This year’s Betway Premier League Darts season gets underway tonight at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena and things begin with a heavyweight smash as the world’s top two players go toe to toe at the oche.
Defending champion (and likely tournament winner) Michael van Gerwen takes on his World Championship and Masters final opponent Gary Anderson.
Featuring 10 players that will all face each other once during the league phase, play takes place on Thursday nights, with the bottom two players in the table eliminated after Judgement Night on April 31.
A further six league nights take place between the remaining eight, half of whom will then progress to the play-offs at The O2 in London on Thursday, May 19.
Premier League Darts betting tips
Given that Michael van Gerwen will almost certainly walk away the league winner, his 8/13 doesn’t look too appealing. A far more interesting darts betting tip would be for MVG to go unbeaten through the whole campaign, available at 12/1 with SkyBet.
So, following a quick scan of the rest of the outrights, the best of the each way punts looks to be one or both of Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld. Tournament sponsors Betway have them priced at 25/1 and 33/1 respectively.
Elsewhere, Gary Anderson can be picked up at 9/2 with Bet365 and Betway, while the best available value on Peter Wright is 12/1, also at Bet365. The old master himself, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, who announced this week that this will be his final year throwing for the PDC, can be backed at 12/1 with SkyBet and Bet365.
Considering this is Taylor’s last Premier League campaign, he might be twice as determined to win it one last time and with a less gruelling schedule over the next few months, he might well be worth it.
Best bets for the top four
As the odds-on favourite, Michael van Gerwen will obviously make the top four and it is hard to think that he wouldn’t be joined there by Gary Anderson.
At 8/13 with Bet365, Peter Wright is odds-on to make it to London, but as I’m am backing ‘Jackpot’ or ‘Barney’ to make the final, I would be silly to not take advantage of their best prices here.
Said prices are 9/4 on Lewis at Betway and the same for Barney at SkyBet. Oh, and ‘The Power’ can be backed for a semi-final appearance for 6/5 with Bet365.
Premier League matchday one
League matches are played over a maximum of 12 legs, with players earning two points for a win and one point for a draw.
- Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
- Kim Huybrechts v James Wade
- Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
- Peter Wright v Jelle Klaasen
- Phil Taylor v Dave Chisnall
With such concentrated class each week, it’s hard to pick match winners. For tonight at least, there is an obvious chance of Wade, Taylor & Wright to take all the points on offer.
If you think that MVG will beat Anderson and can pick a winner from RVB and Lewis, then Betway will pay out 21.6 on the fivefold, with cash out available.