Pundit Arena preview’s Thursday’s Premier League Darts action, including a relegation clash between the best that Liverpool and Aldershot have to offer.
Just three weeks remain until the Premier League Darts Finals, with only the top four making it to the O2 Arena in May. League leader Michael van Gerwen is already through to the grand finale, while second placed Dave Chisnall looks safe, having finished just seventh last year.
Propping up the table on ten points each are James Wade and Stephen Bunting, who need to get their skates on and hit the ground running this week.
The Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham hosts this week’s proceedings.
Fixtures – Week 13 Thursday 30th April 2015
Dave Chisnall v Adrian Lewis (7.20pm)
Coming in off a four game unbeaten run, Adrian Lewis finally looks to have figured out the Premier League Darts schedule.
“With the Premier League I’ve always found it tough,” admits Lewis, who has only reached the Play-Offs twice in seven seasons.
“I’m up there and I think ‘If I lose tonight, I can put it right next week’ – it’s not a straight knockout and I don’t feel the pressure as much as I would do during major [knockout] tournaments. – Lewis told PDC.tv
With two losses in a row but safely through to the finale, Chizzy is losing momentum.
Prediction: Lewis @ 2.2
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Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson (8pm)
Gary has gone four weeks without a win in the League, and his third place position will start to look very precarious if he loses here again on Thursday.
Raymond has won three in a row, claiming scalps off the likes of Dave Chisnall, Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor.
The return fixture at the start of the month between both players ended in a draw.
Prediction: Draw @ 4.3
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James Wade v Stephen Bunting (8.45pm)
The relegation four-pointer. Both men have just three wins each after 13 games.
Wade (of Aldershot) was whitewashed last week by MVG, but is too classy a player to allow it to happen again. We had pretty much written off the play-off chances of the Scouser, but Stephen Bunting hammered Gary Anderson 7-1 last week, and looks to have the fire needed to give the rest of the League a real go.
Prediction: Bunting @ 2.35
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Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor (9.30pm)
Phil is now four weeks without a win in the Premier League Darts, although he did beat van Gerwen in five out of seven matches during 2014.
Van Gerwen has suffered two defeats in his last three League games, having previously gone ten games unbeaten. Despite this, he did whitewash the hapless James Wade last week, and is still capable of beating anyone on his day.
Prediction: Van Gerwen @ 2
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Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld (10.15pm)
Rounding off the night is the game in hand for the former World Champions.
Lewis battered Barney 7-1 when they previously met, but that was on the very first week. Both men are in form and need to chase the top four, sooner rather than later, therefore we’ll back a draw.
Prediction: Draw @ 4.3
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Read More About: adrian lewis, betting, Darts, dave chisnall, gary anderson, james wade, michael van gerwen, phil taylor, premier league darts, raymond van barneveld, stephen bunting
