Week 12 Preview by Shane McArdle
The Premier League season continues this week, Thursday (April 18th), with the action coming from The Rotterdam Ahoy Arena in Netherlands.
The tournament see’s eight of the top darting stars contest across a 16 week mini-event format over the season, with each league night comprising of a quarter-final, semi-final and final format, all of which will be played over the best of 11 legs (first to six).
Each week’s winner will receive a £10,000 bonus.
Ranking points will also be awarded each night, with five going to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the losing semi-finalists, to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to the Play-Offs at The O2 in London on Thursday May 23.
The action will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from 7pm on Thursday evening.
Quarter-Final Match Betting and Predictions:
Thursday March 11th
(Prices correct as of 5pm on April 15th)
(7:15pm) 17/10 Michael Smith v Luke Littler 2/5 (Prediction – Michael Smith)
A cracking match to get the action underway in Rotterdam.
Michael Smith was a 6-3 winner over Gerwyn Price in Birmingham last week, before losing 6-4 to eventual nightly winner MVG.
Luke Littler was a deciding-leg winner over Rob Cross before coming through another last-leg decider in the semi-finals against World No.1 Luke Humphries. He then was second best throughout the final, where he eventually lost 6-3 to Michael van Gerwen.
In what should be a close encounter, the current form of Bully Boy tips it in favour of Michael Smith for me.) Correct Score Prediction: 6-4
(8pm) 7/5 Rob Cross v Gerwyn Price 11/20 (Prediction – Gerwyn Price)
Both these players were beaten in their opening quarter-finals in Birmingham on Thursday last. Rob Cross had chances before losing out narrowly in a last-leg decider to Luke Littler, whilst Gezzy Price was under par in a 6-3 defeat to Michael Smith.
The form indicator going into this game could be the International Darts Open, which took place last weekend in Riesa, Germany. In that event, Rob Cross lost in the third round to Ritchie Edhouse (6-4) whilst Gerwyn Price was beaten in the final 8-5 by hometown hero Martin Schindler.
Based on this, I’m going for a Price win in this quarter-final.) Correct Score Prediction: 3-6
(8:45pm) 6/4 Peter Wright v Nathan Aspinall 1/2 (Prediction – Peter Wright)
It’s bottom versus fourth in the Premier League in this quarter-final.
Peter Wright lost his opening match in Birmingham last week 6-4 to World No.1 Luke Humphries. He also lost his opening match at the weekend’s International Darts Open in a last-leg decider to Gabriel Clemens.
Nathan Aspinall lost his opening quarter-final 6-4 to eventual winner MVG in Birmingham last Thursday before losing 6-2 to Danny Noppert in the International Darts Open in Riesa, where he had an uncharacteristic nightmare on the outer ring.
I expect an upset in this one and it’s a win for Peter Wright for me.) Correct Score Prediction: 4-6
(9:30pm) 13/10 Michael van Gerwen v Luke Humphries 6/10 (Prediction – Luke Humphries)
Michael van Gerwen got back to winning ways in Birmingham last week, enjoying impressive victories over Nathan Aspinall (6-4), Michael Smith (6-4) and Luke Littler (6-3) on his way to his fourth nightly win.
He took the weekend off and didn’t participate in the International Darts Open.
World No.1 and current World Champion Luke Humphries beat Peter Wright in his opening quarter-final on Thursday last before losing out to Luke Littler in the semi-finals. He then lost 6-4 in the third round of the International Darts Open at the weekend in Germany to Stephen Bunting.
Following his nightly win in Birmingham last week, many will fancy MVG to follow-up in his home country, but I not only expect Luke Humphries to win this game but also to win the overall night here in Rotterdam this week.
Correct Score Prediction: 4-6
Week 12 Nightly Winner (Rotterdam) Prediction: Luke Humphries @ 9/4
Tournament Outright Betting:
Luke Humphries 13/8 – Luke Littler 15/8 – Michael van Gerwen 33/10 – Nathan Aspinall 12/1 – Michael Smith 14/1 – Gerwyn Price 20/1 – Rob Cross 28/1 Peter Wright 250/1