Premier League Darts Week Four: Are the 180s Markets Right?

by Roy Brindley, 28 February 2022

Week four of the Cazoo Premier League will come from Exeter’s Westport Arena. There was no Premier League action last Thursday as the PDC Tour (Professional Darts Corporation) headed to Germany for the 2022 International Darts Open.

Last weekend seven Premier League stars took part in the International Darts Open – the first European Tour event of the year – where they enjoyed varying degrees of success. However, as was demonstrated in week three, results outside of the Premier League environment often have little bearing on proceedings.

Gerwyn Price was imperious in Belfast. ©Lawrence Lustig/PDC

The third week of Premier League action from Belfast was exceptional. The eventual winner, Gerwyn Price, produced two sublime nine-dart legs. In addition to this fete, he also registered a noteworthy 170 check-out.

Based on that performance, Price is unopposable. But, after three Premier League nights, there have been three separate winners and five individual finalists. Week two winner, Jonny Clayton, currently tops the points standings.

Jonny Clayton vs Michael van Gerwen

Not only has Clayton amassed the greatest number of Premier League points, but he has also recorded the most 100-plus and 180 scores. Nevertheless, according to the latest odds, he is only a marginal favorite to beat Michael van Gerwen (MVG) on Thursday.

The Dutchman averaged 106.5 in defeat against Gerwyn Price a fortnight ago. That performance did suggest the former world number one is on his way back to his best.

MVG has a higher three-dart average and better check-out percentage than Clayton. Consequently, everything points to this being a close-run affair. Resultantly, we like the 10/11 on offer found through our review of William Hill sport betting about the match featuring 9.5-plus total legs.

Michael Smith vs Joe Cullen

In 2019 Michael Smith was a beaten finalist in the World Championship but he proceeded to record a dire run of Premier League results. He won just three of his 16 matches. In 2022, history appears to be repeating itself.

The 31-year-old has been crushed 6-3 in all three of his 2022 Premier League matches to date. He has registered just four 180s during those 27 competitive legs.

Joe Cullen is fancied to beat an out-of-form Michael Smith. ©PDC

Thursday’s opponent, Joe Cullen, aided by a semi-final win over Gerwyn Price in week two, boasts better figures. For example, he is averaging four 180s per-match.

It is not imaginative or exotic, but Cullen looks the better player on current Premier League form and appears remarkable value at the 11/10 on offer at Betfair.

Gerwyn Price vs Peter Wright

The 2021 World Champion meets his old adversary and the current World Champion in the match of the night. Both Price and Wright have already won a Premier League nightly final. Both are averaging over 100 in the competition with a checkout percentage of 40-plus percent.

In a game where these champions – winner and runner-up in the International Darts Open at the weekend – could inspire one another, the best betting option is to go high on the line of match 180s. The line is set at 5.5 and the best darts betting sites are offering 4/5 about that mark being bettered.

James Wade vs Gary Anderson

James Wade has the lowest three-dart average of all eight Premier League players. Nevertheless, he continues to tame rivals and, aided by a final appearance in Belfast, sits fourth in the league table.

Gary Anderson has won just one of the four matches he has played. Ironically his check-out percentage has been a very respectable 53-percent. But his 180 scoring has been low. So far, the Scott has hit just nine maximums.

Under these circumstances, the 13/5 Betway offers about James Wade claiming the most match 180s looks a genuine bargain.

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