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Welcome to today’s free darts betting tips for the 2017 PDC World Championship. Today, we see the final matches in the third round, and after last night’s exit of Adrian Lewis, perhaps we’ll see another big name of two going out. We start off with Mark Webster facing Daryl Gurney in the first match of the afternoon session, then we’ll see one of the top seeds going out as Dave Chisnall and Jelle Klaasen face off. Another top seed will follow them out in the last match of the afternoon when James Wade faces Michael Smith. The evening session has Peter Wright and Ian White starting the night, then Phil Taylor takes on Kim Huybrechts and the final match of the day and of the third round is Michael van Gerwen taking on Darren Webster.
Mark Webster vs Daryl Gurney
Mark Webster
First round: beat Joe Murnan 3-0 (87.78)
Second round: beat Mensur Suljovic 4-3 (92.79)
Total 180s: 9
Highest checkout: 129
Daryl Gurney
First round: beat Jermaine Wattimena 3-1 (96.85)
Second round: beat Robert Thornton (95.35)
Total 180s: 8
Highest checkout: 161
Mark Webster leads the head to head between the two of them 3-2, although Gurney has won the last two meetings on the ProTour. What worries me about both men is that they almost blew a lead in their previous matches, and if Daryl Gurney had lost to Robert Thornton, it would have really been a shocking turnaround in that match. Of course, he pulled through, but he can find himself fortunate after a real lapse in concentration. It was the same for Mark Webster, as Mensur Suljovic fought back to almost claim a win. In that instance, Suljovic upped his game rather than Webster stuttering, but still, he almost lost a match from a winning position.
I see this as an evenly balanced match. If it hadn’t been for Gurney’s blow up against Thornton, I’d have the Northern Irishman as a clear favourite, but he seemed to lack focus at the business end and that’s where Webster might just have the upper hand. Webster is the value bet here, so we have to take him to win this one just because 13/8 is well above what I expected, especially as he is a former world champion and goes well at the Ally Pally. Mark Webster to win is the first play of the day.
Dave Chisnall vs Jelle Klaasen
Dave Chisnall
First round: beat Rowby-John Rodriguez 3-2 (98.72)
Second round: beat Chris Dobey 4-2 (92.88)
Total 180s: 15
Highest checkout: 120
Jelle Klaasen
First round: beat Jeffrey de Graaf 3-1 (96.02)
Second round: beat Brendan Dolan 4-0 (93.32)
Total 180s: 11
Highest checkout: 121
Power scoring all the way here. What is interesting is both players were expected to perform to a high level, but both have struggled to finish opponents off. Chisnall was awful at times in the first round, and again in the second round, but came through in the end. As for Klaasen, he was fortunate not to be pushed during his down periods by Brendan Dolan, as he couldn’t hit a treble 20 for love nor money, and it was his cover shots on treble 19 that helped him out.
For me, I think this is another evenly matched game, and if one man can take advantage of the other’s lulls, they should win it. Chisnall will no doubt have a few more chances thanks to his scoring ability, but he seems to be struggling, as expected, with his combination finishes. Klaasen, on the other hand, has looked great on his doubles, especially on double 18 and if it comes to doubling, then Klaasen should be able to pull this one off. As it’s so even, we have to go for the value bet, and that’s the odds-against on offer for Jelle Klaasen to win
James Wade vs Michael Smith
James Wade
First round: beat Ronny Huybrechts 3-0 (93.83)
Second round: beat Steve Beaton 4-1 (99.39)
Total 180s: 7
Highest checkout: 141
Michael Smith
First round: beat Ricky Evans 3-2 (96.78)
Second round: beat Mervyn King 4-3 (93.83)
Total 180s: 21
Highest checkout: 143
A tough match for both men here and a lot was expected of both of them coming into this tournament after disappointing years in the Majors for both. Wade has done what he does best and just ground out wins, while Michael Smith has had to dig deep twice in deciding sets against Ricky Evans and Mervyn King. While Smith’s average’s haven’t been too spectacular, his 180 scoring has been magnificent, and if he can get some consistency, he could be a threat again.
