Michael van Gerwen Wins New Zealand Darts Masters

Michael van Gerwen Wins New Zealand Darts Masters

MVG New Zealand Darts Masters

Two Dutch legends met in the final of the New Zealand Darts Masters in the early hours of Sunday morning when Michael van Gerwen thrashed Raymond van Barneveld 8-1 to take his second World Series title in a week.

In a repeat of last year’s corresponding final in Auckland, Mighty Mike was just too good for his compatriot and won his latest title with ease in front of a 4000-strong crowd at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton.

The game’s fate was sealed almost immediately as Barney missed three darts at doubles in the opening two legs which allowed MVG to open up a 2-0 lead. That lead would soon be stretched to 5-0 as van Gerwen broke again with a 100 checkout in the second of the following three sets he reeled off.

Down 5-0, Barney finally did get a score on the board after he landed a double ten in the sixth leg. Sadly for the retiring legend, this was to be his only point of the match as the world number one would go on to claim the next three legs and walk away with yet another title, his 14th World Series title overall.

Earlier on in the day, MVG had produced a brilliant 8-5 win over Gary Anderson in a repeat of the final in Melbourne a week earlier. Mighty Mike followed that with a semi-final clash with former world champion Rob Cross, who he overcame in an 8-3 victory to secure a place in the final in Hamilton.

Barney’s route to the final saw him take on Daryl Gurney in the last eight, where he would run out the 8-6 winner. From there, he moved on to James Wade in the semi-final, where he sealed an 8-5 victory to set up the all-Dutch clash with van Gerwen.

Austrian Darts Championship Betting Tips Defending Champion

Our heroes now return to the European circuit and this week are back on European Tour duty as competitive play moves on to Schwechat in Austria t. The 2019 Austrian Darts Championship will take place on August 30 through September 1 and will see the return of the European Tour after a short break down under.

The top 16 players all receive a bye in the first round so we will need to wait a day to see number one seed Michael van Gerwen get his campaign underway. Mighty Mike will be aiming to make it three titles in three weekends after two World Series triumphs and is 11/10 with Betway to do precisely that. There is no Gary Anderson or Rob Cross this week so Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright goes in as the second favourite at the distant price of 7/1, slightly lower than Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith’s 9/1.

Things drift even further until Daryl Gurney’s 12/1 and Gerwyn Price’s 16/1. Mensur Suljovic will be the home favourite as the number seven seed. The Gentle is available for 20/1 as is Nathan Aspinall, while Dave Chisnall is 25/1 ahead of the rest of what is a packed field for a three-day event.

Austrian Darts Championship 2019 Schedule of Play

Friday August 30 (First Round)

  • William O’Connor v Brendan Dolan
  • James Wilson v Gavin Carlin
  • Adam Gawlas v Ross Smith
  • Ted Evetts v Host Nation Qualifier 2
  • Cameron Menzies v West/South European Qualifier 2
  • Host Nation Qualifier 5 v Cor Dekker
  • Justin Pipe v Vincent van der Voort
  • Jermaine Wattimena v Christian Bunse
  • Host Nation Qualifier 1 v Kirk Shepherd
  • Mark Webster v Dimitri Van den Bergh
  • Luke Humphries v Jamie Hughes
  • Host Nation Qualifier 4 v Keegan Brown
  • West/South European Qualifier 1 v Chris Dobey
  • Rowby-John Rodriguez v Josh Payne
  • Jeffrey de Zwaan v Host Nation Qualifier 3
  • Kyle Anderson v Stephen Bunting

Saturday August 31 (Second Round)

  • Steve Beaton v Wilson/Carlin
  • Simon Whitlock v Pipe/Van der Voort
  • Gerwyn Price v O’Connor/Dolan
  • Dave Chisnall v Host Nation Qualifier 5/Dekker
  • Ricky Evans v Host Nation Qualifier 1/Shepherd
  • Michael Smith v Menzies/ West/South European Qualifier 2
  • Ian White v Evetts/ Host Nation Qualifier 2
  • Adrian Lewis v Wattimena/Bunse
  • Nathan Aspinall v Host Nation Qualifier 4/Brown
  • Daryl Gurney v Rodriguez/Payne
  • Jonny Clayton v West/South European Qualifier 1/Dobey
  • Peter Wright v M Webster/Van den Bergh
  • Mensur Suljovic v Gawlas/R Smith
  • Joe Cullen v Humphries/Hughes
  • Michael van Gerwen v Anderson/Bunting
  • Darren Webster v De Zwaan/ Host Nation Qualifier 3

Sunday September 1

  • Third Round
  • Quarter-Finals
  • Semi-Finals
  • Final

QUICK GLANCE AT THE AUSTRIAN DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: Multiversum Schwechat
Dates: August 30 – September 1
Format: Best of 11-15 legs
Current Champion: N/A
Where To Watch: PDC TV
When To Watch: (12.00, 18.15 GMT)

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Michael Van Gerwen Wins Melbourne Darts Masters

Michael Van Gerwen Wins Melbourne Darts Masters

Melbourne Darts Masters MVG

Michael Van Gerwen returned to winning ways last weekend as he beat Daryl Gurney 8-3 in the final of the Melbourne Darts Masters to claim yet another title. On route to the final, he also took care of Gary Anderson and Peter Wright as the world number one began to look something like close to his best.

