Darts: LockupTipsters Premier League Tips – Week 15

TWO from three bets last week leave us with a nice profit as we enter the final round of competition as the season closes for the first time outside the British Isles in Rotterdam!

Last week saw all four games be won in one-sided contests with no losing opponent registering more than two legs on the board.

We know that Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and defending champion Gary Anderson are confirmed for the play off in London a week Thursday. Adrian Lewis will be able to join the top three players with a win over Gary Anderson! If Peter Wright wins his match against Barney, Lewis will need a draw to secure fourth place in the event Wright does not win convincingly. Will jackpot be able to handle to pressure? We know Lewis had to pull out of the Gibraltar European Tour due to family illness, so his preparations are less known.

Wright certainly made a concerted effort to qualify winning 7-1 to end Wade’s chances in this year’s competition. Wright will be playing last and hoping World Cup partner Gary Anderson will do him a favour and take the points against Lewis before toeing the oche.

Anderson’s opponent at the o2 will depend on the winner of the Taylor/Gerwen game, with a draw enough for MVG to top the table. For those that took our ante-post bet on MVG to hit the most 180s in the Premier League is in a great position with MVG eight ahead of Peter Wright.

Order of play

Robert Thornton Vs James Wade

James leads 13-7

PL form – James leads 3-0

A dead rubber as the saying goes, but James sent out an apology to his fans after last week’s failure quoting that Wright was the better man and James identified that checkout misses early out set in stone the rest of the game.

Bookies seems to think Wade should win this but at 5/8 odds and no better than 4/7 generally is unkind to his opponent Robert Thornton, who is 100/30 with BetVictor and 4/1 general for the draw.

Since the turn of 2015, the pair has met just three times, with two European tour events and the Premier League. The last two games have gone to the machine. Both players re-established some form in Gibraltar last weekend.

Thornton is a great price, as Wade is way too short on this one, but with nothing at stake, you would not be in a position to consider Wade at such a short price.

Adrian Lewis Vs Gary Anderson

Gary leads 23-18 (3 draws)

PL record – Gary leads 6-2 with 3 draws)

Anderson’s record is excellent in the Premier League having not lost in over two years and four meetings in this competition.

Anderson won the reverse fixture 7-4 and had a fair experience in Gibraltar at the weekend making the quarter finals. Lewis withdrew from the competition at short notice after a family illness, so the level of practice is relatively unknown at this time.

However Lewis will need a result to make it into the o2 with a draw probably enough, although not certain, so only a win will guarantee to face the winner of Taylor and MVG in the semi-final.

Anderson’s record since 2015 is excellent with eleven wins to five. Three of the defeats to Lewis was at pro tour events, with the other two at the world series events. The pair did meet in the World Championship final with other TV major wins at the European Championship and World Cup of Darts to name a couple.

Anderson is 4/5 with a few firms, with Lewis 5/2 and the 4/1 draw. With Anderson not needing to win puts his price with some danger, although World Cup pair Peter Wright will need his buddy Anderson to win to give him a chance to square off at the o2. The pair will not meet any earlier than the final, so Wright would dearly love the favour.

I go back to Lewis’s preparation for this and although Anderson does not need to win, putting in a good game is ever important, so can justify why people would take interest at 4/5. Lewis has been inconsistent at the best of times and he is more suited to the longer format. Saying this, Anderson is the defending champion and get a sneaky feeling he will do his bit for partner Snakebite Wright!

I do think Skybet’s boost of 15/8 for Anderson to win and most 180’s will appeal, although the same firm offer even money on Anderson reigning supreme in this market.

Phil Taylor Vs Michael van Gerwen

Phil leads 27-20 with 2 draws

PL Record – MVG leads 5-1 with 2 draws

MVG on record may not have the best record versus Taylor but has clawed back the head to head having lost just once in the last eleven with a draw thrown in. The tie occurred in their last meeting and the record spans back to 2015.

The winner of the match will top the group and a £25K winner’s bonus. MVG needs to avoid a loss to pocket his second £25K in five nights after powering home 6-2 to win the European Tour in Gibraltar at the expense of Dave Chisnall.

In his home country, MVG has great ambition. Not that Taylor does not, but both players will see this as a twelve leg game for £25K for the winner. As long as MVG does not lose, he will collect. MVG is 4/6 with most layers with Taylor 31/10 and 21/5 for the tie. With the short format, MVG should look at motoring away at the Taylor throw for an instant break. It would not be such a surprise to see an opening leg maximum, which is an even money shot. Unibet and 888sport goes 27/20 for MVG to break the throw on the opening leg, which could be the value here. Taylor does not always get off to the best of starts.

In their last game Van Gerwen capitalised on four missed doubles from Taylor to win the opening leg, before taking four in a row as he opened up a 5-1 lead over the Stoke legend. Taylor was able to make a comeback as he cut the gap to 5-4, only for van Gerwen to produce a show-stopping 170 checkout as he secured a minimum of a point. Taylor, though, refused to buckle and punished van Gerwen for missing three match darts by completing a 14-darter to force a deciding leg, which he won with a brilliant 12-darter to snatch a draw.

Again if you feel MVG will win the game and can snatch the most maximums, Skybet lay 5/4 on MVG, which again will be popular. The double with Anderson win and most maximums is 5.47/1 with Skybet and a shade below 9/2, which could be worth a small bet!

Peter Wright Vs Raymond van Barneveld

Barney leads 7-4 (2 draws)

PL record – Players tied on a win and draw apiece

Wright despite the head to head has not lost to Barney since October 2014, where since there has been four meetings, with Snakebite unbeaten in those encounters. The only notable meeting was week two of this year’s competition, where snakebite edged Barney in a final leg decider and is even money to repeat this feat. The potential issue here is Wright’s view on the game coming into this not knowing whether he is still in or not!

Barney is 11/5 generally with 4/1 in places for the draw.

Wright will need the win to progress to the o2, and will thrive on the crowd boos against home favourite Barney!

The journey could all be over by this stage if Lewis beats Anderson, so we will club these together for a fun bet this week with a potential great return.

Recommendations:

• Magic Mark (3 selections – perm doubles only)
• Anderson win & most 180s Vs Lewis – 15/8 Skybet
• MVG win & most 180s Vs Taylor – 5/4 Skybet
• Wright to beat Barneveld – 1/1 Skybet
• Perm in three doubles only – 11.59/1 Skybet 1.5 pts (£5 per line – £15 stake)

Other bets

• MVG to win leg 1 Vs Taylor – 2.35 888sport and Unibet 1.5 pts

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