2017 PDC Worlds day 12 preview: Taylor takes on old foe Huybrechts
Published:
2017 PDC World Championship
- Third round, day 12
- Thursday, December 29th
- First session starts: 13:00 GMT
- Second session starts: 19:00 GMT
- Alexandra Palace, London
- Live on Sky Sports Darts (3)
MvG, Taylor and Wright all feature
We now know the first two 2017 PDC World Championship quarter-finalists, as title holder Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld emerged on top from thrilling encounters with Benito van de Pas and Adrian Lewis respectively.
But six more stats from Thursday’s action will be looking to join them in the latter stages, with the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Peter Wright all readying themselves.
Read on to see our 2017 PDC Worlds day 12 preview…
Afternoon session
Mark Webster v Daryl Gurney
The Spider is one of two Websters (not related) in action today, as the Welshman takes to the Ally Pally first on day 12 against Northern Ireland’s Gurney.
Despite SuperChin reaching this stage of any World Championship for the first time, and Webster being a former BDO champion and PDC semi-finalist, it is the former who is 8/15 match favourite.
The Spider (6/4) may be 3-2 up in head-to-heads and saw off in-form Mensur Suljovic in the last round, but Gurney has won the last two meetings and has looked the better player this tournament so far. SuperChin is, therefore, 4-1 to edge it 4-3.
Dave Chisnall v Jelle Klaasen
This is perhaps the closest duel on paper, as both are top 10 ranked arrowsmiths and have reached the latter rounds of multiple major tournaments.
Chizzy (8/13) has been the better player on tour over the last few years, but Klaasen (13/10) has had more success in World Championships – having won the BDO edition in 2006 and got to the semis here last year.
But again, it’s difficult not to back the favourite in the match, Chisnall, who will be looking to reach the quarters at Ally Pally for the first time. In a match special, he is 4/1 to win, hit 10+ 180s and throw a checkout of 124+.
James Wade v Michael Smith
Young-gun Smith has defied his poor form during the second half of the year to beat both Ricky Evans and Mervyn King to get to the third round.
However, he looks to be finally unstuck by Wade, who has been highly impressive so far without breaking too much sweat.
The Machine (4/11) has beaten Bully Boy (11/5) six times in their eight meetings, including most recently 10-5 in the Champions League of Darts. Wade is 10/3 to win 4-2 in sets on this occasion.
Evening session
Peter Wright v Ian White
Onto the evening fixtures, 46-year-old duo Wright (1/7) and White (9/2) lock horns for a place in the quarters.
Despite Snakebite is still yet to win a major, he’s one of the most consistent stars on tour, having reached at least the semis in four premier events in 2016.
The Scotsman’s 9-5 record over White and overall confidence on the big stage should be enough to overcome Diamond again. Back him at 6/4 to be King of the Oche (win match, get most 180s and highest checkout).
Phil Taylor v Kim Huybrechts
All-time great Taylor (1/4) and 2012 quarter-finalist Huybrechts (3/1) battle it out to face Van Barneveld – and both know they have dominant records over the Dutchman.
But The Power is also leading the Hurricane 10-1 in meetings, while he edged the Belgian 4-3 at this very stage in the 2014 Worlds.
It could be that close again, with Taylor’s powers slightly waning, so why not back the 16-time world champion at 5/1 to win by that scoreline once more?
Michael van Gerwen v Darren Webster
Of late, it seems that if anyone is going to beat Van Gerwen (1/33), Webster (12/1) is the man to do it.
Demolition Man, who works in property maintenance by trade, has picked up his arrows this year, strolled onto the stage and shown the big guns how it’s done.
Nothing seems to phase Webster, and he even gave MvG an almighty scare in the Players Championship semis last month by leading 6-0 – before going on to lose 11-8.
Demolition Man’s match odds do look very enticing, but Van Gerwen somehow came through the last round despite Cristo Reyes averaging over 106, so back the dominant Dutchman at 6/1 to triumph 4-2.
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