Premier League Darts

Let's start with a big note of caution. We enjoyed tremendous success during both the PDC and BDO World Championships, but past success is not a guarantee of future success, and the Premier League Darts is sure to be harder going. Limited to the top players in the world, the bookies have plenty of data on those in action and that inevitable erodes the edge we had in December and January, and as such, we'll be more frugal with our stakes.

Peter Wright v Michael Smith

With televised darts somewhat limited, it can be easy for the market to overreact to a single tournament result, and I think that's possible the case with Michael Smith being the solid favourite against Peter Wright.

Wright is a man who can come in and out of form, but since his elimination at the Last 64 in the Worlds's he's reached the semi-final of both the Masters and the PDPA Players Champs in Wigan. Notably he has played Michael Smith twice in the past two weeks - winning 10-6 in the Masters and 6-5 in Wigan.

Starting with the throw is an advantage in this one, and I can't make him the 7/4 outsider that most firms do in this one, even if the draw is a big runner.

For those who like a bigger price, he will throw on odd-numbered legs (leg 1,3,5 etc) so the 7-4 correct score feels worth a punt at 8/1 with Bet Victor.

2pts Peter Wright to beat Michael Smith at 7/4 (General)

0.5pts Peter Wright to win 7-4 at 8/1 (Bet Victor)

Rob Cross v James Wade

James Wade has bounced between super hot and super average in recent months - he was sensational in the World Series back in November and reached the final of the Masters, but has also turned in some very ordinary performances between those. Calling this match looks really difficult, and the pair have shared their last ten meetings 5-5

Wade used to be a really top maximum builder, but he's been far from reliable on the treble 20 over the past 12 months - striking on average one treble from every five legs played. That's way below where other players at this level typically are, but the sample is enough for us to expect him to maintain that sort of level for the foreseeable future. He's hit 29 180s in his last 159 leg format matches (0.18 per leg). In the same time frame Cross has banged in 23 in 86 legs (0.27 per leg)

1pt Cross to hit the most 180s at 4/5 (General)

Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwyn Price

The rhetoric will absolutely tell you that RvB is gone at the game. He's certainly appearing to struggle of late, losing to Steve West and Ryan Searle in Wigan, and going down to James Wade in the Premier League last week.

He has a terrific 5-1 head-to-head record over Price though and with the throw to kick this match off, has to have a chance of beating the Welshman. The bookies don't really agree - making Price 11/10 favourite with RvB available at 15/8 with a number of firms.

With the throw, if he wins, it's likely that the final score could be 7-4 to the Dutchman, but that's considered an 8/1 outsider with Bet Victor which has to be a little bit of value.

Staying on the theme of RvB support, he's also worth backing at 9/5 with Betfair to hit the most 180s. Since November, in Leg format, Price has hit 52 180s in 210 legs - 0.25 per leg, while RvB has hit 19 in 70 legs - 0.27 per leg. There is no reason he should be a big underdog in this market.

1pt RvB to beat Gerwyn Price at 15/8 (General)

0.5pts RvB to beat Price 7-4 at 8/1 (Bet Victor)

1pt RvB Most 180s at 9/5 (Betfair)

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