3 minute read
Nicknamed 'Cool Hand', world champion Luke Humphries has certainly showcased a hot hand during his three-night winning streak to move to the top of the Premier League Darts standings.
The 29-year-old has beaten all-comers in the last month, winning nine consecutive Premier League matches by an aggregate score of 54-23 and boasting a three-dart average of over 103 in seven of those nine victories.
He has regained that other-worldly form he showcased at the end of 2023 and opens his Night Nine account on Thursday at the SSE Arena in Belfast against the prodigy Luke Littler.
The pair have met twice in the Premier League this season on Night One and Night Two, both won by the 17-year-old, but 'Cool Hand' is back in prime form, with Littler having reached just one final all season.
Humphries leads the competition in three-dart average (102.49), matches won (13), 180s (66), average against the throw (104.69), percentage of legs won against the throw (46.99%) and total percentage of legs won (60.24%).
What could favour bettors is the casual punter backing Littler due to his undoubted presence in the mainstream, which could raise the odds for 'Cool Hand' and add value to several markets. Humphries is as long as 8/13 to win and 2/1 for the Match Double – Win and Most 180s.
The winner will take on Michael Smith or Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals. The duo have clashed twice this season with the series shared at 1-1. 'MVG' was dominant in the early weeks of the season but is in a barren run of form losing four consecutive quarter-finals.
Smith, meanwhile, has been a beaten finalist in two of the past three weeks and is somewhat of an enigma in terms of what you are going to get from night to night. 'Mighty Mike' out-averages 'Bully Boy' (99.01-96.40), has a much higher checkout percentage (46.41-38.22%) and wins a greater percentage of legs against the throw (35.71-28.77%).
Again, 8/13 is not to be sniffed at for a Van Gerwen victory, but if Smith does claim the win, the Match Double (11/4) – 180s and victory – is worth the punt as 'Bully Boy' has hit the second most 180s in the tournament to date at 55.
In the lower half of the draw Nathan Aspinall takes on Gerwyn Price, while Rob Cross duels with Peter Wright.
'Snakebite' has been mauled by Luke Humphries 6-1 in back-to-back nights, but did claim his first win of the season on Night Seven over Gerwyn Price. Cross, meanwhile, has lost his last two quarter-finals, but his play has been solid and should claim the win at 4/11 - although those odds are shorter than preferable.
Price, meanwhile, has won just one match in five weeks, a 6-5 win over 'MVG' in the quarter-final last week. Aspinall is in much better form, reaching the final on three of the past five nights. A 5/4 price for an Aspinall victory is ridiculous and should be jumped upon.
Best Bets (Treble – 24.31/1)
Luke Humphries Most 180s and Win (v Luke Littler) 2/1
Michael Smith Most 180s and Win (v Michael Van Gerwen) 11/4
Nathan Aspinall to win (v Gerwyn Price) 5/4
