Darts is back and coming at us thick and fast right now as we head into our fourth consecutive night of Premier League Darts, all of which is taking place in Milton Keynes at the Marshall Arena.
Despite the recent World Snooker Championships trialling fans in attendance for the final, the PDC have confirmed that the remainder of the Premier League regular season will conclude behind closed doors.
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We have enjoyed four nights of excellent top class arrows already this week as we blitz through the rest of the Premier League schedule. Last night, Judgement Night saw Rob Cross throw his last darts of the 2020 campaign as he was eliminated following his dismal defeat at the hands of Glen Durrant.
From here, anyone remaining will now be fancying their chances of reaching the playoffs. There’s no time to rest however as there are still another six nights play to be held over the next eight days as the action refuses to let up.
Tonight, things continue starting with the current table topper.
Glen Durrant V Gerwyn Price
What an opener this promises to be as the game’s two most in-form darters going head to head.
Duzza is holding on to a two point cushion at the top and will be buzzing from a hugely impressive three days so far in Milton Keynes.
On Tuesday, Duzza saw off Peter Wright before dismissing Michael van Gerwen in a 7-3 mauling which preceded Thursday’s 7-4 win over Rob Cross that saw the 2018 World Champion eliminated.
His opponent Gerwyn Price has dropped just the one solitary leg over the last two nights beating Gary Anderson and Jermaine Wattimena 7-1 and 7-0 respectively. The Welshman is looking far more like himself at the minute and together these two players in particular look as though they are enjoying the one match per day format.
This is maybe too tough to call and I just cant split this pair so I’ll go with a draw.
Peter Wright v Gary Anderson
Two world champions play next as Scottish pair Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright and Gary ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Anderson go head-to-head in game two.
Only two points separate these two World Cup winning teammates with Wright, second in the table, slightly ahead of Anderson.
Last month’s World Matchplay runner-up Gary Anderson is tied on points in fourth with Michael van Gerwen whom he has beaten 7-4 since the restart as well as Michael Smith but was sent packing by Gerwyn Price a day later.
Wright has posted back to back wins over Jeffrey de Zwaan and Daryl Gurney but he really should have recorded a 100% record this week and would have done were it not for some dodgy maths during his 6-6 draw with Glen Durrant on Tuesday.
This is sure to be another tight one and could go either way but, buoyed on from beating MVG last night, I think Anderson could well take the points here.
Nathan Aspinall v Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen has, rather unusually, lost back-to-back to games in as many nights. So unusual, in fact, that it’s the first time that’s happened in the Premier League since 2018.
The world number one is facing Nathan Aspinall, who battled back brilliantly to beat Michael Smith 7-5 last night when looking at defeat in the face.
That said, MVG’s poor run will end at some point and I think that point could well be tonight.
Michael Smith v Daryl Gurney
Daryl Gurney narrowly survived Judgement Night and will today play Michael Smith for his efforts. Bully Boy has hit 18 maximums hit in his last three games but somehow managed to lose on Thursday when he had victory almost in the bag against Nathan Aspinall.
With Rob Cross now gone, these two are the bottom pair and need to turn things around soon in the hope of making it to London for October’s revised playoff schedule.
Gurney has averaged a total 92.24 over his three games this week and could struggle against Smith, who is favourite for a reason. I think Smith will win with ease here unless Superchin can find some form from somewhere.
- (7/5) Glen Durrant (15/4) Gerwyn Price (13/10)
- (20/21) Peter Wright (15/4) Gary Anderson (2/1)
- (11/5) Nathan Aspinall (15/4) Michael van Gerwen (5/6)
- (5/6) Michael Smith (15/4) Daryl Gurney (1/5)
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Remaining fixtures and dates
Night 11, Saturday August 29
- Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright
- Michael Smith v Nathan Aspinall
- Gary Anderson v Glen Durrant
- Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price
Night 12, Sunday August 30
- Nathan Aspinall v Gary Anderson
- Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price
- Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith
- Glen Durrant v Daryl Gurney
Night 13, Wednesday September 2
- Glen Durrant v Michael Smith
- Daryl Gurney v Gary Anderson
- Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
- Gerwyn Price v Nathan Aspinall
Night 14, Thursday September 3
- Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
- Gary Anderson v Michael Smith
- Peter Wright v Nathan Aspinall
- Glen Durrant v Michael van Gerwen
Night 15, Friday September 4
- Daryl Gurney v Nathan Aspinall
- Glen Durrant v Peter Wright
- Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
- Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Night 16, Saturday September 5
- Peter Wright v Michael Smith
- Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney
- Nathan Aspinall v Glen Durrant
- Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson
Play-Offs – Thursday October 22
The O2, London
Semi-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
- First v Fourth
- Second v Third
Finals (Best of 21 legs)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
QUICK GLANCE AT DARTS PREMIER LEAGUE NIGHT 10
Venue: Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
Dates: 28.08.2020
Format: Max of 12
Current Champion: Michael van Gerwen
Where To Watch: Sky Sports
When To Watch: (1900 GMT)