He was of course, the pre-tournament favourite, but prior to Melbourne, he hadn’t looked like himself for weeks, especially in Blackpool, where he fell out early in a very disappointing World Matchplay campaign. In fact, Saturday’s win saw Mighty Mike pick up his first solo PDC title since lifting his fifth Premier League crown back in May.

MVG Melbourne campaign didn’t even get started particularly well as he dismissed Tim Pusey on Friday without posting a 100+ average, for what was to be the 14th match in a row. By Saturday, he was back to himself, averaging 100.63 and throwing seven 180s in a thrilling 8-6 quarter-final destruction of Gary Anderson.

Mighty Mike’s next victim was Peter Wright, who in contrast, was back to his sloppy worst. MVG punished Snakebite 8-0 accordingly, while whitewashed Wright averaged only 82.61 and missed each of his five darts at doubles.

Runner-up in Melbourne, Daryl ‘Superchin’ Gurney, qualified for his first World Series final by beating Simon Whitlock and Rob Cross. In the final, Superchin reached an average of 100.6, marginally higher than MVG’s 99 but flailed at the doubles. The same could not be said for van Gerwen, however, who landed 8 of his 19 double attempts as he ran out the 8-3 winner, his 13th World Series crown and first in Australia since 2016.

As for the shock Brisbane Darts Masters champion Damon Heta, he was eliminated at the hands of Rob ‘Voltage’ Cross in the quarter-finals in an 8-3 victory.

New Zealand Darts Masters 2019 Betting Tips

The players will now move on to the fifth of this season’s PDC World Series of Darts events, the New Zealand Darts Masters, which takes place at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton from August 23-24.

The Betway favourite Michael van Gerwen will be looking to make it two titles in a row after his recent success in Melbourne last week. Mighty Mike insists everyone is running scared of him following his win last week, which feels more like cocky bluster and him trying to convince himself as much as anything else. Betway have taken the bait and chalked him up as 11/8 to do so.

His compatriot, Raymond van Barneveld, whom he beat in the final last year, is gearing up to make his final competitive tournament in New Zealand before retirement. RVB looks miles away from going out in a blaze of glory, however, which is reflected in his long price of 40/1. He should make it past Cody Harris to get to the last four at least.

Daryl Gurney reached his first final for five months in Melbourne last weekend but was unable to capitalise. He was shot down in the final and Superchin goes to Hamilton as an 11/1 shot which looks fair enough given how kind the draw has been to him.

Peter Wright, who opens up against Damon Heta, had a horrible time last week, being ejected by way of a whitewash at the hands of MVG. Snakebite will need up his game considerably if he is to do better in New Zealand, but even then the 7/1 offered on him looks unlikely to pay a dividend.

Gary Anderson and Rob Cross are also in the star-studded field. Both, along with MVG, are in the bottom half of the 16-man draw. For Gary, he hasn’t looked himself for a while now so sharp bettors would probably be wise to steer clear of him even though an outright win for The Flying Scotsman is priced at 13/2 and wouldn’t be a completely shocking surprise. At the same time, Voltage Rob Cross — at 4/1 — has to be tempting.

James Wade is 18/1, Simon Whitlock is available at 28/1 and Kyle Anderson is 33’s. Further down the betting line is Brisbane hero Damon Heta (50/1), Cody Harris (66/1), Craig Caldwell (150/1), Hapai Puha (150/1), David Platt (200/1), Warren Parry (250/1) and Ben Robb (300/1) bring up the field.

Friday, August 23 (Best of 11 legs)

  • James Wade v Craig Caldwell
  • Simon Whitlock v Ben Robb
  • Daryl Gurney v David Platt
  • Rob Cross v Warren Parry
  • Gary Anderson v Haupai Puha
  • Peter Wright v Damon Heta
  • Michael van Gerwen v Kyle Anderson
  • Raymond van Barneveld v Cody Harris

Saturday, August 24 (Best of 15 legs)

  • Quarter-finals
  • Semi-finals
  • Final

QUICK GLANCE AT THE NEW ZEALAND DARTS MASTERS

Venue: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Dates: Thursday Friday 23.08.2019 – Saturday 24.08.2019
Format: First round, best of 11 legs, QF, SF, F, best of 15 legs
Current Champion: Michael van Gerwen
Where To Watch: PDC TV 05.00 and delayed coverage on ITV 4 20.00
When To Watch: (08.30 GMT PDC TV & delayed coverage on ITV 4 from 20.00 GMT)

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Birthday Boy Damon Heta Wins Brisbane Darts Masters

Birthday Boy Damon Heta Wins Brisbane Darts Masters

Brisbana Marts Masters

Against all odds, 100/1 long shot and local outsider Damon Heta from Perth won the Brisbane Darts Masters on Saturday after he beat world number two and current World Matchplay champion Rob Cross 8-7 in the final. To cap off a thoroughly memorable weekend for the Aussie, his success even took place on his 32nd birthday.

