night in the Premier League Darts in Cardiff on Thursday night but so poor have the bottom two been that the judgement has already been made! At the end of week nine of the competition we know we will lose Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen but for the other eight a win in Cardiff could propel them further towards the o2 so a competitive night of action is expected.
Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts
The evening begins with the early leader Peter Wright taking on an already relegated Kim Huybrechts. Wright has succumbed top spot to Michael van Gerwen but a win here will send him back there for a couple of hours at least.
You would think it is going to be difficult for Kim Huybrechts to get up for this match given that he is playing for nothing but then he might relish one last chance to perform in a big arena. If we could get an attractive price on Wright -2.5 legs I would probably have taken it but we can’t so I will leave this alone.
Phil Taylor vs Jelle Klaasen
The other man who will play no further part in the competition after this match takes on Phil Taylor when Jelle Klaasen looks to bow out with one last win. Taylor’s indifferent form leaves him outside the top four in his final Premier League campaign so he could really do with a win.
Klaasen has struggled with a wrist injury all season and while he went well in Germany at the weekend with little to play for here I do wonder how up for this he will be. Taylor hasn’t really convinced me in the tournament yet though so this is another to leave alone in my eyes.
Gary Anderson vs Adrian Lewis
Two men who are no strangers to the latter end of the World Championship meet in what is arguably the most important match of the night in Cardiff. I say that because Anderson currently sits in fourth place in the table with Lewis just below him on leg difference.
Gary Anderson has had the edge over Lewis in recent meetings and while ‘Jackpot’ has won his last two matches you would be pushing it to say he was convincing in any of them. It took Anderson a while to get up to speed in this campaign but he’s there now and he can win this.
Raymond Barneveld vs James Wade
After a couple of pearling performances Raymond Barneveld has moved up to third in the Premier League table and he will be looking to consolidate that when he takes on a James Wade who would go above the Dutchman should he win this match.
I’m always full of respect for James Wade for getting the job done despite lacking the tools of some of the men he is taking on. What he may lack in sustained scoring power he more than makes up for under pressure on the doubles but I just don’t see Barneveld in his current form letting Wade get close enough to take advantage. Barneveld has taken Gary Anderson to the cleaners and beaten MVG in the last two weeks and deserved both wins. I expect him to win here too.
Michael van Gerwen vs Dave Chisnall
The final match of the night may well be the best one because these two always produce great matches. It is a bigger match for Dave Chisnall who is beginning to be cut adrift from the pack than it is for van Gerwen who has a bit in hand in the top four race.
I often consider the 180s when these two do battle and I think the 7.5 line will be covered but there isn’t much in the way of margin were MVG to run away with this and it is that which puts me off. A price nearer evens would have lured me in but 4/5 does nothing for me so I’ll sit this one out too.
Tips
WON – Back G.Anderson to beat A.Lewis for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Winner Sports
Back him here:
WON – Back R.Barneveld to beat J.Wade for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with BetBright
Back him here:
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