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February13February 13, 2019

MVG Opens Darts Premier League Campaign With Bully Boy Win On Night 1

In a rematch of the World Championship final, Michael van Gerwen beat Michael Smith 7-5 to get his Premier League Darts campaign off to a winning start.

With an average of 105, Mighty Mike hit five 180s and successfully landed seven of his 12 doubles in a brilliant display. Bully Boy averaged only 10 points less with 95 while also hitting three fewer maximums and the highest checkout of the match with a 150. Smith even broke the van Gerwen throw in the opening leg with a finish of 93, but the lead wasn’t to last long as MVG wiped out with a 12-darter before breaking Smith back in the sixth saw to go 4-2 ahead. The scoreline read 5-5 not too long after as Smith broke again before banking a 150. He soon fell behind for the third and final time as MVG took out 56 under pressure, with Smith poised on 62, before an 11-darter secured victory and with it, maximum points.

More higlights from Night 1

After ten attempts, Gerwyn Price won his first ever Premier League Darts match thanks to an impressive and unexpected 7-4 victory over Daryl Gurney. The Iceman made his debut last season and managed only two draws before being eliminated on judgment night, but this time got his second season up and running thanks to an average of 104. For a while, it didn’t look good for Price as the Welshman dropped the first two legs to fall behind. This was before the former Rugby player reeled off five straight legs to build an impressive lead. Price, who was booed throughout, soon guaranteed himself at least a point before Superchin kept his fading hopes alive by winning the next few legs before Price dashed those hopes as he closed out the match. Showing no signs of nerves following his £21,500 fine and suspended three-month ban, the Iceman hit six 180s compared to Gurney’s zero while landing seven of his 16 darts doubles.

Another Premier League boo boy, James Wade, got his season underway with a win after he dealt an early blow to Raymond van Barneveld’s hopes of a successful farewell with a 7-4 win. With the first six legs going with throw, it was Barney who struck the first blow as he claimed the first break with a 14-darter. The Machine, who reached the Masters final on the previous Sunday, struck back with four successive legs, including a checkout of 124 on the bull to close out the match.

The first “contender” of this year’s Premier League season, local hero Chris Dobey was up next. He was roared on by the Geordie fans, brilliantly claiming a draw with Mensur Suljovic. In truth, the Newcastle man may feel a little disappointed given he had been holding a 5-1 lead after six legs and despite letting the win slip, he admits to wanting to experience such nights again in the future after his taster here.

Hollywood opened up with a 113 checkout in the first leg before racing clear and landing a flurry of 180s to rock Suljovic into an early scare. The Gentle, however, responded by taking down the next five legs to move within one from victory. But the Austrian’s hopes were dashed when he missed a double at 18 before Dobey stepped up to punish him with two 16s with a dart remaining. In the end, as well as sharing the points, both players hit six doubles from 17 shots. Suljovic boasted the slightly higher average of 100.99 compared to Dobey’s 98.52 but Hollywood edged the maximums by 6-5.

In the final game of the night, Rob Cross and Peter Wright also shared points after Voltage punished Snakebite’s missed match dart in the last leg of the contest to claim a 6-6 draw. In a match where both players averaged over 100, Cross raced into an early 3-1 lead before his Scottish opponent won three legs on the bounce to move ahead courtesy of a 100 checkout as well as an 11-darter. From there the next five legs all went with throw splitting the points.

Darts Premier League betting tips for Night 2

This week’s action gets underway with Peter Wright stepping out against Michael Smith. For me, the smart money is on Bully Boy, who needs to come up with a response after losing to MVG last week but who otherwise looks every inch of the world’s best players right now. In contrast, Snakebite has been looking shaky for a while now and should be heading into Thursday’s game with a win already under his belt. The fact he blew the lead at the last moment is hardly surprising, and in a best of 12, he would do well to even scrape a draw here. It’s also worth noting that Smith played two and won both of the Premier League matches against Wright 7-1 last year.

