The Premier League of Darts crosses the Irish Sea to Dublin this week, with Michael Smith looking to pick up where he left off in Glasgow.
Dublin has hosted some fantastic nights in darting history. On the outskirts at the CityWest hotel, it witnessed the first ever 9-darter in the World Grand Prix by Brendan Dolan in 2011, James Wade and Robert Thornton both had nine-darters in the same match a few years later.
Michael Smith also produced one in the in the Premier League at the 3Arena recently in 2020, and now the World Champion is looking to win the night in the Emerald Isle. Oliver Holmes runs the rule over tonight’s proceedings.
QF 1 – Michael Smith vs Peter Wright
Peter Wright has been disappointing in the Premier League so far, having not won a single game in the tournament, losing to Nathan Aspinall, Dimitri van den Bergh & Chris Dobey. However his scoring has been one of the best of the tournament, averaging close to 100 (99.65), it’s his doubles that have let him down, having the lowest checkout average of 32.25% (10/31).
Michael Smith on the other hand has looked like the World number one through and through since his World Champion epic, averaging similar to Wright (98.02), but finishing better on the doubles and, more consistently (43.66% checkout). And with Smith at the top of the table he’ll look to continue the dominance.
Score Prediction: Smith 6 – 2 Wright
QF 2 – Gerwyn Price vs Dimitri van den Bergh
Both haven’t quite hit the heights, but Price did conquer all when winning at a raucous Cardiff a fortnight ago. But his darts haven’t been as incredible as they have been. His average is currently the worse in the tournament (93.76), and his checkout average has been fair (25/66, 37.87%).
van den Bergh has been consistent on his doubles this year, exactly 50% average over all his doubles, and his scoring hasn’t been too bad either (96.92). But his performance in the tournament has been rather good, finishing runner-up last week. His nemesis is Michael van Gerwen, losing twice to him, but looks good against everyone else.
Score Prediction: Price 4 – 6 van den Bergh
QF 3 – Jonny Clayton vs Nathan Aspinall
Clayton, the winner of the 2021 tournament, hasn’t looked like himself in this tournament, having only made the Semi-Finals once this year. His doubles have been excellent (53.65% avg), but he’s only had 41 doubles to throw at, which shows that his scoring has to improve, even though it sits at a 97.73 average.
Aspinall had some stick arriving at this year’s tournament, but has proved the doubters wrong, not finishing any lower than Semi Finals. Runner up in Cardiff, the Asp hasn’t got the best checkout rate (35.55%), and doesn’t have the best scoring average either (96.43), but he always manages to find a way to win. His winning results have been; 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5. Which shows that he’s always involved in tight affairs.
Score Prediction: Clayton 5 – 6 Aspinall
QF 4 – Chris Dobey vs Michael van Gerwen
Dobey is slowly establishing himself as the people’s champion in this year’s tournament, after beating MvG in the first final in Belfast. Since then he’s bowed out at the first game, and his first 100+ average in last week’s loss against Clayton. Dobey’s result since week one has been 6-5 and 6-1.
Those results don’t hold out much hope for Hollywood, as MvG hasn’t won a tournament yet, but the draw may help him tonight. He’s the only player to have a 100+ average in the entire tournament, and is close to 50% on his doubles. He can take advantage of Chris Dobey, and despite being sixth in the table, he can win the night, easily.
Score Prediction: Dobey 1 – 6 van Gerwen
Semi Final Predictions:
Smith 6 – 4 van den Bergh
Aspinall 5 – 6 van Gerwen
Final Prediction:
Smith 4 – 6 van Gerwen
Oliver Holmes
