The Premier League Darts event has reached Week 14 which takes the players up to Aberdeen for another important night of action, after which there will be just two more sessions for players to use to book their spot at the finals at the o2 Arena.
We are already down to just three quarter finals with Gerwyn Price having pulled out of the night due to a back injury. That has eliminated him from the qualifying for the finals so it is a big night for the two chasers.
Peter Wright vs Michael Smith
One of those chasers is Michael Smith. He begins the night four points off the top four so really could do with going all the way. He takes on the player who has been eliminated from finals contention for a while in Peter Wright, although Snakebite is on home soil this week.
The crowd might inspire Wright to perform here but you would have to think that this one is all about Smith given that he is the one who can still reach the o2. Smith has won both of their meetings in 2024 which will give him some confidence going in here but he is likely to have a passionate crowd against him. I keep thinking that Wright isn’t playing as badly as his results suggest but he just can’t seem to find any wins. He has won one of the last 11 matches he has played in all competitions. I expect Smith to win this but with the crowd factor and the fact that Wright is playing with no pressure I’m happy to let him win at the prices.
Luke Littler vs Nathan Aspinall
The pick of the remaining quarter finals is the middle one as Luke Littler looks to extend his nine match winning streak when he takes on Nathan Aspinall in what is a battle between the leader and the third placed player in the overall table.
It looks like both of these men will make it through to the o2, although Aspinall still needs another result or two in order to secure his progress. These two have met on five occasions in the Premier League already and Littler has won four of them, although their last three matches have been close. Littler comes here having won the night in Liverpool last week before going and winning the European Tour event over the weekend so he is clearly in decent nick at the minute. Aspinall isn’t playing badly either though and he is quite capable of causing an upset but it is hard to go against Littler at the minute. I’ll give this one a watching brief rather than a betting one.
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Michael van Gerwen vs Rob Cross
The last of the quarter finals on Thursday night sees Michael van Gerwen looking to fend off the chasers when he goes up against the man who still has ambitions of being at the o2 later in the month in the form of Rob Cross.
Cross arrives in Aberdeen having made the final in Liverpool last week where he beat van Gerwen along the way and that was the second time in succession he has beaten MVG in the Premier League. He will be looking for a third straight win here and might well have every chance of getting it considering that van Gerwen has come off the rails in terms of his form in recent times. He is getting nowhere near the 100 averages that we associate with him and if he doesn’t find that level here then he could come up short. Cross reached the semi-final of the European Tour event the weekend before reaching the final in Liverpool so he is beginning to find his stride and looks the value to come out on top here.
Night 14 Betting
The odds for the night have taken a bit of a nosedive with the withdrawal of Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries has really shortened up which is understandable given that he is already through to the semi-finals where he would meet either Rob Cross or Michael van Gerwen. It might not be automatic that because he’ll be fresh for that semi-final that he’ll win it. The winner of the other quarter final would know the throw and the crowd and everything. I’ll take a chance that Humphries loses that and pick someone at the other end of the draw.
If Michael Smith can overcome Peter Wright and the crowd and everything he might be the value at 9/1. I say that because the likelihood is he would face Luke Littler in the semi-final, an opponent he has beaten in four of their five meetings in the Premier League. Littler is in fine form but winning streaks don’t last forever and if Smith can get on a roll he is capable of beating anyone. If he doesn’t happen to face Littler then happy days but he won’t fear the youngster and at 9/1 is the pick of the bets from the top of the draw.
Tips
Back R.Cross to beat M.van Gerwen for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with Boylesports
Back him here:
Back M.Smith to win Night 14 for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 with William Hill
Back him here:
