Handicapped van Gerwen a Night Six Premier League Darts Fancy

by Roy Brindley, 16 March 2022

Night six of the Cazoo Premier League comes from Nottingham. Michael van Gerwen is chasing a three-timer following success in Brighton last Thursday and Exeter seven days earlier.

Michael van Gerwen added the 2022 German Darts Masters to his CV at the weekend. ©Kais Bodensieck/PDC Europe

The Dutchman is in irresistible form. Last weekend he landed the German Darts Championship taking his current winning sequence to 11.

Two Premier key rivals, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright have injury doubts. Price withdrew from last week’s Premier League with a hand injury. Wright pulled out of the German Darts Championship mid-way through complaining of back pain.

Michael Smith vs James Wade 7.10 pm

2022 Premier League results suggest there is very little between this pair. With Smith lacking consistency, this game is a hard one to call.

Smith has averaged just 2.75 180s per match. It is a ratio way below what he has been posting outside of this competition.

Wade is the least effective of all Premier League players around the treble-20. He registers less than two 180s per match on average.

Put together, those statistics suggest the Bet365 quote of 4/6 about the game featuring less than 5.5 180s is a sound bet.

Michael van Gerwen vs Gerwyn Price 7.40 pm

When the winds of confidence billow in Michael van Gerwen’s sails, his prowess at the oche a sight to behold. The only player with a three-dart average above 100 and clear at the top of the Premier League standings, he is difficult to oppose.

Doubts about Gerwyn Price’s wellbeing only serve to make the five-time Premier League winner an even stronger fancy.

Coral sportsbook is offering a standout 11/8 about van Gerwen in a handicap market where he forfeits 1.5-legs. That appears a very generous price. It is the best bet in this match-up.

Gary Anderson vs Jonny Clayton 8.10 pm

Anderson appears a shadow of his former self. He has won just one of his six matches to date. The Scott has the lowest three-dart average and has conceded 11 more legs than he has won.

Unsurprisingly Jonny Clayton, with a nightly final victory and an additional runner-up spot, is the clear match favorite.

But this one may not be as clear-cut as it initially looks. Four of Anderson’s six defeats came in matches that featured 10 or more legs and that trend can continue.

The odds of this match featuring 9.5-plus legs is 10/11. It is probably the best way to approach it from a betting viewpoint.

Joe Cullen vs Peter Wright 8.40 pm

We have no way of knowing how severe Wright’s back condition is or if he is currently suffering any discomfort with it.

At the 4/7 found at the best darts betting sites, even a full-fit Peter Wright is plenty short enough in the betting. But this is clearly a game to treat with caution and no-bet is the best bet.

Recommended type: A Trixie.