The next game of the night looks the most likely to reach a stalemate to me. In ten matches played head-to-head, they have won five each so this has all the makings of a close game. The Machine has already got points on the board following last week’s win against Barney, while Cross held his nerve to claim a draw with Wright, and I suspect he might just do the same in week two.

Raymond van Barneveld and Gerwyn Price are out next in a match that is likely to pour more misery on Barney’s farewell Premier League campaign. RVB’s last charge got off to a poor start a week ago, but can Price build on his first Premier League win? The Dutchman has a better record against Price, who has won only one of their six meetings. Still, Barney’s best days are behind him and the Iceman should be able to capitalise.

Chris Dobey got the ‘contenders’ off to a solid start last week when he secured a point against Mensur Suljovic. This week up steps newly blooded PDC man and standing BDO world champion, Glen Durrant to give us an early and fleeting look at what he brings to the code. While I am backing Superchin to take the points here, Duzza can be expected to seize his time to shine and prove why this decision to step up was the correct one. Last Sunday he lost in the final of a Players Championship to Dave Chisnall and could take advantage of Gurney’s lack of confidence following a loss of form. I am not sure he will and so I expect Gurney to have too much for him just yet.

Michael van Gerwen and Mensur Suljovic close out the evening in a match that looks like it should be a fairly routine win for the Dutchman. Mighty Mike proved once again, as if it was needed, that he is the man to beat last week and comes up against The Gentle who will need to improve on his night one performance. Suljovic showed fighting spirit when fighting back from 5-1 behind against Dobey, but MVG will not be quite so forgiving. Also, Van Gerwen has won seven of their last eight games, so there’s that.

This week’s Betway acca; Michael Smith, Draw, Gerwyn Price, Daryl Gurney and MVG (63.5/1)

Darts Premier League Night 2 matchups

(7/4) Peter Wright v Michael Smith (11/10)
(11/10) Rob Cross v James Wade (7/4)
(7/4) Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwen Price (11/10)
(7/5) Daryl Gurney v Glen Durrant (7/5)
(6/1) Mensur Suljovic v Michael van Gerwen (1/3)

Quick glance at the Darts Premier League – Night 2

Venue: SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Dates: Thursday 14.02.2019
Format: Best of 12 legs
Current Champion: Michael van Gerwen
Where To Watch: Sky Sports
When To Watch: (1900 GMT)

February6February 13, 2019

MVG Wins Fifth Masters Title Before Matchday One Of The Darts Premier League In Newcastle

By Peter FryersIn

Darts Betting Tips

Michael van Gerwen’s 2019 PDC darts season got off to a brilliant start last weekend after he beat James Wade 11-5 to the Masters final for the fifth year in a row. Worryingly for his competitors, the newly crowned world champion was in viciously good form hitting two 170 checkouts on last day of the event, one against Dave Chisnall in his 11-7 win in the semi-finals and the other against Wade in the final.

MVG dominant again

Mighty Mike also averaged just shy of 100 compared to Wade’s 87 and landed three ton plus+ finishes, but weirdly only the two 180s. The Dutchman got off to a flying start thanks to an opening 13-darter in leg one before slipping slightly in the second after misfiring on five doubles that would have given him a break of throw. Instead, The Machine duly saved the leg. MVG took back control in the third, however, when he closed out the leg with a brilliant 124 checkout on the bullseye.

Wade, who saw off the threat of Peter Wright in the semi-finals earlier in the evening, soon drew level, finishing from 76. This was before van Gerwen hit a 14-darter to retake the lead, after which he never looked back. Hitting a 13-darter in the next leg before landing another bullseye finish in the following leg, the Dutchman started to turn the screws before banking his second 170 checkout of the night. Wade did manage to take the following leg but the damage was already done as 29-year-old MVG took the next two to get his hands on the trophy yet again.

Darts Premier League Betting

Nine of world’s best darters will begin their 17-week quest for the Darts Premier League title in Newcastle this Thursday as they aim to celebrate at London’s O2 Arena come May 23rd. Following the news that Gary Anderson will not be taking part in this year’s tournament, the PDC took the radical decision to replace the Flying Scotsman with one guest player a week for the next nine weeks.

