The PDC World Darts Championship continues to roll towards a conclusion and after a thrilling day of quarter finals on Friday we now know the winner of the tournament will be adding another world title to their collection as only former champions of the world remain.
The final four meet in two belting looking semi-finals at Alexandra Palace on Saturday evening where they will play over the best of 11 sets for a place in Sunday’s final.
Kicking things off are Raymond Barneveld and Adrian Lewis. These two meet in this tournament for the second time in as many years. Barneveld edged Lewis out in the last 16 last year but Lewis is the favourite for this match.
Lewis has looked really cool in this tournament. He finally dropped his first sets of the competition in the quarter final but he displayed a ruthless streak in dismissing Peter Wright 5-2. Wright really rallied at Lewis in that match so the twice champion can take plenty from the way he held the Scot off.
Barneveld is perfecting the art of brinkmanship in this tournament. For the third match in a row he came through a deciding set in the quarter final. He trailed Michael Smith 3-0 early in their match but rather than panic he found his best darts and came through in a tie break in a cracking game.
Both men are playing well here. Those who followed me from the start of this tournament will be on Lewis at effectively 9/1 to win here and with that in mind I’m not getting involved in the match betting but I will have a small bet on the match.
That comes in the highest checkout market where Lewis seems to have an edge. In five of their last six TV meetings going back to this tournament last year, Lewis has hit the highest checkout and I think there is enough in that to get involved here.
Lewis has chased a few trebles which is his way and that sometimes leaves bigger finishes but he’s no stranger to three figure combinations. Twice in this tournament he’s taken out checkouts over 160 and another one here could well seal the deal against a Barneveld who has taken out nothing above 131 so far.
The second semi-final should be fast paced and relentless in its scoring as Gary Anderson continues the defence of the title. He faces the 2006 world champion Jelle Klaasen in a potential mouth-watering clash.
Anderson has looked brilliant in this tournament so far. He has dropped just two sets, is scoring brilliantly and so far has had no issues on his finishing and a repeat of that should serve him well here.
Klaasen shouldn’t be ruled out though. He has touched off Taylor in this tournament and came from 3-1 down to beat Alan Norris 5-4 in a high quality quarter final and his scoring has been sustained in both matches. With the speed he throws his consistent scoring can be intimidating.
This semi-final will be about doubles. Whoever hits them to the better percentage will win the game but we’re guessing as to who that might be so rather than guess I’d rather hit the side markets.
Klaasen has been ploughing in the 180s in the last two matches. He has hit 15 against Taylor and 13 against Norris so I’m surprised given how strongly he is scoring that we can get an 11.5 line on him in this match.
I don’t think Klaasen will freeze on the occasion. If anything he has nothing to lose so can attack the dartboard even more than he has already and when he has found his range in recent matches he has been relentless with his 180s. He has hit them at the most pressurised situations too which is a confidence boost and I’m expecting at least a dozen from the Dutchman here.
Back A.Lewis Highest Checkout vs R.Barneveld for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Back J.Klaasen Over 11.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Coral
