WE'RE down to the last eight players as the Premier League circus hits Sheffield tonight.
Wes Newton and Gary Anderson have been eliminated and now it's all about the fight to make the play-offs with Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld and Robert Thornton occupying the spots at the moment.
Here are Rodney Trotter's thoughts on what should be another action-packed night of darts.
Robert Thornton v Simon Whitlock
If you went with the form book you would have to back Thornton all day long and the way he deposed of Phil Taylor last week was exceptional. I haven't seen a player get in front of Phil and not give him a chance to get back in very often but Robert did that in the UK Open and again in Brighton.
Whitlock, meanwhile, is on a bit of a downer but like the rest of the players in this event, he can beat anybody on his day. However, I have go for Thornton to win.
Verdict: Thornton (11-10, BetVictor, Paddy Power)
Adrian Lewis v James Wade
Aidy has beaten Wade a few times at the World Championship but that will have no bearing on this game. A lot of pundits go on about how many times players have faced each other and how many times one has defeated the other – but it's not like Wade has lost four times to Lewis in the last two weeks.
Wade has been very solid over the last few rounds and looks like the player who won majors a few years ago and the way he beat Michael van Gerwen in Glasgow was superb. I think he will beat Aidy too.
Verdict: Wade (11-10, BetVictor)
Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor
A lot of people are talking more about Van Gerwen than Taylor at the moment and Phil, who has slipped out of the top four after losing to Thornton, will want to put the record straight, just as he did against Van Barneveld in Glasgow, and show he is still the governor.
Van Gerwen misses doubles at times and if Phil gets ahead he will win this but if he is a little bit edgy Van Gerwen could come through quite comfortably. I reckon it will be a draw but will pick Phil as the most likely winner.
Verdict: Draw (15-4, bet365)
Andy Hamilton v Raymond van Barneveld
Hamilton is as solid as it gets and the double 16 has been getting him through so many games but he will be facing a relaxed Barney who knows not to get frustrated now if things don't work out in the first two or three legs. I have to go for the Dutchman to win but he knows that even if he is slightly off his game then Hamilton will get a result.
Verdict: Van Barneveld (4-6, BetVictor, Paddy Power)
James Wade v Michael van Gerwen
Wade and Van Gerwen will pull double duty in Sheffield but I don't think they will be negatively affected by playing twice in an evening as in the Euro Masters events guys can play three games in a day. I expect this to be the game of the night as you will see two guys at the top of their form who don't care what their opponents throw and just play the dartboard. I don't very often sit on the fence when it comes to results but I think it is too close to call. If you are betting on this you're are a very brave man or woman.
Verdict: No Bet
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS
——————–
Adrian Lewis v James Wade
LEWIS WIN
Andy Hamilton v Raymond van Barneveld
BARNEY WIN
James Wade v Michael van Gerwen
MVG WIN
***************************
Milesey
Michael van Gerwen won both his matches in Sheffield to top the Premier League table heading to Dublin next week.
The Dutchman beat Phil Taylor 7-3 before closing out the night at the Motorpoint Arena with a 7-5 victory over James Wade, the other player doubling up on the night.
Van Gerwen crushed Taylor thanks to his heavier scoring, condemning the world champion to an unprecedented fourth defeat in a Premier League campaign.
The Dutchman set up an early double-14 checkout with his first maximum and then doubled his lead after Taylor missed three darts to take the leg.
In the next it was van Gerwen to miss four shots at a double to allow his opponent to pull one back, but a 180 and a 170 handed van Gerwen the fourth.
Taylor – who had just one maximum in the match – missed bull for a 161 out shot and van Gerwen capitalised, before Taylor pulled one back at 4-2 with double 16.
The next two legs were shared but van Gerwen took the next couple to clinch the win, taking out 80 before punishing Taylor for missing tops and double 10, pinning double eight for a big triumph.
In charge
Wade was always on top against two-time world champion Lewis, an average of 104 being way too good on the night.
He raced into a 3-0 lead with two legs against the throw, Lewis narrowly failing to check out 152 to remain in touch.
Lewis did pull one back with an 81 finish on double 13 but Wade kicked off the next with another 180 before nailing tops.
The lead became 5-1 thanks to a fourth maximum and although Lewis narrowed the deficit again by taking out 85, Wade hit tops for a fifth time to move within one of victory before closing it out with an 87 finish.
The finale was an anti-climax after the pair’s earlier fireworks, van Gerwen moving out to a 6-2 lead before letting his foot off the gas.
Wade pulled it back to 6-5 and the final leg would have left both players on 13 points in the table, but van Gerwen was always in charge and finally closed it out.
Milesey
Raymond van Barneveld remained on course for a Premier League semi-final spot with a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Andy Hamilton in Sheffield.
The Dutchman stormed into a 3-0 lead, first taking out 120 before taking advantage of his opponent missing shots at double six and 12.
A maximum set him on the way to a third successive leg but then missed three darts at double 16 to allow Hamilton the chance to pin the same bed.
Hamilton nailed his first maximum but again messed up on the doubles and ‘Barney’ stepped in with double five to make it 4-1.
But the ‘Hammer’ fought back, taking the next four legs to lead for the first time, finishing on 124 before crucially nailing double 16, double 10 and the bull in successive legs.
However, that was as good as it got as van Barneveld rallied with double eight to draw level again, hitting the same bed to lead after Hamilton missed two out shots and then closing out the match with a 14-darter.
Maximums
The Dutchman moves level with James Wade on 14 points, three clear of Robert Thornton who went down 7-4 to Simon Whitlock in the opening game of the night.
The Australian kept alive his hopes of a Premier League play-off place but found himself 4-2 down against the Scot, but Thornton’s low double percentage allowed Whitlock back in the match.
Thornton broke twice thanks to an 11-darter that saw him hit successive maximums and three consecutive finishes on double top.
He had several chances to take a 5-2 lead but the Aussie stole the leg, and the momentum. He levelled the match and when Thornton missed a shot at tops he checked out 64 to lead for the first time since the third leg.
Thornton failed to hit double four with three darts, allowing Whitlock to take the 10th leg, before he rounded off victory with a brace of 180s, closing on double eight for a 13-darter.
“It’s not much fun sitting on the bottom of the table so I’m happy to have won,” said Whitlock. “I’m happy to still be in the league, but if I didn’t believe I couldn’t make the play-offs I wouldn’t be playing.”
Milesey
Last week i managed to get a full house on my previews of all 5 games, this week my attention will be elsewhere as Im watching Spurs, hopefully we can make the semi’s.
Ive not had time to go through the matches throughly hopefully I will later on this afternoon, I just wanted to post this tip as i think its a cracking price considering the form of the two players and the score it finished last time they met.
BET THORNTON TO BEAT WHITLOCK 11/10
Good luck if your having a bet
Thornton to win
Then will do singles as night goes on.
Good luck all
Wade 2 bear MVG 9/4 seems a great price
barney in big trouble the hammer is great on form
barney does it again :) :)