For me, James Wade is far too short at 4/11 here. While Smith has been distinctly average, Wade hasn’t been much better, and there isn’t too big a gulf between them at this moment in time. Smith is 5/2, which screams value to me, as long as he can find some consistency, which we know he has. So, for more value, we’re going for another outsider and we’re taking Michael Smith to win
Peter Wright vs Ian White
Peter Wright
First round: beat Jerry Hendriks 3-0 (101.06)
Second round: beat Jamie Lewis 4-0 (103.53)
Total 180s: 3
Highest checkout: 144
Ian White
First round: beat Kevin Simm 3-0 (87.02)
Second round: beat Johnny Clayton (92.60)
Total 180s: 10
Highest checkout: 130
I’m struggling to find any angle on Peter Wright’s matches so far. Each game he’s had has been a real mismatch, and this one is no exception either. Ian White has been fortunate with his draw, as has Peter Wright. But White could have been in danger the way he’s been playing, if he had a slightly higher standard of competition. Like last night, I have to make this yet another Peter Wright match where I have no bet. There just seems to be some reason the bookies offer no angle on Peter Wright games compared to others. Once he faces a sterner test, I’m sure that will change.
Phil Taylor vs Kim Huybrechts
Phil Taylor
First round: beat David Platt 3-0 (101.93)
Second round: beat Kevin Painter 4-0 (92.73)
Total 180s: 5
Highest checkout: 167
Kim Huybrechts
First round: beat James Wilson 3-0 (98.66)
Second round: beat Max Hopp 4-0 (92.76)
Total 180s: 10
Highest checkout: 138
Both men are yet to drop a set, so that will definitely change tonight. Phil Taylor was back to somewhere near his recent best form in the first round, but never had to leave first gear against Kevin Painter. Kim Huybrechts, on the other hand, has been playing close to top gear in his first two games and has looked in great form, never looking in trouble against James Wilson or Max Hopp.
I can see Taylor winning a tight one here, but there’s no value to be had. Plus, if the 105-plus average Taylor turns up, Huybrechts could be blown away, but you don’t know which Power is going to turn up. But what I do like the look of is Kim Huybretchs to score the most 180s at around evens. Taylor has struggled to hit the maximums and is always likely to go down to the treble 19 as soon as the treble appears even the slightest bit blocks, while Huybrechts isn’t as likely to shift just because of one awkward dart.
Michael van Gerwen vs Darren Webster
Michael van Gerwen
First round: beat Kim Viljanen 3-0 (103.34)
Second round: beat Cristo Reyes 4-2 (105.24)
Total 180s: 16
Highest checkout: 164
Darren Webster
First round: beat Stephen Bunting 3-2 (94.46)
Second round: beat Simon Whitlock (104.64)
Total 180s: 16
Highest checkout: 157
Darren Webster has been playing the darts of his life, but I think it might just come to an end now. While Webster put a hurting on Simon Whitlock with an average of 104.64, Cristo Reyes put in a 106.07 and still lost 4-2. It’s a lot to ask for Webster to play like that yet again in what is possibly his biggest and most impressive win in a long time, and I think Michael van Gerwen is just playing too well to give Webster a sniff at this.
However, the markets are tight on this, and a 4-0 win for the Dutchman is far too short at evens, the 180 markets and highest checkout markets are all looking awful, too, because this could be over in double quick time, but it could still be enough time for a prolific scorer like MvG to crush all the lines the bookies have up. So, no bet in the last match of the night here, as, again, I can’t find an angle.
I’ll be back tomorrow with free betting tips for the quarter-final action, which will see the final eight getting to the business end of the 2017 PDC World Championship. We then take a break for New Year’s Eve, and we get back to business in 2017 for the semi-finals and then the final itself on January 2nd.
