Last week in Aberdeen there was excitement throughout with the odd surprise result. League leader Michael van Gerwen fell to his first defeat after losing to fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld. World Champion and Scotsman Gary Anderson got a point from his match with James Wade recovering from 6-2 down.
It wasn’t a good night here though! Tonight again looks difficult to call as most of the field look to mount their challenges for a play-off spot inside the top 4.
Stephen Bunting v Gary Anderson
Stephen Bunting played two matches last week in Aberdeen. He lost to Adrian Lewis 7-2 before drawing with Phil Taylor in the final match. The match with Taylor was a little odd in the ending with both players missing many darts to finish the match but it was Bunting that was able to hold his nerve and claim a much-needed point. Gary Anderson had home advantage with the Scottish crowd vocal and boisterous. The Flying Scotsman fought back from 6-2 down to draw 6-6 with James Wade.
Gary Anderson faces Stephen Bunting. Courtesy of Scoopnest
It’s fair to say this match revolves around pro-Anderson markets. Anderson to win (8/13) would be one for an acca, even if you wanted to add it to your Europa League bets. There is also the Match Treble of Anderson to win, highest match checkout and most 180s (11/4). I pointed out last week that Bunting doesn’t hit big checkouts so that plays into Anderson’s hands and the Scotsman is likely to outscore The Bullet on the evidence we have seen so far.
Anderson to hit the most 180s and hit the highest match checkout is the same price as he is to win, which shows you how confident the bookies are that will happen. The bar for the match 180s looks to be set quite high considering Bunting can be hit and miss on the treble 20 bed, therefore Under 6.5 Match 180s (10/11). As I pointed out last week Bunting doesn’t hit big checkouts so the Bunting Highest Match Checkout Under 93.5 (5/6) would be worth more consideration as it did land last week.
James Wade v Michael van Gerwen
After losing his first match last week Michael van Gerwen will be wanting to put that right here tonight. Unfortunately he plays James Wade who is a tough competitor and won’t rollover and be beaten easily. For me the Dutchman does win (MVG to win 8/15) but that price needs looking at considering the fighting qualities of Wade.
Embed from Getty ImagesSomething at an odds against price is the Michael van Gerwen to win and both players to win 4 or more legs (15/8). Quite short for a price usually in this market but one you can back knowing Wade won’t give in easily if falling a few legs behind as he usually just plugs away. Putting that up as a bet means I think it’ll be either 7-4 or 7-5 to Mighty Mike, so looking at the prices and after it finished this scoreline in Manchester it would be worth backing again and that is Michael van Gerwen to win 7-4 (6/1).
With The Machine James Wade playing his two matches in one night the other week he really needs to try and force the issue here because a defeat could see him as many as four points off the play-off places, which would be hard to claw back in the remaining matches. Sometimes playing van Gerwen helps bring the best out of players as they are able to get into a nice rhythm due to the speedy nature of the Dutchman’s throw. That said the Over 5.5 Match 180s (4/5) is another way into this match at a reasonable price.
Raymond van Barneveld v Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld is putting a nice little late run together for a play-off place. He pulled off the shock result last week beating Michael van Gerwen after beating Phil Taylor in Week 10 in Sheffield. Phil Taylor beat Dave Chisnall last week in a match where Chizzy did little wrong. It is fair to say that match Taylor was making a point that he isn’t finished just as yet.
Too close to call! Image from Darts.tv
As the markets suggest this match is a ‘pick-em’ with both players priced at 13/10 (William Hill). With the general election around the corner you can hear the “it’s too close to call” now. That’s what this match is! A win for Barney would continue his fine run and keep up his hopes of a play-off place while Chisnall could arguably seal a place in the top four with a win tonight due to his legs difference.
Head-to-head form suggests siding with Raymond van Barneveld who has won six of the ten meetings between the pair.
So far in this Premier League campaign it has been Chisnall writing the headlines therefore Chisnall Draw No Bet (5/6).
A short priced bet would be Chisnall Most 180s (4/7) as he tends to be the most consistent of these two on the T20 bed.
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
The ‘Battle of the Potteries’ as the Master plays his Apprentice. Taylor put on a good rejuvenated performance last week to beat the in-form Dave Chisnall while Adrian Lewis showed some of his qualities when thrashing Stephen Bunting 7-2.
England’s World Cup pair & ‘Battle of the Potteries. Image from SkySports.com
Looking at the head-to-head record it is evidently one sided in favour of Taylor, who has won 48 of the 59 matches the pair have played against each other. There does seem to be a mental block when Lewis faces Taylor and it happened in Week 2 when Taylor saw Lewis off 7-2 in Bournemouth.
Taylor to win (11/10) looks a decent enough price considering he has fine record against tonight’s opponent. The Power will also know he has to win as Lewis sits a point behind him in 5th with a game in-hand, so it is important to go three points clear with Lewis having his double header next week in Birmingham.
In the Match 180s market I’d be more willing to play the Under 6.5 180s (8/13) as Lewis averages a shade over three per match while Taylor only averages over two. If you take that a step further then Lewis Most 180s (8/11) would be another play.
Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
This is going to be a close game and it will depend on how their previous matches on the night go to indicate how they’ll perform but after defeat last week MVG will be looking to put the record straight and send out a message that’s he is still the man to beat.
If results go Anderson’s way a win here could take him into 2nd behind MVG. He has a bit of an edge over the Dutchman knowing that he beat him on the stage at the World Championships in the Semi-Final.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir first meeting in Liverpool ended 7-4 in Mighty Mike’s favour. In the head-to-head battle it is also the Dutchman that holds the advantage winning 17 of their 25 matches.
Looking at their 180 records in the last four matches it is the Flying Scotsman who has hit the most maximums. He has 19 compared to MVG’s 15. That averages out to Anderson just hitting under five and van Gerwen just under four.
These are the few selections in this match that I’m most confident about:
Over 121.5 Highest Match Checkout (5/6)
Gary Anderson Most 180s (11/10)
On the 180 averages – Over 7.5 Match 180s (10/11).
Acca: Anderson (v Bunting), van Gerwen (v Wade), Taylor (v Lewis) to win & Chisnall Draw No Bet @ 8.53/1
William Hill special: Anderson, van Gerwen & Taylor to win @ 9/2
Good Luck!
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