MVG and Barney to Hit Most 180s in Premier League

Judgement night at the halfway point of the Premier League would usually see two players eliminated from the competition, but Kim Huybrechts and Jelle Klaasen are already on their way out. The pair have managed just three points each from eight matches so far, and neither can catch Dave Chisnall above them with six. That means this week’s matches against Peter Wright and Phil Taylor are about little more than pride for Huybrechts and Klaasen, but for their opponents precious points are at stake in the quest for the play offs.

In other matches this week top-of-the-table van Gerwen plays Dave Chisnall in what looks a very one-sided game. Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis square up – both on nine points and on the edge of the play off picture, while Raymond van Barneveld aims to follow up his wins over MVG and Gary Anderson in the last two weeks when he takes on James Wade. All of the action comes from the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, and will be broadcast as usual on Sky Sports.

Night Eight Action

Michael van Gerwen played twice last week to make up for the week he missed earlier in the season through injury. He opened with a 7-4 defeat of James Wade to equal Phil Taylor’s record of 43 televised games unbeaten, but couldn’t extend that sequence when he later took to the stage against van Barneveld. Barney raced into a 3-0 lead and held off a van Gerwen fightback to secure a 7-5 victory. That’s two very impressive results in two weeks against the worlds top two players for van Barneveld, and he’s in a solid third place in the table.

Peter Wright suffered just his second defeat of the season as he went down 7-5 to Phil Taylor last week, despite hitting a sensational 156 checkout. Snakebite paid the price for 12 missed doubles, having recorded a better average and more 180’s than the Power. Gary Anderson ran out a comfortable 7-2 winner to condemn Kim Huybrechts to elimination, again producing a high average of 101.86. Adrian Lewis only managed a three-dart average of 84.39 against Jelle Klaasen and scraped a 7-5 win. It was the Jackpot’s third Premier League win in a row, but was less than impressive.

Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis

Lewis is opposed this week for that reason when he plays Anderson, with the Flying Scotsman available to back at 1.80Bet €100 to win €1804/5Bet £100 to win £180-125Bet $100 to win $1800.80Bet HK$100 to win HK$180-1.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp1800.8000Bet RM100 to win RM180  with 32Red, 888Sport and Unibet.

Anderson is currently 4th in the table, and while he may be level on nine points with Lewis and Taylor, his performances have arguably deserved more. He has the second highest tournament average of 102.19, with only van Gerwen out-scoring him. He’s fourth on the tournament 180 list and second on the checkout list with a tournament checkout percentage of 41.07.

The Flying Scotsman has won four of the last five meetings with Lewis, and Jackpot’s summary of last week’s tight match with Klaasen that he “is playing well in patches” is about as positive as his post-match analysis got. After missing 73% of his doubles in that match it’s hard to believe Lewis can be quite as ‘bad’ as he was in Manchester, but Anderson is hitting a great level of consistency and will give out no second chances.

Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade

Raymond van Barneveld has been superb in the last two weeks, and he is worth backing in the 180 markets when he takes on James Wade. Barney is 1.53Bet €100 to win €15353/100Bet £100 to win £153-189Bet $100 to win $1530.53Bet HK$100 to win HK$153-1.89Bet Rp100 to win Rp1530.5300Bet RM100 to win RM153  with Betfred and Coral to hit the most 180’s during the match.

The Dutchman sits top of the tournament 180 list after hitting 34 maximums so far this season, and while he is favourite to beat Wade, this market may be the better option. Barney leads the head to head by a tight 23-21, but Wade has won their last two meetings – both in the Premier League.

Where the left-hander is left wanting though is in the maximum stakes, as he is bottom of the tournament 180 table with just 13 to his name.

Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall

A similar case can be made for Michael van Gerwen, who is attractively priced to hit more maximums than Dave Chisnall at 2.20Bet €100 to win €2206/5Bet £100 to win £220+120Bet $100 to win $2201.20Bet HK$100 to win HK$2201.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp220-0.8333Bet RM100 to win RM220  with Ladbrokes and William Hill.

MCG is second in the tournament 180 table with 29 maximums, while Chisnall is 7th on that leaderboard with 23 180’s to his name. Not a huge difference, but when Mighty Mike turns it on he is capable of finding the sweet spot with unerring accuracy. His record of 5-2-1 from 8 matches puts him top of the table, compared to Chisnall’s 3-0-5 which sees Chizzy facing an uphill battle to get into play off contention.

MVG is as short as 1.20Bet €100 to win €1201/5Bet £100 to win £120-500Bet $100 to win $1200.20Bet HK$100 to win HK$120-5.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1200.2000Bet RM100 to win RM120  in places to win the match, and would have to be backed at a -3.5 leg handicap to secure decent odds on a win. That’s a big margin in a best of twelve game, and the odds against about the world number one scoring more 180’s appeals as a better bet. The match has also been moved to be the last on the night, and MVG will want to finish the evening with a bang.

Tips Summary

Gary Anderson to beat Adrian Lewis
Thursday 30th March, 19:15 Start
Odds: 1.80Bet €100 to win €1804/5Bet £100 to win £180-125Bet $100 to win $1800.80Bet HK$100 to win HK$180-1.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp1800.8000Bet RM100 to win RM180

Raymond van Barneveld – Most 180’s
Thursday 30th March, 19:15 Start
Odds: 1.53Bet €100 to win €15353/100Bet £100 to win £153-189Bet $100 to win $1530.53Bet HK$100 to win HK$153-1.89Bet Rp100 to win Rp1530.5300Bet RM100 to win RM153

Michael van Gerwen – Most 180’s
Thursday 30th March, 19:15 Start
Odds: 2.20Bet €100 to win €2206/5Bet £100 to win £220+120Bet $100 to win $2201.20Bet HK$100 to win HK$2201.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp220-0.8333Bet RM100 to win RM220