The Betway Premier League darts enters its sixth week and rolls into Glasgow at the SSE Hydro with home favourites Gary Anderson and Peter Wright the big draws, but world number one Michael van Gerwen returns from injury.
Reigning Betway Premier League champion Van Gerwen missed out on the season’s fifth league night last week in Exeter – and the weekend’s UK Open – due to a back injury.
However, following extensive treatment in the Netherlands, the Dutchman will return to action on Thursday when he defends his unbeaten start to the season against Kim Huybrechts in Glasgow.
The first of two visits to Scotland in this year’s Betway Premier League will see 10,000 fans pack The SSE Hydro, with the night set to be a special one for Peter Wright as he makes his first appearance since being crowned as UK Open champion.
In-form Wright will face James Wade in Glasgow, having moved joint top of the table with Phil Taylor on seven points with his sensational 119.50 average has he defeated Adrian Lewis in Exeter.
Two-time World Champion and Premier League winner Gary Anderson returns to his homeland against Dave Chisnall – who jumped above the Scot in the league table when he won twice in Exeter last week.
Chisnall overcame Raymond van Barneveld and Wade in Exeter to move onto six points in the table, and is excited by the prospect of meeting the world number two.
The night in Glasgow also sees an all-Dutch battle between Jelle Klaasen and Raymond van Barneveld, as well as the ‘Stoke derby’ as unbeaten Taylor meets Lewis.
Below we have an exclusive run through of each game with Betway’s Alan Alger.
2/1 Adrian Lewis
7/2 Draw
Evs Phil Taylor
Punters find Adrian Lewis one of the hardest players to call in the Premier League. He’s struggling this season as he sits just above the drop-zone. The Power is unbeaten and flying at the top of the league. He is a worthy Evens favourite. Phil has the highest total of legs won against throw and will take advantage if Lewis has any of his ‘first-visit’ wobbles.
100/30 James Wade
7/2 Draw
4/6 Peter Wright
Peter Wright is on red-hot form at the moment and it’s hard to see past him in this fixture. We’re taking no chances with the price though and he’ll really only appeal to accumulator punters at a price of 4/6. A 7-4 scoreline looks the best way to back him, at 13/2.
15/2 Kim Huybrechts
15/2 Draw
2/9 Michael van Gerwen
MvG appears at one of the shortest prices we’ve ever seen in Premier League history. The underdog from Belgium is receiving 3.5 legs on the handicap though and at Evens and I’d have to back that based on his average of 5.4 legs won per match.
5/2 Jelle Klaasen
7/2 Draw
4/5 Raymond van Barneveld
It’s usually worth avoiding Barney when he is odds-on, but this could be an exception. Klaasen has the second lowest tournament average at this stage and might struggle against Barney’s ability to hit plenty of 180s.
7/2 Dave Chisnall
4/1 Draw
4/7 Gary Anderson
A huge boost for Chizzy last week as MvGs absence handed him a double-header and the ability to rack up two victories propelling him up the table. Anderson hasn’t won since week 2, and he could be worth opposing here. Back Chizzy at the +2.5 handicap at 8/11.
League Table
After Night Five | P | W | D | L | +/- | LWAT | Pts | TA | 180s |
Phil Taylor | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | +7 | 12 | 7 | 96.99 | 6 |
Peter Wright | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +6 | 9 | 7 | 100.56 | 18 |
Michael van Gerwen | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +7 | 9 | 6 | 105.15 | 14 |
James Wade | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +3 | 10 | 6 | 94.24 | 11 |
Dave Chisnall | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 9 | 6 | 95.86 | 23 |
Gary Anderson | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 9 | 5 | 102.26 | 21 |
Raymond van Barneveld | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -6 | 7 | 4 | 98.15 | 21 |
Adrian Lewis | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 8 | 3 | 97.70 | 12 |
Kim Huybrechts | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -5 | 8 | 3 | 96.18 | 14 |
Jelle Klaasen | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -6 | 8 | 3 | 94.84 | 13 |
* Adrian Lewis above Kim Huybrechts on Tournament Average (TA)