The 2019 Unibet Premier League continues with Night 11 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Thursday, as Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith face-off in a repeat of the 2018 final.
Van Gerwen produced a sensational 112.37 average in his 11-4 defeat of Smith in last year’s showdown at The O2 to lift his fourth Premier League title, and the Dutchman repeated the feat in the 2018/19 World Championship Final.
The opening night of the 2019 in Premier League in Newcastle saw Van Gerwen and Smith collide in yet another big occasion between the pair, with Van Gerwen once again prevailing 7-5.
Van Gerwen has topped the pile every year since his 2013 debut season but currently sits in second place behind Rob Cross, and the world number one knows the pressure is on to maintain his proud record.
Meanwhile, Smith believes he has no more margin for error if he is to reach the Play-Offs for a second successive season.
Smith has struggled to hit the heights of his memorable 2018 Premier League campaign, with just eight points to show from his ten games this campaign seeing him rooted to the foot of the table.
With six games remaining for the eight remaining players, the battle is intensifying for the four places in the Play-Offs at The O2 on May 23.
Table-topper Cross has been in scintillating form in his second Premier League campaign, winning six of his last seven outings, and his next assignment sees him face 2017 finalist Peter Wright, who currently sits two points outside the top four in seventh.
Former World Champion Cross is feeling confident of sustaining his high level of performance for the remaining six matches of the season and ending it with back-to-back Play-Off appearances.
Third-placed Mensur Suljovic comes into Night 11 on the back of four wins from his last five Premier League matches, but he faces Price, who will be hoping to repeat his Night Five win over Suljovic to stay in the Play-Off hunt.
James Wade and Daryl Gurney are tied on 11 points in fourth and fifth place respectively, with Gurney out to avenge his shock 7-0 loss to Wade in Aberdeen.
Unibet Premier League – Night 11 Match Odds
8/11 Rob Cross – Draw 15/4 – Peter Wright 5/2
5/4 Gerwyn Price – Draw 7/2 – Mensur Suljovic 6/4
6/5 James Wade – Draw 33/10 – Daryl Gurney 8/5
5/1 Michael Smith – Draw 5/1 – Michael van Gerwen 2/5
Unibet Night 11 Specials
170 Checkout on the Night 7/2
9 Dart Finish on the Night 10/1
MVG and Rob Cross King of the Oche Double 15/1
MVG and Gerwyn Price King of the Oche Double 20/1
Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price King of the Oche Double 25/1
Michael Smith v Michael Van Gerwen – 9 Dart Finish in the Match 33/1