WE enter the second phase of the Premier League where outright favourites Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen were the first to fall.
The remaining eight players will square off again with all players performing double duty over the remaining few weeks. This week it is Barney and Wade's turn to play twice.
MVG is just 1/4 to win the regular season with Wright next in at 9/2. MVG is 8/15 to win outright with the Scot at 11/2. His counterpart Anderson is 6/1 with Barney and Taylor both 16's. Lewis is 50's with the machine 80's and if you fancy Chisnall to win the event he is chalked up at 250/1.
Looking at this weeks action:
- Wade Vs MVG – MVG leads 25-14
- Barney Vs Taylor – Taylor leads 57-17 (4 draws)
- Chisnall Vs Wright – Chisnall leads 11-9 (1 draw)
- Lewis Vs Anderson – Anderson leads 27-19 (3 draws)
- Wade Vs Barney – Barney leads 24-21 (4 draws)
Wade is a HUGE 53/1 to win the battle over MVG and Barney with Wade 12/1 to beat Gerwen and the draw 9/1. However the end of the road will look more likely if Wade loses both tonight. With four losses in the last five and a mid 80s average to Barney last week Wade needs to turn it around. Perhaps he can recreate his excellence in their last meeting just two weeks ago losing 7-4 but with MVG winning the last six meetings there is little doubt the compilers are giving anything away with MVG at 1/5.
The old guard face off one more time in what could conceivably be the last assuming they don't clash in TV events again this year. Barney' run of successive victories has put him right in the mix and endeavour this to be another great match. Taylor has not been firing in the maximums in general but has upped this recently. His MO is to look at capitalising on the lipstick as the legendary late Sid Waddell would say and the winner of this will be in a much stronger position. Barney for first maximum is short at 4/7, with Taylor at 5/4 could well be the bet here.
Chisnall and Wright is favourite with Anderson and Lewis for match with most 180s at 15/8 and you can understand why. However Wright has dipped very slightly from his UK Open winning run, but is well geared to make finals night. Chisnall needs to get cracking if he is to make a claim for top four and knocking off Wright tonight is the only result Chisnall can get to boost his chances. Chisnall is one of the biggest maximum hitters in the game, but Wright has been on the mark recently. Albeit looking at the individual lines will be the way to go, although Chisnall on the handicap could be just about right as punters pile in on an expected Wright win.
Anderson faces Lewis for the second consecutive week and was majestic last week disposing of Jackpot with ease who has now lost eight of the last nine meetings. I see no other result than a Anderson win here to motor back up to be one of those top four qualifiers.
The final game will be a game to look for the under's with Barney and Wade squaring off. Some will want to see how their respective first games go before making their bet and this is totally understandable.
In December 2020 we sadly 
