The Premier League Darts season got underway in fine order in Cardiff last week and the eight players head to Liverpool for the second night of action on Thursday with more points for the league table up for grabs.
Peter Wright took the honours in the Welsh capital to kick the season into life and he’s the man with the throw throughout the evening in Liverpool. That makes him the man to beat but the draw looks good once again. As with last week we’ll preview the quarter finals but time restrictions will deny is the chance to cover the latter stages of the night.
Peter Wright vs Michael van Gerwen
The opening match of the night sees the current table topper Peter Wright going up against a player who has often been his nemesis in this tournament in the past in Michael van Gerwen, a player who needs a result after losing in the quarter final last week.
Wright looked in pretty decent touch last week and now that he has the honour in all the matches he plays in Liverpool he could really kick on and put himself in a great early position over the course of the night. Van Gerwen is already under pressure but if he can win this match he’ll have the throw for the rest of the evening so this should be an evening that he really targets. I just can’t be having the Dutch star at the minute though but Wright looks sufficiently priced so I’ll leave this one alone.
Jonny Clayton vs Michael Smith
The second match of the evening sees a repeat of that classic match from the World Championship taking place when Jonny Clayton takes on Michael Smith in what should be a cracking contest if it is even half as good as that Ally Pally showdown.
Clayton was the runner up last week so he has got his title defence off to a good start and even a quarter final win here will have him in decent shape moving forward in the competition. If he pins his doubles he is going to have every chance here because Smith has gone AWOL on the outer ring since the world final, and he wasn’t exactly watertight on his doubles in that match. Smith will probably outscore, or at least match Clayton on the scoring, but if he doesn’t hit his doubles it won’t matter. I think that will be the thing which sways this in the favour of the Welshman but the odds reflect that.
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James Wade vs Joe Cullen
The penultimate quarter final this week sees the supposed two rags in the field in action when James Wade takes on the tournament debutant Joe Cullen in what is actually a key match for both men even this early in the campaign.
Wade had a good win over Gerwyn Price in the quarter final last week so took something away from his efforts in Cardiff whereas Cullen was well beaten by Jonny Clayton on debut and he’ll be looking to get up and running for the season with a win here. If Cullen does win this match he’ll have the throw in the semi-final so he has the chance to make a move. Unfortunately for him he doesn’t have the throw in this match and I think that could be significant. Wade doesn’t always get in the Premier League but when he does he seems to perform well and there were signs that is going to be the case last week. Cullen was just 2/19 on the doubles last week and it goes without saying that he’s next to no chance if that doesn’t significantly improve here. Even if it does Wade holds throw so well and his more clinical approach can get the job done here with the throw.
Gerwyn Price vs Gary Anderson
Two men who I think it is fair to say don’t like each other meet in what might be a fiery finale to the evening if history is anything to go by when Gerwyn Price takes on Gary Anderson in the latest instalment of their head to head battle.
Price was absolutely terrible in losing to James Wade last week but had a good run on the pro tour at the weekend to find some form. Anderson saw off Michael van Gerwen in the quarter final last week but had no answer for Peter Wright in the semi-final but he’ll be eager to knock off the world number one here. Anderson made the quarter final of the opening Players Championship event last Saturday so he kept his eye in on the pro tour which he doesn’t always do. Unless Price brings his best game out, which we haven’t seen on TV for a while, I fancy Anderson here but I try not to bet on matches where emotion gets in the way so I’ll leave this one alone.
Tips
Back J.Wade to beat J.Cullen for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Betfair
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