3 minute read
Following a disappointing 2023, former world champion Michael Smith took the honours on Night One of the 2024 Premier League Darts in Cardiff last Thursday – taking out Michael van Gerwen (6-5), Luke Littler (6-5) and Gerwyn Price (6-2) on his way to victory.
He'll be keen to maintain that form into Night Two, which takes place on Thursday evening at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
'Bully Boy' hit 10 180s and produced a trio of 100+ checkouts to take a maximum five points and lead the early Premier League table. Night Two doesn't start easy for Smith, he faces Price in the quarter-final – a rematch of last week's finale.
The 2023 World Champion out-averaged Price in that meeting by eight points, winning six legs to two in his most comprehensive performance of the night. However, Smith was jettisoned in his opening game of the 2024 Masters at the weekend – while Price withdrew for family reasons.
Price (8/11) is a slight favourite for the contest, and we'd expect him to put up a better showing than the 90.82 three-dart average he tallied in the final last week. However, Smith has won three consecutive Premier League meetings against 'The Iceman', and a 11/10 price is appealing for the straight up win.
In the other quarter-final in the top half of the draw, Masters runner-up Van Gerwen takes on Nathan Aspinall. Both players were knocked out in the opening round on Night 1, 'MVG' falling to Smith and 'The Asp' suffering defeat at the hands of Price.
Aspinall averaged just 88.99 in his loss, while 'Mighty Mike' out-averaged Smith, but still lost 6-5. The Englishman did reach the semi-finals at the Masters, but was demolished 11-1 by eventual winner Stephen Bunting.
MVG should win this contest comfortably as 'The Asp' struggles to match the averages of his rivals currently. The 'MVG' match treble – win, 180s and highest checkout – at 11/4 is enticing.
In the bottom half of the draw, Luke Littler takes on Rob Cross in a World Championship semi-final rematch. Littler dominated Cross on that occasion boasting an average of 106.05 to win six sets to two, and he has continued to build momentum in recent weeks with victory at the Bahrain Masters.
A 6-3 scoreline in favour of Littler pays at 9/2, as does a 6-4 result – that feels like the ballpark for this one.
The final meeting appears to be the mismatch of the night as Luke Humphries takes on Peter Wright. Both men exited at the quarter-final stage in Cardiff last week, and both lost to Bunting on his route to Masters success at the weekend.
Wright is struggling on the averages right now and mustered just 83.78 on Night One, and Humphries – although still on a comedown from his World Championship success – should win this at a canter. The match treble for Humphries (6/5) seems the best bet here.
Night Two Parlay: Michael Smith to win, Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries match trebles and Luke Littler to win by 1.5 legs – 29/1
