Premier League Darts Betting: King to take his chance against under pressure Wade

Darts / David Croft / 10 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

For week two of the 2009 Premier League, the action heads to Edinburgh's Royal Highland Centre and, though nothing was decided by last week's results, there were a few highs and lows would could prove telling, writes David Croft.

First of all, well done to Mervyn King and Jelle Klassen who settled in well on their debuts, especially King who opened up a huge can of 'whop ass' on Wayne Mardle.

John Part will be satisfied to have nicked a draw off James Wade who said that six months ago he'd have won the match. True, but six months ago he was a different player and unless he finds his form again he'll struggle in the big TV events this year.

Phil Taylor who stamped his authority with an 8-4 win over Raymond van Barneveld. Phil was on top form, rattling off six legs in a row in the middle of the match, none won in more than 14 darts and one won with a 25, bull, bull finish. It was exhibition stuff from The Power but Barney looked like he was in an exhibition mood himself. I know Phil was playing well but the Dutchman lacked the appetite for a fight, something I remarked on last week and hoped that he'd found a way to fix. Even when Phil hit the winning double he did it after turning round for a chat before throwing the dart.

Their were laughs, jokes even some banter as Barney threw the 161 checkout, as if both players knew the result didn't really matter because easy pickings in the other round robin matches mean that both will be through to finals night without too much trouble.

They could be right but for those having a punt on the match is it too much to expect it to be played to a competitive level from both players? Not just Taylor who did what he had to do but did it under little pressure.

This week Barney takes on John Part and is priced at [1.46] to win with Part a generous, but not generous enough [4.9]. You have to go back to July 2006 for the last time Part beat the Dutchman in front of the cameras with Barney twice winning in the Premier League. Expect him to make it a hat-trick on Thursday night, nothing wrong with Part's scoring but his 25% on doubles is costly whoever you play and Barney won't give him many, if any, second chances. I fancy Barneveld to win eight legs to four at [5.0] with Betfair.

Wayne Mardle takes on Terry Jenkins in what could, on the basis of last week's form, find Mardle on the receiving end of another walk over. I didn't expect Jenkins to hit the ground running in the way he did and I make him a very warm favourite to beat Mardle comfortably. Mardle isn't hitting his doubles and couldn't even muster a 180 during the 8-1 defeat by Mervyn in Liverpool. He looked out of sorts and whilst Jenkins won't dominate the match in the way King did, 6 x 180's and 8 x 140's, plus finishes of 120 and 124 against Klassen showed just what he's capable of. Take Jenkins at [1.87] for the outright win.

According to my spies, Jelle Klassen has been chucking 180's for fun of late and there's no doubting that the boy is getting back to the sort of form that won him the world title. I don't think he'll beat Phil Taylor on Wednesday but I'm prepared for a close one and wouldn't be surprised is there's only a couple of legs in it. Klassen starts well and that's the key against Phil in what is a simple format, hold your throw and then wait for an opportunity. If it doesn't come then the worst you go home with is a draw, but the key must always be to win the legs you start, average 100 in those legs and force your opponent to go out in 12 darts or less. Taylor on Thursday night is an unbackable [1.18] to make it two wins out of two, but Klassen [11.5] and the draw [8.2] are tempting for a small stake certainly especially if you hedge your bets with a small punt on a Taylor eight legs to six win at [7.2].

The final match of the night brings together Mervyn King and James Wade who, as I mentioned earlier, is not exactly firing on all cylinders at present. Ever since his relationship with Sky's Helen Chamberain went public James has struggled, not helped by the stick he's getting from the PDC crowds. If his personal life continues to affect his Darts he won't be going to the finals night.

However, Wade is a quality player and shouldn't be written off. On Thursday, he's playing a man who is starting to look at home in the PDC world and has the game to put Wade under pressure right from the start. The two will know each other well having come through the BDO ranks together and whilst Wade has beaten King six times since the latter switched codes, the last two matches have produced a draw and a win for King.

I fancy King to notch up another victory on Thursday night especially at odds of [2.6]. This is what he wanted when he switched, the chance to play in the Premier League, to show what he can do on TV week in week out and now he's got the chance he could prove a very dangerous opponent.