Darts Premier League
Premier League Darts Night Nine preview: Tight at the top of the table
The final of the Premier League Darts draws ever closer and things are evening out on the top of the table. Jonny Clayton claimed his second night win in Birmingham, denying James Wade his first victory.
Clayton has now moved level with Michael van Gerwen after his 6-1 victory in the Night Eight final, both with 17 points. This was Clayton’s first night win since he won the decider on Night Two in Liverpool. James Wade and Michael Smith are still hunting their first taste of glory.
The focus is now firmly on this Thursday’s Premier League Night Nine as the top three battle it out in the second half of the league.
In this blog we take a look at the five opening fixtures and who could be the outright winner.
Two on top
Battling it out for the lead in the league are both MVG and Jonny Clayton. Mighty Mike is yet to win another TV major, although he seems to have picked up steam in the recent nights.
However, MVG lost to James Wade 2-6 in the first round of the last Premier League Night, so he will be looking to pick up momentum again in his first match of Night Nine against Gary Anderson. Anderson brings up the bottom of the betting market with odds of 20/1 to win the league, evidenced by his bottom of the table position with just a single night win and seven points.
MVG’s recent message to Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price – “I’ll be on top soon” – seems like it could hold true. He currently leads the betting market for outright winner at odds of 12/5.
Top of the table newcomer, Clayton, beat Wade 6-1 in Night Eight’s final, with an average of 111.16. Waving the carrot, Clayton allowed Wade only one shot at a double throughout the match but ultimately took the £10,000 bonus.
The defending Premier League Champion opened up his Night Eight performance with a 6-1 win against Michael Smith, with a 4-6 win against Peter Wright to find himself in the final. It’s therefore no surprise that Clayton is third in the betting market with odds of 4/1 to win the league.
Clayton will face Joe Cullen on Night Nine, with odds of 4/6 to win the match and proceed to the semi-final.
Wright on the hunt
Peter Wright started off the Night Eight entertainment with a 6-5 win over Gary Anderson in the quarter finals, seeing the latter drop to the bottom of the Premier League points table. Halfway through the league, it seems like Anderson will have to work hard to make it off the bottom before June’s play-offs.
The semi-finals saw Wright lose 4-6 against the Night Eight victor, Clayton. However, with one night win under his belt, and only a single point behind Clayton and MVG, Wright will be on the hunt for another victory this week.
Wright has odds of 10/3 to win the league, chasing MVG for the top of the betting market as well as top of the league.
Paying the price
Gerwyn Price has been on a slippery slope recently. He made it clear, after his loss to Michael Smith in the World Championship quarter-finals, how much the world number one spot meant to him. It was another episode of Price against the crowd and the crowd seemingly won this encounter. Think what you want of the Iceman, but he’s one of, if not the best, on the circuit right now.
Despite Price’s recent injury to his hand, he is playing high quality darts, making him fourth favourite to win the league with odds of 5/1.
Night Eight saw Price lose to Joe Cullen 6-3, so he will be hoping to come back stronger in the second half of the season. He faces James Wade – who is an outsider at 14/1 to win the league – in his first Night Nine match, with odds of 8/15 to win.
Smith still yet to secure a win
It’s been a tough road for Michael Smith of late, having reached multiple finals but failing to come away with a night win. His long wait for a major looks like it will continue, but perhaps this Thursday will be the night he gets over the line?
He plays Snakebike Peter Wright (10/3) in his first match, and is priced 11/10 to pull off victory. He made the final of Night Five and Six, and will have to be in that same form if he is to go one better in Night Nine.
Smith has odds of 10/1 for topping the table at the end of June’s play-offs.
