Darts Premier League Preview

The songs, the walk on girls, thousands of drunk people singing along to Planet Funk, it can only mean one thing, the return of Premier League Darts on Thursday night. Can anyone stop Phil Taylor as he seeks to win this for the seventh time in the nine year history of the event?

Taylor is the deserved 9/4 (BWin/betway) favourite for the event as he enters full of confidence after his victory in the PDC World Championship which was followed by World Cup success alongside Adrian Lewis. The Englishman will once again take all the beating. If anyone can stop Taylor it will be Michael Van Gerwen. Though making his debut the Dutchman will have his supporters at 7/2 (sportingbet/Blue Sq/888 Sport). Van Gerwen is not a player who will be afraid of the venues and the crowds. I think his youth will help him in this weekly event where games and travel come thick and fast. Take the 3/1 (sportingbet) on Van Gerwen to top the regular season standings and try keep both Taylor and Van Gerwen on side for the play-offs.

Other players taking part this year are Adrian Lewis who is a 9/1 (general) chance. The Englishman is inconsistent and looked more out than in at the recent World Cup. My advice is to keep an eye on Lewis because a slow start might see that price push out to bigger value. Raymond Van Barneveld is 10/1 (Blue Sq/888 Sport/Coral) though his weight and diabetes make him not someone to side with in a marathon like this. If Barney can get to the last four then he might be worth a fresh look at.

Simon Whitlock is a player who I am a fan of and his ultra-consistent game is perfect for a tournament like this. The Australian can be backed at 6/4 (Skybet) to make the last four and this looks good odds on a player who made the final in this last year. Other players in the tournament are Gary Anderson who is a 14/1 (Coral/ladbrokes/paddy Power) chance. The Scot won this event in 2011 though he has looked a long way short of that form in recent months.

James Wade is 18/1 (general) and the 2009 champion might have some each-way backers especially after looking back to his best in reaching the semi-finals of the World Championships. If he can bounce back from the personal issues that affected him last year he could be a real dark horse for this.

Wes Newton is a 25/1 (general) chance as he makes his debut in the tournament. The World Championship quarter-finalist is no mug and although I do not think he can win this he could prove to be a dangerous underdog opponent. Look for him in the weekly markets. Robert Thornton is 33/1 (Coral/Skybet) chance and he is here thanks to his UK Open win. The Scot might find himself a little out of his depth and at 10/3 (Sportingbet/Coral) he looks the value in the to finish bottom market.

The third and final selection is on Andy Hamilton to do better than expected. Although the Hammer has been dismissed by bookmakers as an outsider, (33/1 Skybet/Coral) he did make the last four in this event last year. Hamilton is a little like David Ferrer in Tennis he does well against opponents lower ranked than him though struggles to beat the big names. The nature of the tournament should give the Hammer enough chances and at 4/9 (ladbrokes) he looks big value in the to stay up market and worth a small stake at 9/2 (Skybet) to reach the last four.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Andy Hamilton to stay up at 4/9 (ladbrokes)
SILVER: Michael Van Gerwen to top the regular season, 3/1 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Simon Whitlock to make the last four, 6/4 (Skybet)

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07/02/2013     © Frixo 2024