Darts Premier League
Premier League Darts Night 7 preview: Humphries to tie Smith in Notts
The Premier League is back! Night 7 is upon us and as always, the matchups are enthralling, including an eye-catching clash where Michael van Gerwen takes on Luke Littler in Nottingham.
We preview all four of the matches below.
Peter Wright v Gerwyn Price (19:15)
The first quarterfinal of the evening includes two players who have not found much, if any, form in this event so far this year. Both players currently sit bottom and second bottom of the table – with Wright not even having won a quarterfinal to date despite creating a match winning opportunity for himself last week in Brighton. This is not an unfamiliar position for Peter Wright as he also took six weeks to record his first Premier League win in last year. However this will be Night 7 so he will be really wanting to get off the mark in Nottingham. Price also hasn’t been in any form having only accumulated five points so far this Premier League season. We can’t imagine this will be a game of superb standard. Therefore the value bet would be – Under 5.5 180s @7/10
Luke Humphries v Michael Smith (19:45)
Humphries has been in sensational form recently, including an outstanding Night 6 victory in Brighton. He thrashed Gerwyn Price 6-2 in the quarterfinals before firing a 113.71 average – the performance of the tournament so far – to beat Rob Cross 6-3. He then dispatched this week’s quarterfinal competitor Michael Smith by the same margin in a high-scoring final. Humphries comes up against Smith again and we can’t see a very different outcome. Michael Smith is a relentless maximum hitter nonetheless, so we think the alternative match treble is the play – Luke Humphries Win Match and Highest Match Checkout – Michael Smith Most 180s @5/1
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler (20:15)
The next quarterfinal seems to be the modern-day Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestly rivalry. These two have faced each other on a regular basis over the last few weeks, with Van Gerwen winning three times and losing just once. A rivalry is starting to brew and it remains to be seen if Littler will be able to take advantage of Van Gerwen’s poor form by hitting back at the next opportunity.
Michael van Gerwen has been in good form overall this season, but you can’t say the same as of late; It is the first time in 12 years that Van Gerwen has recorded an average below 95 in four successive games. Littler is the main man to watch again heading into Night Seven of the Premier League after a big performance on the Euro Tour, hitting a nine-darter on his way to victory in Belgium against fellow Premier League competitor Rob Cross. We think Littler is going to continue his hot form and pass MVG with ease – Luke Littler Win Match, Highest Match Checkout and Most 180s
Rob Cross v Nathan Aspinall (20:45)
In the last quarter final of the evening Nathan Aspinall takes on Rob Cross which is a rematch of the Night five’s final. In the final Aspinall thrashed Rob Cross to claim a maximum five points from night five of Premier League Darts in Exeter. Aspinall defeated his fellow Englishman 6-2, having reached his second straight nightly final by beating Peter Wright and world champion Luke Humphries that night. However Rob Cross has looked in pretty good form himself having won his quarterfinal against Gerwyn Price in good fashion, following that up by beating Luke Littler 6-3 in his semi-final. We think that this is going to be a closer a matchup with Rob Cross being closer to Aspinall in Brighton. We like the alternative match treble in this as it’s going to be tight – Rob Cross Win Match and Highest Match Checkout – Nathan Aspinall Most 180s
