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PDC 2014 World Championship Day Nine Premium Picks.
So, with Round One on the bag, the pressure was on Round Two to bring some excitement back to the World Championship, and it’s safe to say we got it. Per Laursen put up a great fight against Peter Wright, before succumbing to the Scotmsman 4-2. Then Jamie Caven lost in a classic to Raymond van Barneveld, with Caven looking like the winner at 3-2 up. Oh, and then there was a certain Phil Taylor losing in an Ally Pally classic to Michael Smith, who I had written off after a shocking Round One performance. That win for Smith has busted the draw wide open, and there are players in the top half of the draw that were triple figures to win now backed all the way into low double-digits. Of course, the market leaders are now Michael van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis, but Peter Wright has shortened into 16s and Simon Whitlock is around 12s. It’s really anyone’s to win in that half of the draw.
Last night, we started off well, with the 180s in Wright Vs Laursen going to plan. And then the wheels came off, with Jamie Caven playing well above his Round One performance and pushing Barney all the way. And then Michael Smith had a slow start to his 180s scoring, but then got over the line in the final set, much to my chagrin. So we’re now 13-14 with profit of +1 unit for the Premium Picks.
Andy Hamilton Vs Richie Burnett.
Call me stupid, but I’m excited for this match. If both men play to the same level as they showed in Round One, we’re going to get a great match. Richie Burnett hit 6 180s and averaged 97.19 in his 3-1 win over Dean Winstanley. Andy Hamilton hit 5 180s and averaged 92.03 in his 3-1 win over Julio Barbero. So, it should be close. The only thing we can’t count on is what Richie Burnett turns up – he could play another great game, or he could go back to chucking muck. But what is consistent is his 180s scoring. Between them, over 4 sets, they managed 11 180s between them. Over at least, I hope, 6 sets, we should be looking at 16 or so. The line is 11.5, and I can see it coming in over if all goes to script.
Over 8.5 180s in Hamilton Vs Burnett match Best price 5/6 (Ladbrokes)
Recommend: 2 units.
Robert Thornton Vs Beau Anderson.
The most one-sided match of the night, and it’s Beau Anderson, who got past Colin Lloyd in as sudden-death set, faces Robert Thornton, who is now, in some circles, being tipped up for a run to the Final now that The Power is out. Thornton shouldn’t be troubled here, as Anderson put in an 83.66, and I think that’s the best we can expect from the Australian, while Thornton 86.86 in his 3-1 win over Max Hopp, and we know the Scotsman is more than capable of at least 10 points more. I think Thornton should have too much, and add in the occasion, and I think Anderson could be on the end of a whitewash.
Robert Thornton to beat Beau Anderson 4-0 Best price 7/4 (Coral)
Recommend: 2 units.
Kim Huybrechts Vs Ian White..
Last match of the night, and it’s looking, on paper, to be a good one. Kim Huybrechts made history after defeating his brother, Ronny, in Round One. He averaged 88.07 and looked a little off the pace at times. Still, it was a good, solid performance. Ian White, on the other hand, averaged 97.02 in his 3-1 over Kyle Anderson, and he looked in good form as he did so. The head-to-head between the two is even at 2-2, and I think that shows how close it’s going to be. The bookies have Huybrechts relatively short, though, and I can’t see why. White’s had a great year, as has Huybrechts, and White also looked in good form in Round One, so for him to be around 2/1 is absurd. The value here lies with White, and value is what the Premium Picks is all about.
Ian White to beat Kim Huybrechts Best price 2/1 (Ladbrokes)
Recommend: 2 units.
That’s all for Day Nine of the Premium Picks. I’ll be back with a double session on Sunday.