Those nine players called up to take part in the weekly guest role are Chris Dobey, Steve Lennon, Luke Humphries, John Henderson, Nathan Aspinall, Max Hopp, Dimitri van den Bergh, Jeffrey de Zwaan plus recent PDC recruit and current BDO World Champion Glen Durrant, who only received his PDC card last month. Points won by guest players will not count towards the league table but their opponents will retain any points gained from the matches. After Judgement Night on March 28 in Rotterdam, one player will drop out and no more guests will be featured thereafter. This will leave eight players to battle it out over the remaining seven league fixtures in Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds before the showdown in the capital.

Anderson had been the clear second favourite for the title, but his withdrawal will now make van Gerwen’s position as the favourite even shorter than it already was. Betway make him 8/15 to add the Premier League, which he won in 2018, to his World title. You can also get 7/4 for a new winner to take the crown. One such player would be last year’s runner up Michael Smith who is second in the betting at 7/1.

There is an interesting case to be made for Mensur Suljovic too who, at 16/1, represents fine value. The Gentle had a terrible debut season in the Premier League last year winning just twice in nine matches, which led to his elimination on Judgement Night, but he also averaged a decent 99 throughout the tournament which was only bettered by MVG and Gary Anderson. His checkout success was also strong, with only Mighty Mike and Rob Cross faring better. The Premier League experience he picked up last year and the freshness acquired from an absense in the ProTour and European Tour events might just propel him on for a more successful campaign this time around.

At the other end of the table, Raymond van Barneveld and Gerwyn Price are the two favourites to bid an early farewell in the tournament. The final season for former great Barney has the potential to be a disappointing one, as indeed it was last year. But the popular Dutchman will feel the goodwill of the fans as he plays his last Premier League campaign and while he is 40/1 to win the title, he is also 9/4 to finish bottom, which sadly for Barney, looks more likely.

A look ahead to matchday one

As for matchday one, get on James Wade to inflict Barney’s first defeat of the campaign, Daryl Gurney to start with a win over Gerwyn Price, Mensur Suljovic to beat our first guest opponent Chris Dobey, MVG to win in his heavyweight clash with Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith and Peter Wright to punish Rob Cross in the last match of the night.

An accumulator on Wade, Gurney, Suljovic, van Gerwen and Wright will pay 28/1 at Betway.

(6/5) James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld (13/8)
(13/8) Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney (6/5)
(3/1) Chris Dobey v Mensur Suljovic (4/6)
(1/2) Michael van Gerwen v Michael Smith (4/1)
(7/5) Peter Wright v Rob Cross (7/5)

Quick glance at the Darts Premier League – Week 1

Venue: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Dates: Thursday 07.02.2019
Format: Best of 12 legs
Current Champion: Michael van Gerwen
Where To Watch: Sky Sports
When To Watch: (1900 GMT)

February1February 1, 2019

2019 PDC Darts Masters Betting Tips As The New Season Begins

By Peter FryersIn

Darts Betting Tips

The new PDC darts season gets underway this weekend in Milton Keynes with the 2019 Darts Masters at The Marshall Arena. Last season’s winner – and indeed the winner of the previous four Masters events – Michael van Gerwen is once again the favourite. His main challenger, Gary Anderson, who is the only other player in the top half of the draw to make the quarter-finals at the Ally Pally, has withdrawn due to a back injury.

However, 15 other big names from the PDC world will be on show, including Stephen Bunting, who replaces The Flying Scotsman.

