Things are beginning to take their entirely predictable shape in the PDC Darts Premier League as we roll into Matchday 3 at the First Direct Arena in Leeds this Thursday.
Already, we have five unbeaten contenders (Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld), while on the flip side we have two players (Dave Chisnall and Jelle Klaasen) yet to record a point.
Last week’s villain of the piece was Barney who proved his own theory that he tires over back-to-back weekly games when he failed to dismiss Kim Huybrechts, shooting down our accumulator in the process. We really should listen more.
The 2014 Premier League champion managed a draw and so remains unbeaten, moving onto three points. Huybrechts had taken an early lead in the match, only to bow to Van Barneveld’s timeless class as the Belgian claimed his first point of the season.
After drawing with Van Gerwen on day one, Gary Anderson recorded his first win as he blasted past Jelle Klaasen in a 7-3 victory, while neither Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor or James ‘The Machine’ Wade had enough in the tank to better the other; the game ended honours even.
Last week we opted for Adrian Lewis over Chizzy which proved to be a winning darts bet as Jackpot landed his first win while Chizzy remains without a single point two weeks in. He remains our tip to miss the cut of all the big names.
Finally, Michael Van Gerwen looked to be on his way to a whitewash as he punished a Valentine’s day edition of Peter Wright, almost without reply. In a match that initially looked like it would take less time to complete than Snakebite’s entry dance, Mighty Mike zoomed into a 6-0 lead with what would have been only the eighth Wrightwash in DPL history.
Wright rallied just enough to register the following three sets before MVG crushed his rebellion with a 14-dart finish for a 7-3 win and moves onto three points.
Premier League Week 3: Darts Betting Tips
The Betway Premier League returns for Matchday 3 on Thursday, February 16 at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, with another five exciting ties, the pick of which has to be the clash between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
Such a tough one to call! Two old legends face off against each other, both dismissive of their own diminishing powers. Not ones to question their own ability, there is more than a little bit of mind games at play here.
However, the fact remains that these two, with one all but retired and the other playing only a skeleton programme, these are yesterday’s heroes. From what I have seen over recent weeks, I would edge towards the Dutchman who won the last time the titans met, back in the quarter-finals of this year’s World Championship but, unable to split the pair, I’m tipping a draw between these two.
The first match of the evening, starting at 19:20, is the all Scottish affair between Gary Anderson and Peter Wright. In another lifetime, Anderson would be the stand out tip for an event like the DPL but such is Van Gerwen’s domination, he is destined to spend the majority of his career as the Dutchman’s bridesmaid, despite having two world titles to his name. I mention this only as a way of saying that, while I maintain that Wright will win a televised tourney this year, I expect Anderson to have too much class, just as he did in the World Championship semi-final, six weeks ago.
Another tight one is the Lewis-Wade matchup which, this being darts, can come down to form or gut feeling and while I certainly can see a Lewis win here, both form and feeling have me leaning towards Wade. As far as sure things go, I think we can say with some security that Michael van Gerwen will dismiss his countryman Jelle Klaasen with relative ease, especially if the world number one is in the right mood which, given the bad blood between the two, he will be.
The last game of the night pairs Dave Chisnall and Kim Huybrechts. Although capable of great darts, Chizzy looked down on himself last week following a real downturn in throwing form. If he can get his head straight, then he is good value at 5/4 with Bet365 to record a win here but at the moment that looks an unlikely premise.
Huybrechts, on the other hand, ran James Wade all the way a week ago so form would have him the victor on Thursday. I’ll be kind to Chizzy and call this one a draw as he needs to collect a point at the very least if he is to avoid relegation – which has now come in dramatically to 13/8, again with Bet365.
Accumulator-wise, a straight line on Anderson, Wade and MVG, plus draws in the remaining two games, makes for 95.40 at Betway, while at SkyBet it is advisable to back Barney for qualification before he turns odds on.
Odds on, by the way, is all you can get on Van Gerwen for the outright, should you be wondering.
Matchday 3, Thursday 16 February 2017
- Gary Anderson v Peter Wright
- Adrian Lewis v James Wade
- Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
- Michael van Gerwen v Jelle Klaasen
- Dave Chisnall v Kim Huybrechts