Premier League Darts exploded into life in Sheffield last week, as Raymond van Barneveld bounced back to form to batter Phil Taylor, while Dave Chisnall recorded a double victory to close the gap on front-runner Michael van Gerwen.
This week’s action comes from the glamorously-named GE Oil & Gas Arena in Aberdeen, with the race to the play-offs heating up nicely with just two points separating fourth-place Taylor from Stephen Bunting in eighth.
Unless something goes drastically wrong for Michael van Gerwen or Dave Chisnall, you’d expect those two to have all but cemented their respective places in the play-offs, leaving the remaining six players competing for the elusive final two spots.
It’s a double fixture week for Phil Taylor and Stephen Bunting in Aberdeen, making this round especially important to them if they want to stamp their mark on the competition as Chisnall did last week.
Taylor starts-off with an encounter against Chizzy, who is currently second in the table. The Power is on a miserable run of form, losing four of his last five, including a week nine defeat to Chizzy. Taylor remains in the play-off positions, but with four players hot on his heels, he needs two big performances this week to sure up his position.
Chizzy, meanwhile, is flying this season, winning eight of his eleven matches – including a double victory over Gary Anderson and James Wade last week.
You can expect Phil Taylor to be fired up for this one, though, after his various disappointments in recent weeks.
Verdict: Phil Taylor to win – 11/10 at SkyBet or BetVictor
Despite sitting bottom of the remaining players in the Premier League currently, Stephen Bunting has made a very respectable debut season in Premier League Darts. The St Helens’ player suffered a narrow 7-5 defeat to van Gerwen last week, but did record a 7-3 victory over Adrian Lewis earlier in the competition.
Lewis had looked set to be relegated from the tournament just a fortnight ago, but back-to-back wins over Peter Wright and James Wade have seen him climb up the table. More performances like that could see the 2011 runner-up climb up to the play-off places – but he’ll view this fixture as a must-win if he wants to achieve that.
If Bunting is to win both of the night’s fixtures, he could well find himself in the play-off spots ahead of next week’s fixtures.
Verdict: Draw – 4/1 at SkyBet or BetVictor
Currently level on points with Phil Taylor, James Wade had a woeful time of it last week, losing to Adrian Lewis before being battered 7-1 by Dave Chisnall. Those results made it three consecutive defeats for Wade – who has played a fixture more than all but one of the rest of the competition.
He faces a tough opponent in the form of third-placed Gary Anderson though, who defeated him 7-4 in the fourth round of fixtures.
Verdict: Gary Anderson win – 4/6 at Ladbrokes or William Hill
Victory over The Power last week brought Barney right back into play-off contention last week, but he faces an even tougher opponent this week in compatriot, Michael van Gerwen.
Mighty Mike is unbeaten in Premier League Darts this campaign, but will be very aware of van Barneveld’s ability, especially having been beaten by the other Dutchman in the final last year.
Verdict: Draw – 5/1 at SkyBet or 888sport
In the final match of the evening, Bunting and Taylor meet up for their second matches of the night.
The Power comfortably disposed of Bunting in week three with a 7-1 victory, but will he ease to victory once again? I think so.
Verdict: Phil Taylor win – 7/10 at 888sport
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