It’s the penultimate week of the Premier League Darts, before the play-off battle gets underway. And it couldn’t be much more exciting, with a resurgent Barney shooting up the table and Phil Taylor desperate to get back into the play-off spots.
After avoiding relegation by the skin of his teeth in week nine, Raymond van Barneveld has won each of his last five to get up to a remarkable third-place. Baring in mind that he has faced the five highest ranked opponents in each of those fixtures only adds to the grandness of the feat he has achieved.
This week’s action comes from the Newcastle Metro Arena, and the four play-off positions could be sealed up if results go a certain way – making this the most crucial round of fixtures to date.
Last week I correctly predicted four of the five results, which earned a healthy Heinz win. Let’s see if we can go one better this week.
Dave Chisnall v Stephen Bunting
A draw with James Wade last week ended Bunting’s hopes of reaching the play-offs in his debut Premier League season, but it has nevertheless been a positive one for the St Helens’ player.
Second-place Chisnall was beaten by Bunting in week six of the competition, and although revenge would be sweet for Chizzy, he is already assured of his place in the play-offs for the first time after beating Adrian Lewis last week.
Verdict: Draw – 7/2 at bet365
Adrian Lewis v Michael van Gerwen
Adrian Lewis needs nothing less than a victory against MVG, while hoping Gary Anderson is beaten by Phil Taylor to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs. Even then, he’d still need to beat Anderson in the final fixture next week, and hope Taylor loses to James Wade. Basically, Adrian Lewis is all-but out of play-off contention.
Michael van Gerwen got back to winning ways last week by beating Phil Taylor 7-4, and a victory here would see him guarantee top spot with a week to spare.
Verdict: Michael van Gerwen to win – 8/13 at Paddy Power
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
Barney has risen like the phoenix from the ashes since his play-off scare, and will be very confident of beating eighth-place James Wade who is without a win in six. A win for the Dutchman would assure him of a play-off place.
Verdict: Raymond van Barneveld to win – 11/8 at Stan James
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
In the match of the night, Phil Taylor has to beat Gary Anderson if he is to have any chance of making the play-offs this year.
The Power is the only player to have played in all 11 editions of Premier League Darts, and has reached the play-offs every single year. What’s more, Taylor won the league stages of the first eight editions, and has finished in third place for the past two years behind Michael van Gerwen and Barney respectively. While the Premier League Darts competition is without doubt becoming more competitive year-by-year, Taylor failing to even reach the play-offs would be a goliath shock for the sport.
Can Taylor beat Anderson to open the play-off battle right up, or will Anderson secure his own play-off spot?
Verdict: Phil Taylor to win – 11/8 at BetVictor
