Adrian Lewis to beat Dave Chisnall –
Even with a game in hand, a six-point gap to the top four means the play-offs now look beyond Dave Chisnall.
An inability to get over the line has cost him during the last fortnight – first spurning a 6-3 lead against Peter Wright before missing seven darts to seal a win against Gary Anderson.
And Adrian Lewis is unlikely to afford Chisnall a similar opportunity this week, having won five of his last six matches in the competition to stay in the hunt for the O2.
Jackpot has won both meetings between the pair so far this year – including a comprehensive 7-2 victory in Nottingham – and looks good value in the evening’s opener.
Gary Anderson to beat Phil Taylor –
Both of these former champions are being made to sweat on their top-four chances after unconvincing campaigns so far.
It is Gary Anderson, though, who is in the slightly better form, following up a disappointing draw with Dave Chisnall to thrash Peter Wright with a 113.44 average in Liverpool.
Phil Taylor, meanwhile, suffered a surprise defeat to James Wade, despite leading 5-3 and having five darts to guarantee a draw.
These two couldn’t be separated in week five but, having missed the chance to throw for the match in that encounter, expect the Flying Scotsman to get the job done here.
Peter Wright to beat James Wade –
James Wade has found some form of late, beating Phil Taylor in Liverpool before making the semi-finals of the German Darts Masters at the weekend.
That run included a 6-3 victory over Peter Wright in the quarters, though he will be hard pressed to repeat the trick on Thursday, having lost his previous eight matches against Snakebite.
Wright’s finishing lets him down at times, though he is unlikely to be put under too much scoreboard pressure by a player who has hit just 10 maximums in his last nine matches.
The Scot is yet to lose back-to-back matches this campaign and, having already beaten Wade first time around, should return to winning ways in Belfast to continue his stellar season.
Michael van Gerwen to beat Raymond van Barneveld –
Two defeats in his last three matches means that Raymond van Barneveld is now just one point ahead of Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor, having played a game more.
And that slump will surely continue on Thursday against Michael van Gerwen, who stormed to his third German Darts Masters title in a row at the weekend.
The world No. 1 also has a point to prove after losing his 44-match unbeaten televised run to Barney earlier in tournament.
And having beaten his compatriot in eight of nine attempts before that defeat, MVG should have no trouble in consolidating his position at the top of the table.
Phil Taylor to beat Dave Chisnall –
Dave Chisnall has hit more 180s during his last four matches than Phil Taylor has managed all tournament.
Power scoring, though, can only take you so far, as Chizzy was reminded on the opening night when he hit five maximums to Taylor’s one and still went on to lose 7-3.
That defeat was Chisnall’s fourth in a row against The Power, and fifth in six matches in the Premier League.
Likely to need a win to stay in touch with the top, expect Taylor to show no mercy as he tries to continue his record of only failing to make the final four once in 17 seasons as a Premier League player.
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