Premier League Darts Night 12: Play-off hopes MVG and Jackpot at the double
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | April 19, 2016
Premier League Darts 2016
- Night 12: Phase two, round three
- Thursday, April 21st
- Session from: 19:15-22:30 BST
- International Centre, Bournemouth
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Van Gerwen and Lewis aim to secure play-off place
Just four nights remain of the 2016 Premier League Darts season, before the play-offs at the O2 Arena on May 19th, and six names are still arguably left in the hunt for the final four places.
Michael van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis are second and third respectively, and can further enhance their semi-final chances by winning early on in the evening in Bournemouth before rounding off the session locking horns.
Peter Wright takes on Mighty Mike first up, while Raymond van Barneveld faces Jackpot and will be looking to go on another impossible late surge if he is to stand any chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
Elsewhere, defending champion Gary Anderson surely must gain a first win in three when he goes up against James Wade, and runaway leader Phil Taylor should have no troubles beating Robert Thornton.
Read on to find out Coral’s thoughts on the five fixtures on Night 12…
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
It is fair to say that Snakebite (11/2 match chance) is sick of the sight of Mighty Mike (1/3 favourite), having won just one of their last 17 battles and only ever once in a televised clash – the 2015 Japan Darts Masters.
After starting the season brightly and even spending two weeks at the top of the Premier League table, Wright has since slipped to sixth and three points off the play-offs.
A disappointing 7-2 loss to lowly compatriot Thornton last time out confirmed he is heavily out of touch, and could be on the end of another thrashing in Bournemouth. Snakebite is 7/1 to lose 7-1.
However, the Scotsman may be able to take advantage of Van Gerwen’s shaky form, as the Dutchman has won just one of his last five in the league. Three of those were draws, though, so a share of the spoils is tempting at 5/1.
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis
Barney (2/1 match chance) went on a brilliant late rampage last season to sneak into the play-offs, but being five points off the pace with just four fixtures to go this time looks an even more difficult task to achieve.
Jackpot is in decent form too, having won three of his last four and drawn the other, which is why he is the 10/11 favourite.
Lewis also threw a magnificent nine-darter in last week’s duel with Wade on his way to victory, so you can take odds of 20/1 for another perfect leg in this encounter. Darts fans will remember Jackpot managed one against Van Barneveld in the 2015 World Championship last 16, though went on to lose.
WATCH: Lewis hits the Jackpot in Belfast with a magnificent nine-darter! #lovethedartshttps://t.co/0zc9r8HsQR
— Live Darts (@livedarts) April 15, 2016
Gary Anderson v James Wade
The Flying Scotsman (8/13 favourite) is undefeated in his last 11 head-to-heads with Wade (3/1), and this is perhaps the most crucial match of the night as the former stands just one point above the latter in the table – and either side of the play-offs.
However, two of those meetings were draws, including their most recent battle just three weeks ago in this competition, so a share of the spoils again is priced at 4/1.
Anderson, meanwhile, is bidding for a third Premier League title, which would half Taylor’s total, and is 11/2 to do so.
Phil Taylor v Robert Thornton
Talking of Taylor, the all-time great is on a roll and determined once again to prove punters wrong that he is far from on the slide. He is 3/1 to lift this title for the first time since 2012.
The Power currently tops the table by four points after winning nine of his 12 matches so far, and is heavily odds-on at 2/7 to gain a fifth successive victory over The Thorn.
Scotsman Thornton has caused a couple of shocks this season, but is still in last place after Elimination Night and is a long shot at 6/1 to triumph.
Adrian Lewis v Michael van Gerwen
To cap the evening off, big hitters Van Gerwen (2/5 favourite) and Lewis (9/2) collide, with the former looking to increase his record over the later after losing in their most recent meetings last month at the Players Championship in Barnsley.
MvG is still 26-12 (two draws) up, though, and can all-but secure his place in the play-offs if he wins both fixtures in Bournemouth.
World number one Mighty Mike defeated Lewis 7-4 earlier this Premier League season, and is 6/1 to beat him by that scoreline once more.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Van Gerwen is a tempting 6/1 shout to beat Lewis 7-4.
