Premier League Darts Week 11 Preview

Phil Taylor may be well clear at the top of the Premier League table but the scrap for the remaining three play-off places looks set to intensify with only four weeks to go before finals night at the O2 Arena.

The Bournemouth International Centre is the venue for week eleven of the competition and there are some interesting match-ups to look forward to.

Simon Whitlock is currently second in the standings and a semi-final berth will be beckoning for the Wizard if he can overcome Raymond Van Barneveld who lies fourth.

The two players fought out a thrilling 7-7 draw all the way back in week one and a similar result could easily play out down on the south coast.

But it is perhaps Aussie Whitlock who could prevail based on the fact that he will be carrying momentum into the tie following victories against Gary Anderson and Kevin Painter over the last fortnight.

Barny was comprehensively beaten by old rival Taylor last time out in Sheffield and the big Dutchman will have to pick himself up quickly in order to deny Whitlock a third consecutive success.

James Wade currently sits in third place and the Machine will be keen to attain some consistency in Bournemouth by following up on his win over Gary Anderson in the Steel City.

Wade has a five for five record and is a point in front of fifth placed Adrian Lewis, but that advantage could be stretched if the Leicester man can put Andy Hamilton to the sword.

Hamilton was a shock winner against Wade in the reverse tie but that was right at the start of the tournament when Wade was woefully out of sorts.

Hamilton has since languished in seventh place and Wade will be fancied to confirm the league placing with a comfortable result here.

Adrian Lewis must realistically beat Phil Taylor to stay in contention for the semis but that looks a tall order considering the Jackpot’s inconsistency.

Lewis held Taylor to a draw back at the MEN Arena but with Taylor now fully in the groove a win has to be anticipated for the Power – providing that he is not taking things easy now seven points clear.

Sixth placed Gary Anderson squares off against basement boy Kevin Painter in the final match – with the Artist out to stop a miserable run of five defeats on the spin.

Painter made a fairly promising start to life in the Premier League however he has been gradually found out as the tournament has progressed.

Painter’s mediocre average of just 92 goes a long way to explain his performance overall which has been someway short of the required standard.

The psychological advantage undoubtedly goes to Painter following his victory over Anderson in week one, but the Scot can put things right second time around and should ease clear if able to get into a rhythm.

Anderson was far from fluent when battling to a draw with Andy Hamilton last time but that result represented an improvement as he had experienced a long losing run, like Painter, over the past few weeks.

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16/04/2012     © Frixo 2024