Premier League Darts From Leeds – A Crackerjack Is in Store
Nathan Aspinall jumped from fifth to third in Darts’ Premier League standings following his victory in last week’s Rotterdam fixture. On Thursday the 31-year-old will meet Dimitri Van den Burgh in his opening game. He could then face Gerwyn Price in the semi-final. The ‘Asp’ beat both seven days ago in the Netherlands.
Aspinall’s victory was his first in the 2023 Premier League. Now, only Peter Wright and Dimitri van Den Burgh are without success in a nightly final. Chris Dobey took the first 2023 league final in Belfast at the start of February. In the consequent 11 league fixtures, the Geordie star has been a first-round casualty nine times.
Jonny Clayton landed his first European Tour title in five years at the weekend. He should serve it up to Gerwyn Price on Thursday. ©Matic Klansek/GEPA
Dobey would appear easy pickings, and Thursday’s opponent, Michael Smith, will hope this is the case. The reigning world champion slipped out of the playoff qualifying spots for the first time last week.
Here is our look at some of the better betting opportunities on Thursday’s opening matches from the Premier League fixture in Leeds.
Michael Smith vs Chris Dobey
Smith struggled to beat world number 70, Ricardo Pietreczko in the Austrian Darts Open at the weekend. He was spanked 6-2 by Mensur Suljovic in his next match. Dobey did produce a 100-plus average when winning his first game in Austria but fell to Danny Noppert in his second match.
With both players having a questionable game right now, backing Smith to record the most match 180s seems the most obvious play. His 22 Premier League matches have yielded 71 180s so far. Dobey has played 17 league matches but has considerably fewer 180s to show for it – just 43. He failed to record a single 180 in last week’s match against Jonny Clayton.
Recommended Bet: Michael Smith most match 180s – even-money found at our Betfred review.
Michael van Gerwen vs Peter Wright
Peter Wright produced a pitiful 78 average when beaten 6-1 by Mensur Suljovic at the weekend. Van Gerwen played better darts, but will he be shell-shocked by a remarkable 7-0 whitewash that was inflicted on him by Josh Rock in the semis? Consequently, at 2/5, he is plenty short enough for this one.
The line on the highest checkout for the match is 114.5. Neither player bettered 101 last week, and it is over a month since either registered a finish over 125. Unsurprisingly, we are going low on the proposition this week.
Recommended Bet: Highest match checkout under 114.5 – 5/6 at bet365.
Gerwyn Price vs Jonny Clayton
This should be a crackerjack of a match. Clayton’s Premier League form figures read: W-W-W-W-W-W-L-W-L and, on Sunday, he took his first European Tour title since 2018 after defeating Josh Rock to clinch the Austrian Darts Open.
CLAYTON CLINCHES GRAZ GLORY! 🏆🇦🇹
Jonny Clayton is the 2023 Interwetten Austrian Darts Open champion!
Five years on from his maiden European Tour triumph, the Welshman repeats the feat in Graz with an 8-6 success against Josh Rock!
What. A. Final! 🔥 #ET5 pic.twitter.com/jxuLUgbjo6
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 23, 2023
But Price has been in a similar scintillating form, and he skipped the Austrian event, possibly allowing him to arrive in Leeds fresher. The ‘Iceman’ has the better head-to-head record winning six of this pair’s last seven meetings.
So, despite Price being the 4/9 betting favorite, this one looks like it will be a close-run affair. Even-money is available on a Clayton victory with a +1.5-leg start. Believing, if the underdog does get beat it will not be by far, it is a fair proposition at the odds on offer.
Recommended Bet: Clayton +1.5 legs to beat Price – evens at all good darts betting sites.
Nathan Aspinall vs Dimitri Van den Burgh
The closest match of the night on paper, Aspinall just shades the betting at 4/5. They are two apiece from four meetings in the 2023 Premier League, with Aspinall taking the last two encounters.
Noticeably, four of their last five meetings in a race-to-six format have resulted in matches that needed 10 or 11 legs to decide a winner. It is 5/6 that this meeting will also go to a 6-5 or 6-4 scoreline, and it is a logical bet choice.
Recommended Bet: Match to feature 9.5-plus legs – 5/6 found at our William Hill sports betting review.
