THE second half of the last 16 culminates where we will discover the quarter final line up to play on Friday.
Order of play
- Alan Norris vs Dave Chisnall – Chisnall leads 2-0
- Phil Taylor Vs Raymond van Barneveld – Taylor leads 58-17
- Adrian Lewis Vs Rob Cross – no previous meetings
- Simon Whitlock Vs Michael van Gerwen – Gerwen leads 24-5
- Alan Norris vs Dave Chisnall
Alan Norris Vs Dave Chisnall
The ever improving Norris proved it once again with his victory over Kim Huybrechts in Sunday's opening round. Dave Chisnall has had a couple of defeats in recent times, but only against the very best in the world. Chisnall otherwise is capable on his day seeing opponents courtesy of his 180 hitting ability.
Chisnall with the stage game especially in recent times is able to pull a couple of quick legs together and is never a person to be left on a three dart combination.
Although Norris did not register on the maximum count in round one is very much a reactive player rather than a proactive player so the 180 count may again stack up with rhythm.
With the match prices seeing Chisnall red hot on 1/3 versus Norris at 11/4sees the jet setting World Series player with an implied 75% chance of winning compared to Norris's 26.67% chance.
Chisnall at 8/15 for most 180s will be popular as well as over 6.5 maximums at 5/6 with Bet365 may see interest from backers.
Adrian Lewis Vs Rob Cross
Rob Cross played a very steady game taking out Ian White with a respectable 95.72 and three maximums in the process reigning victorious 10-7 and plays Adrian Lewis who saw off Steve Beaton by the same score line with a 95.07 average netting just the one maximum.
With no previous meetings Lewis at 4/6 and Cross at 11/8 has seen some manual intervention by the odds compilers. Both struggled on the maximums despite 17 140's from Lewis and 13 from Cross the third dart conversion rate especially from Lewis showed he was a little rusty since the recent operation.
Compilers have priced up evens on both Under and over 10.5 maximums with fewer than 11 a real possible play in this game. Lewis and Cross would have benefitted from a days rest on Tuesday. Lewis did look vulnerable at times and Cross's action was smooth which resulted in his number of 140's.
Phil Taylor Vs Raymond van Barneveld
In what could be the last El-Clasico of darts meeting history before Taylor call it a day at the end of 2017 on tour could provide an emotional affair. My personal view with Taylor if he was to bow out at this stage losing to Barney would not be such a major issue for the Power seeing as he owned Barney over countless games on their head to head.
The head to head sees Taylor's 58-17 with four draws is not such a bad record at all. In fact Taylor's career on recorded wins sees he has never lost to any player more than wins over.
Taylor lost out to Barney in the quarter finals of the World Championships in a sterling eight-setter and returned to the Premier League earlier this year to win both ties under a shorter format.
Taylor is top price 8/11 versus Barney at 5/4 and we noticed Taylor was a bag of nerves at times versus Price and put this down to the emotion getting to him. Taylor took a long time to get the treble 20 filled up and with a lot of loose darts Barneveld at 5/6 with Bet365 surely cannot be discounted from the game.
Heading back to the maximums and seeing Taylor at 5/6 for under 4.5 may see punters flying in based on the last performance but do not let this distort your view. Although the legs of this game could be closer is not worth holding out?
I do think we will see a better performance than the 94.04 average from Taylor and am sure that Barney would have benefitted from Monday off from his own 92.42 average.
Michael van Gerwen Vs Simon Whitlock
Mighty Mike was a little blunt after his 10-4 win over Stephen Bunting about his performance and more so speaking about whether or not his next opponent(s) would be a threat and MVG didn't appear worried whatsoever.
MVG is just 1/16 to see off Aussie Whitlock out at 10/1 for the big upset. The world number one is 8/11 to win -5.5 legs so 11-5 or better and 8/7 with Marathonbet to win not less than 11-4.
One bet we do like is MVG to win the 180 count by 2 or more and Skybet offer evens on this. Whitlock has been known as a big hitter but will his elbow be causing him too many problems? MVG can switch his game on and has demonstrated his motivation time and time again!
Recommendations
- Taylor Under 4.5 180s – 1/1 Bet365/William Hill 1pt
- Lewis/Cross – Under 10.5 180s – 1/1 Skybet – 1pt
- MVG -1.5 180s Vs Whitlock – 1/1 Skybet – 1.5 pts
- Chisnall and MVG – Most 180 double – 7/5 Betway 1pt
