2016 Tokyo Darts Masters quarters: Lewis and Wright set for tight jostle in Japan

Holly Thackeray | July 6, 2016

2016 Tokyo Darts Masters

Tokyo tussles draw to a close

Japanese fans have again lapped up the arrow action in their homeland, as this latest stop on the World Series tour enters its final day of drama in East Asia.

The 2016 Tokyo Darts Masters first round saw all eight oche homegrown hopes fall to the PDC’s superstars in the Land of the Rising Sun, but now the big names must battle each other.

RECAP | Here are the full results from Day One of the Tokyo Darts Masters. pic.twitter.com/rqh2XtQmgv

— Tokyo Darts Masters (@Japan_Darts) July 6, 2016

This trophy is Phil Taylor’s to defend, though Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen have laid down the gauntlet this year with spurring oche successes in recent World Series events in Shanghai, Auckland and Dubai.

Though, of course, darts is fondly known for being a sport of shocks, meaning remaining protagonists Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade, Dave Chisnall, Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis are all in with a shout of becoming king.

AROUND THE WORLD! Here are all the channels broadcasting the Tokyo Darts Masters. #TokyoDarts pic.twitter.com/ApXwJ9Xdj5

— Tokyo Darts Masters (@Japan_Darts) July 6, 2016

Notable duels on the second day include a contest between regular nearly men Snakebite and Jackpot, as Chizzy tackles MvG and Barney squares up to the Flying Scotsman.

Read on for our thoughts and top tips for all the quarter-finals…

Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld

It’s all level on head-to-heads here, with 14 victories apiece in this pair’s history plus two draws. There can be no splitting of the spoils now, though, with a semis spot at stake.

And, as Anderson is on a stupendous streak of seven successive victories against his opponent, including just last month in the final four of the Auckland Masters and at this stage in Dubai, it is tough to see past the Scot at an odds-on 3/10 price.

If Barney brings his ‘A’ game in East Asia it could be a different story, but the Dutchman is justly a 5/2 outsider to clip the Flying Scotsman’s wings. Recent collisions have been close, however, so customers can back Van Barneveld at 11/2 to lose 8-5.

While, Anderson is 7/2 to win the lot and make the most of a path to the finale on which he will avoid both of Taylor and Mighty Mike until the last if he qualifies from this quarter as expected.

Adrian Lewis v Peter Wright

As if Anderson v Barney wasn’t enough of a curtain raiser, the follow-up act sees Jackpot pitted against Snakebite after the duo sank Tsuneki Zaharias and Chikara Fujimoro respectively and with minimum fuss.

Lewis’ luck ran out last time in Shanghai as he struggled against banana skin opposition Chizzy, though more often than not he gets it right against Wright. For value on the Potter plump for him to poach most maximums at 6/5.

Should Jackpot triumph in Tokyo (8/11) it will mean his head-to-head haul is double that of his foe’s, as Snakebite (11/10) stands shakily on just right victories to 15.

Great to have Peter Wright back in his colours this evening. #TokyoDarts pic.twitter.com/X24vti4S2W

— Tokyo Darts Masters (@Japan_Darts) July 6, 2016

The Scotsman has not looked his usual self of late, which is perhaps when punters should be wary. But Snakebite should just be glad to not face Taylor in this half of the draw, after he fell on the Osanbashi Hall oche in the finale to the Englishman last year and again recently in China by a leg.

Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall

Local lad Masumi Chino bravely managed to bag three legs off Mighty Mike in the opening encounter, but MvG (1/6 match favourite) is becoming increasingly known for his lack of concentration versus relative minnows, making him ripe for almost giant killings.

This clash with Chizzy is no such thing, however, as the tungsten twosome are fresh from wrestling in the Shanghai semis, where Van Gerwen was victorious by an 8-5 margin.

A repeat of that scoreline is 11/2, and an eventual tournament triumph by the Dutchman is even-money as he seeks his second World Series silverware on the trot.

Chisnall has been showing improved form, but this match-up likely comes too soon after his China ousting to see odds of 4/1 for him to prevail be worth a punt.

Phil Taylor v James Wade

Finally, this all English affair gives a resurgent Wade a 21/10 chance of taking out legendary Taylor, though it is unlikely The Power will surrender his title so easily.

The Machine did memorably out-do his countryman Once Upon a Time in China, but a repeat seems unlikely so soon after wit his rival most dangerous when stung. Titan Taylor knows how to win in Tokyo and is 3/1 to retain and still 4/11 to see off Wade in this wrangle.

It ended 8-6 to Wade in Shanghai, but a role reversal by that same scoreline is 6/1 to push The Power on here to a probable semis scuffle with MvG.

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Coral’s top tip: Anderson 11/2 to beat Barney 8-5.