WEEK one saw a small profit, with our best bet coming home, Price making a mockery of our maximum bet and a final leg showdown, where Peter Wright was unable to see out the win and settled for a draw to see us a voided bet.
Profit/(Loss) +1.18 pts (29.54% ROI)
Peter Wright v Michael Smith – Wright leads 15-8
- Wright – 9/5 Boylesports
- Tie – 7/2 Betfred
- Smith – 6/5 Unibet
We do have an extremely recent example of how this game could go. They played each other on Saturday's pro tour event and were involved in a scrap which resulted in a 6-5 victory for Wright.
The averages were top notch, so if they can replicate that, we could start Glasgow very well indeed. I get the feeling that if Smith was to average 112 again here, he wouldn’t lose, but the same could be said for Wright’s 110.
Wright had the better of Smith for the last two weekends, which continued last weekend on the floor, but begun at the Masters.
Wright goes in at 9/5, which will be considered BIG as he is throwing first, with Smith at 6/5 and the tie standing out at 7/2.
The most maximums market has Smith short at 4/5, with Wright 9/4 and the tie very attractive at at almost 5/1 with Sportingbet.
This one could be really close and the draw will be a popular choice. However, sponsors Betfair are offering 5/2 on Wright to win and both to seal two maximums each, which will hopefully get us off to a winning start.
With Michael Smith having distractions outside the game, the home crowd will cheer on Wright, which might be enough to see him over the line. If Wright can put on another solid performance an over 97.50 average has a sporting chance at 5/6 especially with the home crowd behind him.
Rob Cross v James Wade – Players tied 5-5
- Cross – 23/20 Boylesports
- Tie – 7/2 Betfred
- Wade – 15/8 Coral
Rob Cross looked reinvigorated in week one, and even though he didn’t get both points in the game against Snakebite, he will be buoyed by the fact he had his chance to sneak a point and didn’t need asking twice. He looked sharp, refreshed and ready.
Wade did exactly what I thought he would do last Thursday. He sparkled being back on that PL stage and looked really comfortable.
With Wade reliable on the checkout finishes, the region of 100-135, he is one of the names you would include in a top ten.
With the game expected to go 11 or 12 legs, will offer a chance or two at least for the checkout line to be tested especially at 95.50 for Wade at 17/20 with sponsors Unibet.
Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwyn Price – Barney leads 5-1
- Barney – 15/8 Skybet
- Tie – 100/30 Betfair
- Price – 6/5 Unibet
THE talking point of Newcastle was Gerwyn Price. His scoring against Gurney was immaculate, especially in the first few legs, and he was rampant when successful in finishing legs.
RVB will test Price, but he will have to up the ante with his overall game from the past 7 days if he is to get a result. Gezzy will have lots of confidence coming into this and sure the fans will be on his case again.
If Price is able to do what he did to the loud Newcastle fans. With the fans behind him, you feel the Barney three figure scoring will help his average, and should be sharper coming into the game, therefore the 94.50 average at 5/6 with Betfair is worth a small play.
Daryl Gurney v Glen Durrant – no meetings
- Gurney – 8/5 Unibet
- Tie – 100/30 Betfair
- Durrant – 7/5 Coral
This will be billed by Sky as the game of the night, as Gurney has drawn the short straw possibly playing the best of the contenders entered right now.
Durrant nearly emulated what Stephen Bunting did in 2015 in failing to cash at the first pro tour event, and go on to win the second one on Sunday. Glen was denied the title from Dave Chisnall, but hit a 170 to save the match. Exciting for Glen, and the hype will be on the current Lakeside World Champion.
Gurney played okay last week, but below his own standard, with some darts not being thrown consistently meant the maximums deserted him. Fewer than seven maximums could come into play at 8/11 with Betfair.
Mensur Suljovic v MVG – MVG leads 10-4
- Suljovic – 13/2 Betfair
- Tie – 11/2 Bet365
- MVG – 1/3 Ladbrokes
MVG started his Premier League brilliantly against Bully Boy. He went on to pocket a win at Players Championship 1 on Saturday in Wigan. He has to go into this game as a huge favourite and does at 1/3, not only because of his ranking, form and consistency but because Suljovic hasn’t thrown a competitive dart since his draw with Chris Dobey last Thursday.
MVG will be highly motivated by the pro tour title last Saturday and will do everything to top this league and pocket the extra bonus for doing so.
Punters may not get excited about the 1/3 but could well be an accumulator finale for many punters.
Handicap bettors looking for odds against will need the green machine to win 7-3 or better 13/11 with Marathonbet and 7/10 to win 7-4 or better, which may encourage punters, again with Marathonbet, which gets the nod.
Recommendations
- Wright win + both players to hit 2+ maximums – 5/2 Betfair 0.50pts
- Wright Over 97.5 average – 5/6 Betfair 1.5 pts
- Wade Over 95.5 checkout – 17/20 Unibet 1pt
- Barney – over 94.50 average – 5/6 Betfair 0.50 pt
- Under 6.5 180s (Gurney/Durrant) 8/11 Betfair 2.5 pts
- MVG -2.5 legs Vs Suljovic – 7/10 Marathonbet 2 pts
