After a superb Saturday of darts in Minehead which was laced with outstanding quality and a couple of excellent stories the business end of the UK Open takes place on Sunday.
The afternoon session sees the four quarter finals being played out before the winners come back in the evening for the semi-final and final of the first big event since the World Championship.
As always there have been plenty of shocks and surprises in this event with Saturday seeing the world champion Gary Anderson accounted for along with former world champions in Adrian Lewis and Raymond Barneveld. As a result we’re left with a diverse last eight line up.
Jelle Klaasen vs Kyle Anderson
The first match is potentially the closest game of the four as Jelle Klaasen takes on the Australian star Kyle Anderson. Both men have played really well in this tournament so far. Klaasen came past Adrian Lewis in the last 16 on Saturday night while Anderson has blitzed Andy Hamilton, James Wilson and Benito van de Pas for the loss of just six legs so far.
Given that both men look in great form I’m expecting a really close, high quality encounter here. You’d have to side with Klaasen as the favourite with his experience on the big stage and this stage of majors but Anderson holds a 2-1 head to head lead over his Dutch rival so he’s not going to disappear without a scrap.
With all of that in mind I quite like the look of this opening match of the day to have over 16.5 legs. With both playing well I’m not expecting too many breaks of throw in this one and we’d need two unanswered breaks for the bet to lose. I think we’ll go 10-7 either way or closer here.
Peter Wright vs Joe Cullen
The second quarter final is an interesting one for those who follow the tour and know the undoubted talent that Joe Cullen possesses. He has finally realised some of that this week with wins over Alan Norris and Stephen Bunting on Saturday.
Peter Wright has had it quite tough in this tournament without being fully tested yet but he might be tested here if Cullen has his best game with him. That said Wright is experienced at this stage of a tournament whereas Cullen is in his first ever major quarter final.
I’ve a feeling Cullen will keep this one close but Sunday is a totally different day with every match back on that big stage so I’ll sit this one out, tentatively swerving over 15.5 legs here.
Michael van Gerwen vs Barry Lynn
The two big stories of the weekend so far meet in the third quarter final when the nine dart king Michael van Gerwen takes on the pub qualifier turned giant slayer Barry Lynn. If you hadn’t heard of Lynn prior to this weekend then don’t worry you won’t be alone but you have now.
For a man who arrived in Minehead with a Super League average of less than 80 what Lynn has achieved is quite remarkable. Not only did he win two matches just to make it in with the big boys but he has taken care of Brendan Dolan, Gary Anderson and Stuart Kellett since he’s been among them.
Clearly his run is going to come to an end here but what a fairy tale it has been. Ultimately the only question that needs to be asked is how many legs can he take from a van Gerwen who in three matches so far this weekend has nailed a nine dart finish and banged in four 170 checkouts.
The MVG train isn’t for stopping anytime soon and it certainly isn’t getting stopped here but I wouldn’t like to guess how well or badly Lynn will play which I’d need to do to bet on a handicap so this is a no bet game and just another opportunity to sit and marvel at the sheer brilliance of the Dutch superstar.
Phil Taylor vs Mark Webster
Phil Taylor has almost gone through this draw unnoticed given what MVG is doing but he has made it into the quarter final where he faces former world champion Mark Webster over the best of 19 legs.
Webster is back in A1 form and that is fantastic to see but I sense he might come up short in this one. How short probably depends on Taylor’s doubling but after a couple of indifferent performances which sandwiched a good one in his demolition of Barneveld his inconsistency isn’t helping when it comes to backing a handicap.
If I’m honest I think Taylor will cover a 4.5 leg handicap but I respect Webster’s consistency enough to avoid getting involved so I’ll take just the one bet here.
Back J.Klaasen vs K.Anderson – Over 16.5 legs for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Skybet
Back it here:
