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June14June 14, 2018

Michael van Gerwen Wins In Gibraltar

Michael van Gerwen lifted yet another trophy at the weekend, this time regaining the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. Beating a resurgent Adrian Lewis, the imperious Dutchman posted a 8-3 victory over the lesser spotted ‘Jackpot’ to give him his thirteenth title of 2018, a roll call that includes the Darts Masters, Premier League and the World Cup of Darts.

His tournament average was 104 — the best in the field — while during the final, a 108 average was enough to put an end to Lewis’ hopes of a much-needed victory. The twice former World Champion’s run to the final was the deepest he has gone in a European Tour event since winning the 2012 German Darts Masters and included some pretty tough fixtures.

He beat Gibraltar’s Clayton Otton 6-0 in Friday’s first round before seeing off Mensur Suljovic, James Wade and Peter Wright on his way to the latter stages of the competition where he beat Paul Nicholson to reach the final, his third final that goes towards yearly rankings. Interestingly, his improved form is being reflected in his odds of winning the World Championship for the third time. The Stoke-born chucker can now be backed at online bookmakers Betway for 50/1.

Betway’s evens favourite for the World championship, Mighty Mike, had it far easier, or maybe he just made it look that way. He made it to the final courtesy of wins against Vincent van der Voort, Andy Boulton, Jonny Clayton and Steve West.

Michael Smith, himself an Ally Pally 28/1 shot, was the defending champion in Gibraltar but the Premier League runner-up was beaten by Jermaine Wattimena as early as the second round. World Champion Rob Cross –- 9/2 to regain his own crown — continues his search for a first title of the year after a 6-5 quarter-final elimination at the hands of Steve West.

June9June 9, 2018

Netherlands Win World Cup Of Darts For The Fourth Time

By Peter FryersIn

Darts Betting Tips

For the fourth time in their history, The Netherlands are the World Cup of Darts champions after Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld beat Scotland’s Peter Wright and Gary Anderson in a final everyone was predicting. The defending champions dropped only one solitary point throughout the entire tournament. That point came in the final, a game where van Gerwen and van Barneveld came out 3-1 winners.

This is the fourth time Holland have won the Cup and the third from this pairing, having previously bagged the prize in 2014 and 2017. On the other occasion, Barney teamed up with Co Stompe to win in 2010. Their latest victory also means the Dutch have drawn level with England for the most World Cup victories, with Phil Taylor and Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis winning in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

The final took place at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt with the opening singles match fought between MVG and Peter Wright with the Dutchman reigning supreme and banking a 4-2 victory. Mighty Mike achieved the win despite some below par scoring. The world number one averaged 97 and hit just one solitary 180 but was far more clinical with his doubles, landing four out of five.

The next singles match of the night saw Scotland draw level when Gary Anderson successfully saw off the challenge of Raymond van Barneveld. The Flying Scotsman sank Barney with a 4-1 win, hitting five 180s and averaging 97.

Things swung back in favour of the Netherlands during the pairs match when MVG and RVB combined to average 100 over a 4-1 rout, while Scotland missed three darts at a double. In the first reverse singles match, MVG put the result beyond doubt when he beat Anderson 4-0 to give the Holland the victory yet again.

Earlier on in the evening, Scotland had beaten Australia, while the Dutch pair were impressive in their semi-final clash with Belgium, who knocked England out in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win. The Netherlands upset the Frankfurt crowd by knocking out Germany 2-0 during the other quarter-finals match.

World Darts Championship preview

In other darts news, the World Darts Championship has been supersized to include 96 competitors, including for the first time ever, two women competitors. Previously, darts’ biggest event saw 72 players competing over the Christmas and New Year period, but the 2018 World Darts Championship will see inclusion of a further 24 qualifiers. Six additional sessions will be added to this year’s schedule to accommodate the extra matches at Alexandra Palace.

The announcement hasn’t, as you might expect, done anything for the early betting on the Championships with Michael van Gerwen installed as the evens favourite at Betway which, is unlikely to stay that way if his current form is any indicator.

The reigning champion, Rob Cross is the 9/2 second favourite, while two-time winner Gary Anderson is out at a very decent 6/1, half the price of his compatriot Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright, who is 12’s. Aussie Corey Cadby is next in the betting at 28/1, is the same price as Michael Smith, who many believe is capable of being this year’s Cross, following an impressive showing in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Daryl Gurney is available at 33/1 while another two-time winner, Adrian Lewis can be backed at 50/1.

May30May 30, 2018

Mensur Suljovic Wins First World Series Of Darts Title

By Peter FryersIn

Darts Betting Tips

Austria’s Mensur Suljovic won his first World Series of Darts title after beating the young Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh 8-2 in the German Darts Masters last Sunday. The Big Gentle overcame 16 others in front of 20,000 fans at the Veltins Arena.

Earlier on in the evening Suljovic defeated Robert Marijanovic 6-2 in the first round before seeing off world champion Rob Cross 8-7 in the quarter-final, which was prior to destroying defending champion Peter Wright 8-2 in the semis. Suljovic maintained his momentum through the final as he put together an average of 101.63 that comprised of five 180s. Suljovic also successfully landed eight of his 13 attempts at doubles in a comprehensive victory.

World youth champion, Van den Bergh had soundly beaten Martin Schindler 6-0 in round one, hitting an average of 109.98 on the way. That stat dropped to 94 come the quarter-final but was still more than enough to overcome world number one Michael van Gerwen 8-3. A Semi-Final average of 92 was also enough to put away Gary Anderson 8-7 in a match where the 23-year-old from Antwerp nailed a brilliant 124 checkout, proving he is certainly one to keep an eye on as we move into the latter part of the year.

The German Darts Masters was the first of six such events to be staged on the PDC’s World Series of Darts circuit in 2018. Next up, is the U.S. Darts Masters that will be held in the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in early July.

World Series of Darts Events

July 3 – 7: U.S. Darts Masters
July 13-14: Shanghai Darts Masters
August 3-5: Auckland Darts Masters
August 10-12: Melbourne Darts Masters
August 17-19: Brisbane Darts Masters
November 2-4: World Series of Darts Finals

World Cup of Darts Betting Tips

The World Cup of Darts is the next event on our radar and it starts this Thursday in Frankfurt. Scotland, whose team is comprised of Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, are 11/4 second favourites with event sponsors Betway. However, the all-too-familiar Dutch pair of Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld — defending champions no less — stand in their way. They are strongly fancied at evens among the 32 nations taking part in the tournament that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The Dutch pair will begin the defense against Dyson Parody and Justin Broton of Gibraltar.

Snakebite and The Flying Scotsman will match up against Larry Butler and Darin Young of the United States of America in round one, while four-time winners England — represented by Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall — will play the Czech Republic’s Roman Benecky and Karel Sedlacek. England, should you fancy them, are listed at 5/1 chance Betway to win their fifth World Cup title.

20/1 number four seed Australia — led by Simon Whitlock & Kyle Anderson — take on Hong Kong, while last year’s finalists Wales, also 20/1 and featuring Gerwyn Price & Jonny Clayton, will play Thailand. Former finalists Belgium, this year represented by Kim Huybrechts & Dimitri Van den Bergh, are priced at a rather tasty 28/1. They will play their first game against the Republic of Ireland, while number six seeds, Daryl Gurney’s Northern Ireland are 25/1 and will meet Poland. Eighth seeds Austria, also 25/1, will come up against Japan.

World Cup of Darts Draw

Scotland v USA
Denmark v Brazil
Austria v Japan
Italy v Canada
Wales v Thailand
Switzerland v China
Australia v Hong Kong
Russia v Spain
England v Czech Republic
New Zealand v Singapore
Belgium v Republic of Ireland
Greece v Finland
Northern Ireland v Poland
Sweden v Germany
Netherlands v Gibraltar
Hungary v South Africa