DARTS expert Mark Stinchombe (@MarkStinchcombe) shares his favourites fancies from Thursday's evening session at the World Championship.
Peter Wright v Ian White | Thursday 19:20 | Sky Sports 3
Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright has cruised to this stage – yet to drop a set, he’s averaged over 100 in both matches, with a checkout rate of 58%. His opponents haven’t been up to much, but they’re still impressive performances.
I saw Ian White’s match against Jonny Clayton in the second round in person and liked what I saw from the ‘Diamond’. He hit 8 180s, checking out 48% of his darts, including a double-top, double-top combo.
They’ve faced each other four times this year, and while Wright’s come out on top in three of them, the overall leg score is 32-22 and I think White can keep this closer than the odds suggest if he takes his chances.
It will be hard for Snakebite to maintain that checkout rate, whilst Jamie Lewis had six opportunities at double but took just one leg.
I think White to manage to get two sets on the board at odds-against is value so I’m backing White +2.5 sets at 11/8 (Stan James).
Phil Taylor v Kim Huybrechts | Thursday 20:30 | Sky Sports 3
After Phil Taylor eased through without setting the world alight against Kevin Painter, there was a lot of talk about what Kim Huybrechts would potentially bring to the match.
Well he beat Max Hopp 4-0, but it was a fairly average performance with a 92.76 average and 39% checkout.
There isn’t a lot of love lost between these two, with Taylor not keen on Huybrechts over the top celebrations and Kim getting upset at it. Taylor almost looks to make a point of it when they meet, leading their head-to- head 10-1, including at this stage two years ago in a 4-3 win.
I don’t think the pace of Taylor suits Kim, to the determent of his treble 20 hitting, and with Phil never the most prolific 180 hitter, I think the 12.5 line has been pitched too high (10/11 Coral).
‘The Power’ himself has only thrown five in 27 legs so far, and Taylor won 3-0 when winning 6-3 in Austria earlier this year. Indeed two years ago there were just seven thrown between them here.
Michael van Gerwen v Darren Webster | Thursday 21:30 | Sky Sports 3
This is a rematch of the semi-final at the Players Championship last month, and what a little run Darren Webster has been on.
After whitewashing Phil Taylor 5-0 at the Grand Slam of Darts earlier in November, he went to Minehead and dispatched Simon Whitlock and Alan Norris amongst others, before racing into a 6-0 lead v MVG!
Van Gerwen clawed his was back to win 11-8, but Darren Webster knows he’s playing well.
He beat Stephen Bunting in a tight contest in round one before a magnificent 4-0 victory over again Whitlock, averaging 104.64, hitting 8 180s and 60% on his checkouts.
It’s 16 180s so far for Webster and I don’t think it’s a big ask here to hit four the way he’s playing at 11/10 (Bey365).
According to the East Anglian, “Me scorin’s phenomenal!”
Best Bets
Peter Wright v Ian White – Ian White +2.5 sets (11/8 Stan James)
Phil Taylor v Kim Huybrechts – Under 12.5 180s (10/11 Coral)
Michael van Gerwen v Darren Webster – Darren Webster Over 3.5 180s (11/10 Bet365)