Quick glance of the 2019 PDC Darts Masters

Venue: The Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes
Dates: Friday, February 1 to Sunday, February 3
Prize Money: Winner £60,000, Runner-Up £25,000, Semi-Finalists £17,500, Quarter-Finalists £10,000, First Round Losers £5,000
Format: First Round – Best of 19 legs, Quarter-Finals – Best of 19 legs, Semi-Finals – Best of 21 legs, Final – Best of 21 legs
Current Champion: Michael van Gerwen
Where To Watch: ITV4

Previewing the 2019 PDC Darts Masters matchups

This year, Mighty Mike goes into the event as World Champion, having won at the Alexandra Palace back on New Year’s Day. His rivals will be all too aware of his preference for the Masters’ longer style format, with the first round being best of 19. It is also true that he always starts the season strong, having refreshed himself over the January break and it usually shows by the time the world’s best head to Milton Keynes. Indeed, in 11 of his last 12 Masters matches, MVG has posted averages of 100 or more.

Mighty Mike opens up against sixteenth seed Jonny Clayton on Friday night. Welshman Clayton beat MVG in a Grand Slam of Darts group match last year and also came close in the quarter-finals. Given that match, who’s to say he’s not capable of winning here? Given his 125/1 price at Betway, he might be worth a small each way flutter. Also in the top half of the draw are Mensur Suljovic, who goes head to head with Simon Whitlock, Daryl Gurney will take on Dave Chisnall and Anderson’s stand-in, Stephen Bunting will face 13th seed Darren Webster.

Daryl Gurney is another who knows what it takes to beat MVG, having done exactly that at the Players Championship Finals. A poor World Championship display should inspire him to show his best again, especially with the Premier League campaign coming up on the horizon. In the absence of Gary Anderson, Gurney and his opponent Dave Chisnall might both be looking ahead to the semi-finals already.

In the bottom half of the draw, things are equally as competitive. Second seed Rob Cross begins his campaign as the solid favourite against Joe Cullen, while the ever (un)popular Gerwyn Price takes on the game’s other pantomime villain, one James ‘The Machine’ Wade. Sixth seed Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith faces Ian White in his opener, while Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright will need to improve drastically if he is to make it past first-round opponent Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis.

Peter Wright is the biggest name in this side of the draw, having a great deal more to prove than most after suffering a horrible 2018. His season came to an abrupt end at The Ally Pally where he fell at the first hurdle to distant outsider, Spain’s Toni Alcinas. During 2018, Wright only collected three titles, pitiful given his standing as world number two for the majority of the year. The year came after a strong 2018 where Snakebite picked up eleven titles including the UK Open. However, last year he did reach the finals of both the World Grand Prix and Champions League Darts, so there were fleeting moments of hope for the Scotsman, including his impressive if unexcepted demolition of MVG in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Wright has a tough start against two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis, who is slowly returning to form after a poor couple of seasons himself. Jackpot made the last 16 at the World Championships before coming up against MVG and could easily dismiss Peter Wright at the Darts Masters. Should Wright progress, he could face Ally Pally runner-up Michael Smith, who is now playing like an unofficial member of the top three, which is why his Betway price of 7/1 looks like a bargain worth taking. The St Helens thrower is second favourite ahead of Rob Cross, although he is outperforming Voltage massively as evidenced by his numerous ton plus averages at the World’s last month.

Elsewhere, Gerwyn Price, who was hit with a £21,500 fine plus a suspended sentence for his behaviour during his Grand Slam of Darts match against Gary Anderson, takes on James Wade. The English darter will also feel the boos rain down on him following his horrible attitude against Seigo Asada in North London. While neither are fancied to walk away with the season’s first trophy on Sunday, this match will provide an early season indicator on who this year’s public enemy number one will be.

2019 PDC Darts Masters betting lines

The following OUTRIGHT victory prices are all available at Betway.

(4/7) Michael van Gerwen v Jonny Clayton (125/1)
(20/1) Mensur Suljovic v Simon Whitlock (66/1)
(28/1) Daryl Gurney v Dave Chisnall (33/1)
(66/1) Stephen Bunting v Darren Webster (100/1)
(9/1) Rob Cross v Joe Cullen (50/1)
(28/1) Gerwyn Price v James Wade (28/1)
(7/1) Michael Smith v Ian White (66/1)
(12/1) Peter Wright v Adrian Lewis (20/1)