DARTS expert expert Kyle Brown (@Kyleianbrown) talks us through the 11th week of Premier League action, picking out his favourite fancies.
Week 11 – Thursday 18th April 2019 | Cardiff
- Mensur Suljovic (13/8 Betway) v Daryl Gurney (5/4 Sky Bet)
- Rob Cross (7/2 Sky Bet) v Michael van Gerwen (4/7 Coral)
- Michael Smith (13/10 Betfair) v Gerwyn Price (13/8 Betway)
- Peter Wright (8/5 Betfair) v James Wade (11/8 Coral)
*Predicted winners in bold, neither indicates draw.
The Week 11 Betting Angles
Cardiff will host what is arguably going to be the greatest match of this years’ Premier League campaign when the top two players in the world, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross, collide.
MvG is unbeaten since losing at the hands of Daryl Gurney, but equally as impressive is Cross who has won seven of his last eight. The only stat that would hint at a winner is the head-to-head – MvG has won 13 of the last 16.
With two players performing at the peak of their game I expect this match to have it all – Highest Checkout Over 125.5 (5/6 William Hill), three or more 100+ Checkouts (11/4 SkyBet), most 180’s and maybe even a nine-darter could all be on the agenda.
Cross and MvG will push the other to their absolute best. But 7/2 is just too good a price to pass up on for the league leader, Cross, I can see him just edging the Dutchman by a leg.
Elsewhere, Mensur Suljovic and Gurney will contest, and while it’s tough to back Mensur – it’s equally hard to back against him. He’s already lost twice to the Northern Irishman in this campaign, but Gurney has lost the spark that kept him afloat during Judgement Night. I’m predicting a draw for this one but really it’s a cop out as the match is simply too difficult to pick a clear winner with confidence.
Michael Smith will face ‘The Iceman', Gerwyn Price, and to be blunt, I am done expecting Smith to start performing. It has been a very underwhelming Premier League for the World Championship runner up, and with the play-offs a distant dream (barring a miracle), I expect Price will capitalise and win with the Welsh crowd behind him at 13/8 (Betway).
Peter Wright and James Wade will compete in the night's final match-up, with neither odds-on favourite to win. Wright was unfortunate to lose last week – had he played as he did but against just about any other opponent than the red-hot Cross he would have probably got the win.
Wade has now only won one of his last six Premier League matches but still finds himself in a play-off place – testament to his early season form. It’s now or never for Wright to make a push but with just two wins all season, I just don’t see how he can topple Wade, who is not normally one to buckle under pressure.
Both to perform well but I see a Wade win.
Best Bets
Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen – Rob Cross to win (7/2 Sky Bet)
Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen – Highest Checkout Over 125.5 (5/6 William Hill)
Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen – Three or more 100+ Checkouts (11/4 SkyBet)
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price – Gerwyn Price to win (13/8 Betway)
