The quarter-finals will be finalised as the bottom half of the draw takes shape and Peter Wright remains the hot favourite to win the title!
Order of play
Gerwyn Price vs Benito van de Pas (Players tied 3-3)
Mensur Suljovic vs Steve West (Mensur leads 2-1)
Richard North vs Simon Whitlock (Richard leads 2-0)
Peter Wright vs Mervyn King (Peter leads 11-5)
Gerwyn Price vs Benito van de Pas
Two of the younger stars will get a chance to make the quarter final, and with Price having made the UK Open final back in March should have enough to see off Big Ben in this last 16 clash!
Layers edge Price by the narrowest of margins. Coming into the game Price certainly made some impact over the summer reaching a semi final at the World Series event, as well as the World Cup final back in June.
Benito in comparison bar a European Tour semi final last month had experienced flat form having exited early on in events dating back to early May.
The bet I really like here is a little unorthodox but William Hill are offering a special #yourodds bet on NO 180 in the first two legs on the basis that double in on a particular leg in my view does lean more so to the no outcome rather than a regular leg of 501.
On their last game, Benito did not register a maximum until after leg two, and despite Gerwyn hitting one in his opening we did not see another in the set from the Welshman.
At 21/20 this has a fair chance of landing, especially if both players struggle to get going.
Mensur Suljovic vs Steve West
Suljovic survived an early set deficit to overcome Ian White in his opener. Mensur was fairly effective throughout his match and has Steve West, an ideal opponent for his pace in the second round. Steve West was well backed to beat Wade and did not disappoint.
The pair have met only three times, with Suljovic on the slight edge. Odds compilers are giving nothing away with their general 1/3 odds on the Austrian with West out at 14/5 with Bwin.
There is no bet for this game and will enjoy this as this could be closer than the odds suggest!
Richard North vs Simon Whitlock
Richard North is going places in Darts and overcame a patchy Mark Webster in their opener. Whitlock survived match darts against Christian Kist resiliently to take 108 out with double 16.
North comes into this game as the likely underdog at 5/2 with Whitlock a solid 2/5.
The Aussie has the experience on the TV stage, which will give him the edge. In addition, Whitlock’s checkout ability has assisted in his elevation to the top four just a short while ago.
North has enjoyed a sound year including a recent pro-tour final back in August, but expect Whitlock to reign supremacy, without conceding more than one set.
Peter Wright vs Mervyn King
The two good friends square off in what could be an epic game. Both players know each others game inside out, although Wright in the last four years has had the better of King 8-2 on the head to head including winning the last six. Wright is chalked up short at just 2/7 with Bet365 with King at 7/2 with Boylesports.
King made relative work of his game versus Ronny Huybrechts 2-0 with Peter Wright getting through by the skin of his teeth with Bunting missing two match darts on double 16.
Wright should win the maximum count on the night, having pocketed four in his win over Bunting. King took just one, and is not the maximum hitter we have known him to be. At 8/11 with Sunbets is a fairly strong bet to take with Betfred chalking the maximum handicap at -1.5 at just 6/5.
The expectation for Wright to come out on top to make the last eight by many. King has plenty in the tank to bag a set or two. From 2/7 for Wright to win by any method, you can get Wright to win but concede a set or more at 11/10, which is a shade of value on their correct score combined percentage which should be around evens winning 3-1 or 3-2.
Recommendations
NO 180 in legs 1 and 2 (Price/Pas) 21/20 William Hill (#yourodds) 1.5 pts)
Wright/King – Wright to win but both to win a set – 11/10 Betfred 1.5pts
Whitlock -1.5 sets to beat North – 11/10 Unibet and 888sport 2pts
Wright – most 180’s Vs King – 8/11 Sunbets 1pt
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