PREMIER League Darts Week 14 from Birmingham sees the penultimate round of games before finals night in two weeks time.
With Whitlock, Wright and Barney out of the picture now only fighting for final place prize money attention turns to Gary Anderson and Daryl Gurney where the Irishman still has a chance albeit a slim chance to make finals night but will need other results to go his way. Cross and Smith are all but at the o2 in a fortnight with only mathematical permutations standing in their way.
Wright Vs Whitlock
- Wright leads 10-7
For backers of Wright summing up the campaign has been below par at times and it’s counted cumulatively over the weeks with eight games without a win during the competition. Whitlock on the other hand got off to such a bright start only to pocket two points from the last possible ten.
With Wright at 4/6 he will be playing for pride now but Whitlock at 100/30 generally is surely a more back-able price for many.
I was attracted to the Whitlock checkout line at 95 until I spotted some lacklustre checkouts and his last big checkout back on week 9.
Either player to finish a leg on bull may be the play at 13/8 with Hills.
Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen
- Van Gerwen leads 9-2
It sounds routine enough for backers but Van Gerwen’s form has been patchy over recent weeks with just one win in his last four games. The newly crowned Dutch equivalent of an MBE awarded to MVG in the last week has seen Mighty Mike as one of the youngest to have ever been awarded by their country.
Toeing the oche against Rob Cross wouldn’t have left much time for MVG to practice not that he does much of that as proclaimed by the man himself.
Cross is a big price here but this is MVG’s territory but Cross os generally reliable on his maximum hitting netting four in all but one of the last four played. Sportingbet and Bwin offer 19/20 Cross hits four or more tonight.
Daryl Gurney v Michael Smith
- Smith leads 6-3
This could be the game of the night as Gurney has to win to keep his chances alive of making top four. Cross may have mathematically qualified before they toe the oche meaning Gurney must win and win well.
Michael Smith has lost three of his last five, which has coincided with illness.
Bully Boy seems to be on the road to recovery the chances are he’s not going to be on top form so surely Daryl Gurney has a better chance than usual. And let’s face it, there’s precious little between these arrowsmiths anyway.
Smith won the previous showdown 7-4 in Week Two. But that was when Superchin was finding his feet and missing his doubles and the Northern Irishman is a different proposition now.
Gurney has lost just three of 12 since that reverse in Cardiff and needs to win to retain any hope of making it to the O2.
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
- Anderson leads 21-17
Gary Anderson beat Barney 7-4 on this stage 12 months ago and can repeat this feat tonight.
Barney has little to play for but position and Anderson really needs a win to avoid finishing 4th and potentially facing MVG in the Semi final at the o2.
The 4/6 on Anderson is a fair price with him throwing first enhanced to 7/4 in places for the win and most maximums.
Recommendations
- Cross – Over 3.5 180s 19/20 Sportingbet 2pts
- Gurney – Draw no bet – 1/1 general 1pt
- G Anderson – 4/6 general 2 pts
- Anderson Win/most 180s – 7/4 Betfair (13/8 acceptable) 1pt
