IT IS not often we reflect back on our winning tips but Wednesday night was special indeed! For those that backed we pocketed two winners to increase our overall return on investment which will be updated for the finals weekend!
With MVG and Taylor both being knocked out on back-back nights the current draw and odds look thus
- Gary Anderson 2/1 William Hill
- Adrian Lewis – 4/1 William Hill
- Peter Wright – 6/1 William Hill
- Jelle Klassen – 9/1 William Hill
- Raymond van Barneveld – 9/1 Betfred
- James Wade – 10/1 William Hill
- Michael Smith – 11/1 William Hill
- Alan Norris – 40/1 Betfred
The Draw
Top half
- Barneveld Vs Smith – Barneveld leads 5-3
- Lewis Vs Wright -Lewis leads 12-7
Bottom half
- Anderson Vs Wade – Anderson leads 24-11
- Norris Vs Klassen – Klassen leads 2-0
Match pricing
- Barneveld Vs Smith 17/20 – 11/10
- Lewis Vs Wright 4/5 – 6/5
- Anderson Vs Wade 4/9 – 21/10
- Norris Vs Klaasen 5/2 – 2/5
Looking firstly at the afternoon session, best of 9 sets in this format we can see on the 180 special total market the line is set at 34 with Coral. 8/11 for 35 or more and evens for 34 or fewer. Looking at the way the players hit maximums in the last round I would be more dependent on the opener producing the goods. However I will take a point with Bet365 for 73 or fewer on the day on the basis that the pressure the players are under and the pace in the Anderson match may disgruntle the defending champion.
Norris and Klassen could well be the value for the match with most 180s at 100/30 with Coral. I'd have expected this to be nearer 3/1 although this is just for information. It's also worth mentioning Barney is 6/1 to net the highest checkout with Bet365 on the day!
I would be tempted by the highest checkout on the day if it were 160.5 but is 159.50 and not evens but worth a mention for likeminded punters with Coral.
Alan Norris in his debut year is 5/2 to knock out Klassen at a short 2/5. Jelle switched off the power at the tiebreak in the third round. Norris deservingly beat Mark Webster and has made a great impact. One bet that stands out for part of a double is NO 180 in the opening leg. I am under the impression both will be in a pressurised department which can affect the throw and bet365 are giving both players more credit than is due. With a couple of loose darts I cannot back YES at 11/8 but 4/5 on an outcome not happening is worth a play.
I feel this game could go the distance although Klassen has been class and Norris has missed key doubles.
Gary Anderson is now the new favourite and must beat James Wade in order to meet the winner of Norris and Klassen. The Scot has been in fine form whereas the Machine has been competent in his three victories thus far. Wade has beaten Anderson before with a memorable occasion at the World Grand Prix. As this is set format Wade will need to take the big checkouts as Anderson will out score the Hampshire maestro!
My opinion on this is that Anderson to retain should continue his dominant performance and will be happy enough with the game ending in fewer than 31 legs
Barney and Smith should be an epic although I wouldn't be surprised if the veteran Dutch Legend slows the pace down to interrupt the Smith rhythm and find this difficult to call as Smith embarks on a Premier League spot.
There is a shade of taking Smith to win the 180 count by 2 or more and coupling that with Anderson to win the 180 tally by 3 or more is a 7/5 return with Betfair.
Adrian Lewis versus Peter Wright could be an epic in the final game of the evening and I was surprised with the most 180 market with Wright out at 2/1. I was saying to fellow football guru Scott @Z_tips on Twitter the compilers would price Wright at evens best for Wright to hit ten or more versus Lewis and guess what? Just Paddy Power and Winner offer 1/1 on 10 or more Wright 180s.
Lewis hit just 5 in his win over Suljovic which cost a bet earlier this week and 10 or more from Wright is worth a small play!
Recommendations
- Under 73.50 180s on Friday – 1/1 Bet365 1pt
- 1st leg 180 NO Norris/Anderson games – 21/10 Bet365 1.5pt
- Anderson/Wade – U 30.5 legs – 5/6 Skybet
- Anderson -2.5 180s and Smith -1.5 180s – 7/5 Betfair Sportsbook 2pts
- Wright – 10 or more 180s 1/1 Paddy Power – 0.5 pts
In December 2020 we sadly 
Klassen son you don’t half like putting yourself up against it! ?
Stunning arrows!!!
100/1 Ew before he threw a dart and backed again at 33/1.
£s on him to beat Taylor 10/3 and again in-play when it was 2 sets all. ? ?
6/4 today in-play tae so wether he gets beat off Oor Gary next or not he’s been bullseye and won me few £s! ?
Anderson be only guy I wouldn’t mind him getting beat off. Pity couldn’t be a final.
11/4 to beat Anderson?? Think ill just sit back and enjoy or at best a few £s on plenty 180s .
Oh and eh…Happy New year folk!! ??
World Championship darts evening session:
Singles:
Van Barneveld vs Smith, over 7.5 sets 5/6 **NB**
Wright vs Lewis, Wright win 11/10 **NAP**
Van Barneveld vs Smith could potentially play out like Barney’s previous match against MVG. Smith is a heavy 180 scorer but when he doesn’t hit them in such high amounts they tend to end up as 140’s. Barney is predominantly more of a 140 scorer but this is all dependant on how sucessful his first dart is. Its worth saying that Barney hit seven 180’s but thirty 140’s against MVG in those seven sets of the 4-3 classic and those type of numbers are always going to hurt an opponent. Smith hit twelve maximums against Van de Pas in a ruthless 4-0 victory but against Beaton in round two only managed five with nineteen 140’s. Barney did well to absorb fifteen 180’s from Bunting in round two and managed to just make it over the line in the seventh set. I think 140’s and 134 cover shots are going to be very important in the outcome of this match. Barney has shown he can stay with opponents even when getting smashed with massively big scores whilst Smith has posted 100 averages in his last two matches so all things considered its likely neither player will open up a very large lead and at least eight legs should be played.
Peter Wright is starting to display all the ingredients needed to be world champion. The most noticable thing is that he is now consistantly posting averages over 100. In round one he only dropped two legs to Brown in a 3-0 win. Against Ronnie Huybrechts he hit nine 180’s finishing on a 100 average and in the belter of a match against Chisnall hit fourteen 180’s posting a very impressive 105 average (2nd highest of the tournament) To add to this he also posseses the priceless ability of being able to checkout under extreme pressure. Lewis has won his last two encounters both 4-0 against Gilding and Suljovic hitiing eight and four 180’s respectively. Its fair to say he probably has had to more easier path to the quater finals of the two and he has’nt yet had serious questions thrown at his game which he has overcome. He is known for going off the boil in matches from time to time and this was the case against Suljovic where his range on the treble twenty was not as good so he subsequently finished the match on a 98 average. I think if Wright maintains the consistancy he has shown throughout the tournament up to now on the big scores, cover shots and doubling, he wins this.
Prices with Bet365
Good luck all
gone for a double
rvb
wright
win double odds 4/1 @betfair worth a punt surely
World Championship darts evening session:
Singles:
Van Barneveld vs Smith, over 7.5 sets 5/6 **NB** WON
Wright vs Lewis, Wright win 11/10 **NAP** LOST