Premier League: week nine acca
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Favourites expected to shine on Thursday
Week nine of the Premier League Darts, and it’s Judgement Night – well, sort of. Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts are already beyond help and this will be their final outing in the 2017 tournament. That means the pressure is off for both men to bow-out with a win.
The eight players left in the running now focus on securing their place in the play-offs via a top-four finish, and there’s certainly still all to play for on that front. We’ve rarely had things so competitive for the major places, with just four points between leader Michael van Gerwen and James Wade down in seventh.
Keeping our feet on the ground and there’s plenty to get through in Cardiff. We have put together our winner in each of the five matches, and think Thursday will be a night for the favourites. Every £10 on our acca returns £63.30, if our thinking is shrewd, with prices and returns quoted correct at the time of writing.
Wright beat Huybrechts
The usually consistent Peter Wright was overthrown by MVG at the top last week, having lost 7-5 to Phil Taylor in a result not many saw coming. It wasn’t the massive shock many made out, The Power is still a very capable player when he wants to be, but Snakebite didn’t do himself any favours at the Manchester Arena. Thankfully for him, he has been handed what appears to be the perfect match to get himself back to winning ways. Kim Huybrechts will be leaving us, and I reckon without a win to his name. Wright to do as expected at 2/5.
Taylor beat Klaasen
Has Phil Taylor finally arrived on the scene? Punters won’t get their hopes up too much, as Wright’s sloppy misses at the doubles went some way to handing Taylor the victory. The record-breaking world champion won’t grumble however and has every chance of a quickfire double. Win number four of the season would throw him into the mix, and we trust the 56-year-old at 2/9.
Anderson beat Lewis
This could turn out to be game of the night, if Lewis fancies his chances. Jackpot goes to Wales with a record reading four wins, one draw and three defeats, and took a confidence boosting 7-5 win over a desperate Klaasen last week. The Englishman is level on points with his opponent, and could leapfrog the Scot into the top-four with a win – we don’t see it happening. Anderson also got the points last week, and boasts the lion’s share of the head-to-head stats. He can enhance that at a handy 8/13.
Barneveld beat Wade
Barneveld goes to Cardiff in flying form. The Dutchman got the better of fellow countryman Michael van Gerwen last week in what was, by far, upset of the evening. In Mighty’s first defeat of the current campaign, the tie swung back-and-forth, with Barney racing to a 3-0 lead, before dipping in the middle and fighting back to steal the show. That result came on the back of a 7-2 victory over Gary Anderson in Holland. Playing the kind of darts we all know he is capable of, it’ll pay to keep Raymond close at a value 10/11.
van Gerwen beat Chisnall
Chisnall will probably never have a better chance to beat MVG, with his opponent suffering a hurtful defeat last week, but the odds don’t rate the upset, and I must say I don’t either. Chizzy has survived the drop by the skin of his teeth, but it won’t be for long as he has no chance of making the play-offs. I expect the outsider to be a bit of an also-ran for the remainder of his involvement, and he’ll meet a bear with a sore head in MVG. 1/5 Michael bounces back to form rounds off our acca.
