The World Matchplay has reached the quarter final stage with the four matches played across the next two nights with two games on each day. The format extends to the best of 31 legs so all eight players will need to sustain their top form throughout if they are to progress.
The shocks continued in the second round of the tournament as the Triple Crown chasing Gary Anderson departed to Mensur Suljovic and there was also a shock defeat for Adrian Lewis to the talented Gerwyn Price. That means we have some of best in these quarter finals and some rising stars too.
Wright vs Price
The quarter finals begin with the colourful Peter Wright in action against the giant killer Gerwyn Price. These two met at the World Championship back in December and Wright won comfortably on that occasion but the way Price has played this week suggests this might be a much closer affair.
In fairness to Wright he’s probably been the player of the tournament so far. He was clinical against Kim Huybrechts in the first round and became a 180 machine in the second round against Andrew Gilding. If he scores that heavily here then Price will have a game on his hands. Wright wasn’t as clinical on the finishing against Gilding but he doesn’t usually have issues in that area.
Gerwyn Price gave his best ever performance against Adrian Lewis in the second round. He produced an average bordering on 100, scored well when he needed to and finished under pressure as well so he will fancy his chances in this match. I think he’ll go well in this match but the handicap line looks about right so I will tentatively sit this one out.
Van Gerwen vs White
Michael van Gerwen was superb in his last match against Jamie Lewis. Lewis plugged away gamefully but van Gerwen was so good he wasn’t able to make an impression on the Dutchman. The former world champion averaged 110 in the 15 legs they played and won 12 of the last 13 legs. Ian White will be hoping that he doesn’t have that form with him here.
The positive for Ian White is there are times in this tournament that he has averaged in excess of 110 so he knows he has the ability to go toe to toe with the Dutchman. White has a couple of wins over van Gerwen so knows he can beat him but he will need to play well to go through in this one.
I actually like a bet in this match but it isn’t on the actual result. One thing which has been apparent in this tournament is how well White is scoring. He hit 8 180s in 16 legs against Bunting in the first round and seven more against Whitlock in the second round despite not really getting going until the mid point of that match. He’ll need to score well here and even if he eventually gets beaten I think he’ll have hit eight more 180s before he does.
Back I.White Over 8.5 180s for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Paddy Power
