A dramatic night ahead in Manchester with Hurricane and Snakebite set for the drop.
There is some serious pressure on five men in the Betway Premier League this week as all of them face the prospect of relegation from the competition. Only two will end up being eliminated and it looks like Kim Huybrechts and Peter Wright will suffer that fate.
Huybrechts’ inclusion in the tournament was questioned from the start and he has predictably struggled. He is two points adrift of safety heading into Thursday’s action and it is a bridge too far for him to cross to survive.
The Belgian takes on Stephen Bunting who is certainly playing the better darts of the pair with two wins and a draw from his last four outings. The Bullet looks worth backing to bring the curtain down on Kim’s debut season in the Betway Premier League at 11/8.
Wright is the other man who looks likely to drop out as he takes on Adrian Lewis in Manchester. Lewis has been struggling to get results this season but is not playing badly. Wright’s average of 87 last week suggests he is nowhere near his best and his tournament average of 94 is just not good enough.
Lewis has much the better of the head-to-head between the players and has won all three meetings this year. He might not be at his peak but Jackpot should be backed at 11/10.
Raymond van Barneveld is the other man threatened by the drop this week and he has a tough task
against Gary Anderson, although it is one he can come through.
Barney has been playing much better than his league position suggests, three times averaging over 100 without winning. He also has a good record of five wins from eight Betway Premier League contests with Anderson. The Dutchman also comfortably won their only meeting this year.
Anderson is playing very nicely but needing the points for survival Barney looks a great option at 3/1 for the win.
Elsewhere there are no relegation troubles as Michael van Gerwen faces James Wade and Phil Taylor meets Dave Chisnall, but there should be some cracking darts.
MVG is playing superbly at the moment and has won 10 of his last 11 matches with Wade. Whilst the Machine is in decent form we have to back the world number one for the win at 1/2.
Taylor against Chisnall is a closer one to call as Chizzy is continuing to upset the odds on a regular basis. The Power has only won two of his last five in the Betway Premier League and is two points behind Chisnall in the table.
If Taylor can really turn it on then he will win but the form book cannot be ignored and it makes Chisnall worth backing at a huge 100/30.
