Premier League Darts - Night Two Tips
Michael Smith landed the spoils on the opening night of the Premier League in Cardiff, defeating home favourite Gerwyn Price in the final following victories over man-of-the-moment Luke Littler and defending champion Michael van Gerwen.
The second of 16 nights takes the eight-strong field to Berlin and there is plenty to look forward to, including an opening-round salvo between last week’s finalists Smith and Price.
Match One: Nathan Aspinall v Michael Van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall and Van Gerwen both reached the Masters semi-final on Sunday, although their experiences ended very differently.
While the Asp was blown away 11-1 by Bunting, MvG inflicted an 11-2 humiliation on Dimitri Van den Bergh, averaging 99.63 in a rout on his way to the final.
Van Gerwen went on to lose that title decider to an inspired performance from Bunting but he lost little in defeat with the Bullet averaging 102.50 in an 11-7 win.
Despite the deep run, Aspinall still doesn’t look happy with his game and there are plenty of creases that need ironing out before he can challenge for title honours.
MvG has won ten of their last 12 meetings and he should take this comfortably, with a bet on the Dutchman to successfully cover a 2.5-leg handicap looking the best approach at a shade of odds-on.
ADD TO BETSLIP: Tip 1 - Tip - Michael van Gerwen -2.5 legs on handicap @ 49/50
Match Two: Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Smith silenced the Cardiff crowd with victory over Price in last week’s final and, with no home advantage for the Welshman, it is hard to see the roles being reversed.
Bully Boy was superb in the crunch moments last Thursday, holding his nerve to come through final-leg deciders with Van Gerwen and Littler before punishing Price 6-2.
Smith averaged in excess of 94 in each of those contests and, although he disappointed in the subsequent Masters, he is fancied for another strong showing in Berlin.
The Englishman has won his last three Premier League meetings with Price and can frank that form in the German capital.
ADD TO BETSLIP: TIP TWO - Tip - Michael Smith to win @ 49/50
Match Three: Luke Littler v Rob Cross
It seems as if Littler is only going to get stronger. The teenage sensation has already won the Bahrain Masters and finished runner-up in the Dutch equivalent since reaching the World Championship final and it may only be a matter of time before he makes his presence felt in the Premier League.
Night One saw Littler beaten 6-5 in his semi-final showdown with Smith but he had brushed aside world champion and world number one Luke Humphries 6-2 in his opening assignment, posting an average of 100.30.
Littler has won 14 of his 17 matches since his World Championship first-round victory over Christian Kist and that included his emphatic 6-2 sets victory over Cross in the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace, when he won the contest 22 legs to 15.
Voltage is showing some of his old sparkle but he has won only two of his six matches since the World Championships, having lost 6-2 to Price in the semi-final in Cardiff last week.
It feels as if Littler is hitting two trebles at more regularity than any other player at present and that scoring power should ensure he triumphs without the need of a deciding leg.
ADD TO BETSLIP: Tip Three - Luke Littler -1.5 legs on handicap @ 17/20
Match Four: Luke Humphries v Peter Wright
Many disagreed with the decision to allow Peter Wright the opportunity to compete in the Premier League and on early evidence it is easy to see why.
Snakebite limped to a 6-3 defeat to Cross on Night One in Cardiff and averaged only 83.78, some ten points less than his opponent, Voltage.
Wright was also thrashed 10-2 by Bunting in the quarter-final of the Masters last time out, again averaging under 84, meaning that he has lost nine of his last 12 matches.
Humphries has taken time to come to terms with being crowned world champion earlier this year, losing four of his last five matches, but he has still been putting up respectable averages.
This is a gilt-edged opportunity for Cool Hand Luke to regain the winning feeling and he should have too much firepower for an out-of-sorts Wright, with a 3.5-leg deficit unlikely to stop him.
ADD TO BETSLIP: Tip Four - Luke Humphries -3.5 legs on handicap @ 27/25
ADD OUR 14/1 DARTS FOURFOLD TO YOUR BETSLIP
BetMGM Premier League Darts - Night 2 Fixtures
| Match | Participants | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Aspinall Vs Michael Van Gerwen | Michael Van Gerwen |
| 2 | Michael Smith Vs Gerwyn Price | Michael Smith |
| 3 | Luke Littler Vs Rob Cross | Luke Littler |
| 4 | Luke Humphries Vs Peter Wright | Luke Humphries |
Who will win night two of the Darts Premier League?
From the predictions above, the two semi-final matches in Berlin will be Michael Van Gerwen Vs Michael Smith and Luke Littler Vs Luke Humphries. From our night one predictions, we believe that these two matches will also happen on night one. However, we have Price and Littler winning those matches, we believe Van Gerwen and Humphries will win on night two, with Michael Van Gerwen winning the night.