The recent BDO Australian Open winner’s victory came despite never actually being ahead in the contest until the game’s climax when, in the deciding leg, he threw 170 leaving 32 on the board. On his return, he took out the double 16 on his second attempt to complete a brilliant and completely unexpected win.

On his way to springing one of the biggest surprises in televised darts history, Heta, nicknamed The Heat, had already beaten major winners James Wade, Gary Anderson and fellow Aussie Simon Whitlock, which alone is enough for him to consider the event a success. But things would only get better come the final where he would go on to add a second world champion, Rob Cross, to his list of the vanquished.

Cross had made it to the final after a dominant performance in the semi-final against Daryl Gurney, where he ran out the 8-3 winner. The final looked much like it was going to go the same way, not least because there are 103 places between them in the rankings, albeit under different codes.

Voltage soon found himself 3-1 up before he missed four darts for a 4-1 lead, instead allowing Heta to capitalise and set up a run of legs that would level the game. The match remained tight thereafter with Cross just about nudging ahead until the tenth when a 90 checkout gave him a 6-4 lead. Still, the Aussie wasn’t to be shaken off and he drew level again to take the game to a decider where The Heat would take out double 16 to seal one of the most remarkable victories in memory.

Melbourne Darts Masters Betting Tips

Ok, we didn’t see last week’s epic victory by The Heat coming but can it really happen again? Given Damon Heta beat four major winners on his way to victory last weekend, he will be full of confidence, but there will no repeating the 100/1 price tag that was on his head last weekend. Instead, Betway are cautious enough to quote 33/1 this time around. Once again, he plays James Wade in the opening round.

As for Wade, it will be interesting to see how The Machine responds in Melbourne. He gets an immediate shot at revenge in the first round, one I fully expect him to take, but whether or not momentum can carry him on to a tourney win, I’m not so sure. Priced at 14/1, Betway aren’t convinced either.

Michael van Gerwen for the second week running has been put in the betting as the 7/4 favourite. MVG lost to Daryl Gurney in the round two in Brisbane, and although you can never rule Mighty Mike out, he’s really only the favourite right now on the grounds of reputation rather than recent results.

Rob Cross will be angry with himself for not closing out the win last week and finds himself with the much shorter price of 10/3. Voltage has been drawn apart from MVG and plays 25-year-old local 250/1 shot Robbie King in his opening match. He has to be fancied to go one better in Melbourne.

Elsewhere, Peter Wright is 13/2, just short of Gary Anderson’s 15/2. While The Flying Scotsman beat Aussie Corey Cadby in the opening round in Brisbane, Snakebite had a horror show and went out to Kyle Anderson on Thursday, so again these prices aren’t a true reflection of current form.

The Wizard, Simon Whitlock was even more impressive in the second round of the Brisbane event, whitewashing Kyle Anderson 8-0 with a 101.9 average. As such, the Australian is certainly over-priced at 16/1.

Daryl ‘Superchin’ Gurney can be picked up for 14/1, Kyle Anderson 28/1, Corey Cadby 33/1, Raymond van Barneveld 50/1 and James Bailey 200/1. Haupai Puha, Mick Lacey and Tim Pusey are all available at 250/1.

Friday, August 16 (Best of 11 legs)

  • Simon Whitlock v Mick Lacey
  • Raymond van Barneveld v Haupai Puha
  • Daryl Gurney v Kyle Anderson
  • Gary Anderson v James Bailey
  • Peter Wright v Corey Cadby
  • James Wade v Damon Heta
  • Michael van Gerwen v Tim Pusey
  • Rob Cross v Robbie King

Saturday, August 17 (Best of 15 legs)

  • Quarter-finals
  • Semi-finals
  • Final

QUICK GLANCE AT THE MELBOURNE DARTS MASTERS

Venue: Melbourne Arena
Dates: Thursday Friday 16.08.2019 – Saturday 17.08.2019
Format: First round, best of 11 legs, QF, SF, F, best of 15 legs
Current Champion: Peter Wright
Where To Watch: PDC TV and ITV 4
When To Watch: (08.30 GMT PDC TV & delayed coverage on ITV 4 from 20.00 GMT)

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