2016 Players Championship Finals quarters preview: Dutch giants MvG and RvB collide
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2016 Players Championship Finals
- Quarter-finals
- Sunday, November 27th
- Session starts: 12:45 GMT
- Butlins Resort, Minehead
- Live on ITV4
Mighty Mike v Barney the pick of the round
There were two all-Dutch duels on day two at the 2016 Players Championship Finals, and we are now treated to the highest profile of them all as world number one Michael van Gerwen and five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld lock horns in the quarters.
The absence of Phil Taylor doesn’t seem to have lowered the thrill and splendour of this tournament too much, with high averages (as well as very low ones) and checkouts galore in Minehead.
Other darting giants such as Gary Anderson, James Wade, Adrian Lewis and Robert Thornton all suffered early exits, but the likes of Dave Chisnall, Peter Wright and Kim Huybrechts remain and are chasing a maiden major title.
Meanwhile, in the evening session there is also the PDC World Youth Championship final between up-and-coming starlets Berry van Peer of the Netherlands and Australia’s Corey Cadby.
Read on to check out Coral’s 2016 Players Championship Finals quarters preview on finals day…
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Both Mighty Mike and Barney were below par early in their third round match-ups, the latter in particular after averaging 87.84 in a 10-2 victory over the lacklustre Joe Cullen, but the pair will be fresh and ready for yet another colossal clash.
Van Gerwen (1/7 heavy favourite) may boast a 25-16 winning record over his former idol, but Van Barneveld is one of the very few players in the world that can still worry the young-gun.
Barney halted MvG in last year’s World Championship last 16, despite the latter being in similar dominant form, and is 9/2 to upset him again.
The duo usually get the best out of each other, so expect fireworks from the off. Van Gerwen is 13/10 to hit a 180 in the opening leg, while Van Barneveld is a more tasty 21/10 to do likewise.
As both favour double 16 too, why not back the winning the match winning throw to be just that at a brilliant 3/1 price?
Many would expect that the victor of this match between multiple major title champions will go on and lift the trophy. MvG is odds-on favourite at 2/5 to defend his crown, with Barney out at 12/1 to end his two-year wait for top silverware.
Kim Huybrechts v Peter Wright
After belying the luck of the Irish three times, having beaten a star from the Emerald Isles’ northern nation in each of the first three rounds, Huybrechts has now been rewarded with a match-up with old foe Wright.
This happens to be the tournament that made the Belgian’s name, as he reached the final here back in 2012, and he also coincidentally defeated Snakebite at the same stage of that event.
The Hurricane won 10-6 that day, and is 16/1 to do so again, but the Scotsman is in by far the better form this year and is therefore 2/5 match favourite.
Having said that, it is fair to say that Huybrechts has played the better darts this tournament, after setting averages of 108.10 and 100.72 against Daryl Gurney and Brendan Dolan respectively. He is 2/1 to win.
This is incredibly tight to call given the above stats, but Wright is a brilliant 8/1 chance to just edge it 10-9.
He is also second-favourite at 6/1 to finally go on and lift his first ever major trophy. That price could dramatically shorten if Barney beats Van Gerwen, though, so take it while you can!
Dave Chisnall v Robbie Green
Merseyside duo Chisnall and Green have been paired up in the final quarter of the draw, and the former in particular has a great chance of reaching the semis for the first time here after going out in the quarters in both 2011 and 2015.
Having beaten Kong (5/2 match shout) in two of their three meetings, including most recently at the World Grand Prix last month, it is no surprise that PDC world number nine Chizzy is odds-on favourite at 3/10.
Likewise with others this tournament, he has not been at his best, but has done just enough and came through 10-9 against Jelle Klaasen in the last round after a slow start.
Maximums man Chisnall will no doubt better Green’s 180 total in this encounter, but can be backed at a tasty 11/10 to throw over 2.5 more than him.
Along with fellow top player Wright, Chisnall is still chasing a maiden major title, and is now the 8/1 tournament third-favourite to finally break his spell this time around.
Christian Kist v Darren Webster
With just one place separating these two players in the seedings for this tournament and no previous meetings to go by, this is certainly an intriguing affair as both surprise quarter-finalists aim to reach the semis of a PDC event for the first time.
Coral can barely split the duo either, though BDO world champion Kist is the slight 4/5 favourite to meet one of Dutch compatriots Van Gerwen or Van Barneveld in the last four later in the evening.
However, it is Webster who has come through the tougher opponents, after upsetting Simon Whitlock and then Alan Norris, who hit a nine-darter in the opening round.
It is destined to go nearly the distance, so back The Lipstick Kist at 7/1 to show his quality and down Demolition Man Webster 10-8.
Finals day schedule
Sunday, November 27th
Afternoon Session (12:45)
Quarter-Finals (best of 19 legs)
Evening Session (19:00)
Semi-finals and final (best of 21 legs)
PDC World Youth Championship final
Berry van Peer v Corey Cadby (best of 11 legs)
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