Premier League Darts Best Bet: Night 12, April 28th
Reigning Champion Jonny Clayton hit top spot in the Premier League Darts with his third victory of the season in Aberdeen, as he denied Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling final leg decider.
The Welshman averaged 103.40 and survived a match dart, before moving seven points clear of fourth-place Joe Cullen with five league phase nights remaining.
This week my best bet is a straight forecast involving Peter Wright and van Gerwen, and I’m backing Snakebite to claim his first victory since Night One in Cardiff.
The Scot currently occupies the final play-off spot available but has been left looking over his shoulder at the chasing pack following a barren run of form.
Wright has insisted that the constant tinkering of his darts has hindered his consistency in the past months, but since returning to his World Championship winning arrows, his form has dramatically improved.
In his quarter-final with Joe Cullen last week, Wright hit four 180s, checked out 42% of his doubles at an average a shade above 103.
Following that he averaged 99.60 against Clayton, hitting a further four maximums and was unlucky to lose in a final leg decider.
If Wright can overturn this result against The Ferret in his quarter-final on Thursday, a favourable match against Michael Smith or Gary Anderson would await.
In the other half of the draw, it is hard to look beyond Van Gerwen to join Snakebite in the final.
The Dutchman was once again in irresistible form last week, twice averaging above 102 as he cruised into yet another final.
His previous head-to-head record against James Wade (12 wins in 14) makes him favourite to progress through his opener, before probably playing Gerwyn Price, who has struggled for consistency of late.
Although a potential final between Wright and Van Gerwen could be extremely tight, I think Wright’s change of darts will see him get back to winning ways, and with some bookies pricing this forecast at 13.00, the 19.00 offered by Sky Bet is too big to ignore.
- Selection: Peter Wright (Night Winner) / Michael van Gerwen (Runner Up) – Straight Forecast
- Best Odds: 19.00 (Sky Bet)
- Stake: 5/10