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Welcome to day 13 of the PDC World Championship and the free betting tips. We’ve reached the final eight, and we have, more or less, the line up we expected. The only real surprise in the final eight is Daryl Gurney, who got past Mark Webster to make it to the quarter-finals. We start with James Wade facing Peter Wright in the opening game of the afternoon session, which is a battle between two of the PDC’s big guns. The afternoon’s other game sees defending champion Gary Anderson taking on Dave Chisnall, which should be a high-scoring encounter. The evening session starts with Michael van Gerwen taking on Daryl Gurney, and then old enemies Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor close out the evening session and the last darting action of 2016.
Gary Anderson vs Peter Wright
Gary Anderson
First round: beat Mark Frost 3-0 (96.16)
Second round: beat Andrew Gilding 4-0 (102.58)
Third round: beat Benito van de Pas 4-2 (107.68)
Quarter-final: beat Dave Chisnall 5-3 (105.90)
Total 180s: 34
Highest checkout: 134
Peter Wright
First round: beat Jerry Hendriks 3-0 (101.06)
Second round: beat Jamie Lewis 4-0 (103.53)
Third round: beat Ian White 4-1 (103.05)
Quarter-final: beat James Wade 5-3 (104.79)
Total 180s: 16
Highest checkout: 144
Out of the two semi-finals, this is the one that appealts to me the most, I have to say. Both Gary Anderson and Peter Wright have been playing fantastic darts and their games have just progressed nicely through the month in the build-up to this. Anderson started off slowly, and has just moved up the gears and when required. His match with Dave Chisnall was an unbelievable standard and the only thing missing from his game has been the big combination finishes. Of course, when you score like Anderson has been, you don’t even get a chance at the big combos. As for Peter Wright, he’s been unbelievable consistent. He’s not been banging in the maximums, but he’s still putting in averages over 100 every time. The reason for this is pure and simple – consistency.
But where to put our money? Outt of the four semi-finalists, Gary Anderson has impressed the most. He’s done exactly what he’s needed to against each opponent and his game is just starting to fire up into world championship winning form. However, Peter Wright has done the same, albeit with a bit of a challenge from James Wade. I just think the quarter-final performances put Anderson ahead, but the bookies are thinking the same. So where can we look for a bet? Anderson is far too short, but I can’t be looking at Wright, because it’s not great value at around 7/4. What I like the most is Peter Wright to score the highest checkout because looking at the stats, that’s the play, and like I said previously, Anderson doesn’t need big checkouts, while Wright will have his chances and might just need to take them out to win this.
Michael van Gerwen vs Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen
First round: beat Kim Viljanen 3-0 (103.34)
Second round: beat Cristo Reyes 4-2 (105.24)
Third round: beat Darren Webster 4-1 (104.44)
Quarter-final: beat Daryl Gurney 5-1 (103.80)
Total 180s: 31
Highest checkout: 170
Raymond van Barneveld
First round: beat Robbie Green 3-0 (98.84)
Second round: beat Alan Norris 4-0 (103.59)
Third round: beat Adrian Lewis 4-3 (95.00)
Quarter-final: beat Phil Taylor 5-3 (96.31)
Total 180s: 19
Highest checkout: 167
It’s another great all-star battle in the second semi-final over the evening. If Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor was once the Master versus the Apprentice, this is now version two of that. Raymond van Barneveld is the Dutch Master with his five world championship, and MvG is maybe not the apprentice now, but he once was, and he’s still only the owner of one world chamipionship. Van Gerwen hasn’t been pushed so far, but that’s a testament to just how well he’s played. He’s averaged well over 100 in every game, he’s taken out the biggest checkout and he’s only dropped four sets in four games. Not bad. As for Barney, he’s been pushed in his last two games, but then he was facing far tougher opposition than MvG has been.
The likelihood here is another win for Michael van Gerwen and the bookies know this. MvG is 1/7 to win this, and obviously this is no value. However, Barney has done the job over MvG on this stage, and last year was a bit of a shock, of course, but is he capable of doing it again? At around 9/2, I actually think Barney is great value to repeat his performance of 2016. Sure, MvG is the best aroud at the moment, but Raymond van Barneveld to win is the definite value play here, as there’s just something about MvG and this stage that troubles me backing him at such short prices. Barney can take out the big shots, he won’t be bothered by the pressure and this match is just made for him.
One day left in the 2017 PDC World Championship, and then that’ll be us done until next December. We’ve had a lot of great action and hopefully we’ll have even more great darts in tonight’s semi-finals. I’ll be back tomorrow with my betting tips for the 2017 PDC World Championship Final, so I’ll see you then.
