Premier League Darts Playoff Tips
The Premier League darts competition is reaching its climax with the play-offs, which are set to take place at the O2 in London this Thursday.
Luke Littler has taken the competition by storm in his first ever campaign, topping the league table with 40 points.
He is joined in the finals by the man who beat him in the World Championship final earlier this year, Luke Humphries, Michael Smith and defending Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen.
The four men will all be aiming to take home the night’s first prize of £275,000. Van Gerwen is the only previous winner in the field, having taken home the title in a remarkable six of the last eight editions.
Tip 1 – Michael Smith +1.5 legs on handicap v Luke Littler @ 27/25
Luke Littler has undoubtedly been the story of darts over the last 12 months, elevating the sport to new heights thanks to his rapid rise.
The youngster topped the table in his first ever Premier League darts campaign after winning four of the 16 nights, finishing as runner-up twice and only being knocked out in the first round three times.
However his main weakness in the campaign seems to have been Michael Smith. Of the 12 losses that Luke the Nuke suffered, five were at the hands of Bully Boy.
Despite changing equipment recently and getting to grips with that, Smith has held a firm advantage over Littler in the tournament, winning five of their seven meetings.
The former world champion finished strong, losing in the first round in just one of the last seven weeks and taking the victory on the final night’s action in Sheffield.
Littler is obviously respected but Smith could be the man to deny the prodigy a win on his debut and looks the value pick on the handicap.
Tip 2 – Over 10.5 180s in Luke Humphries v Michael van Gerwen @ 7/10
Luke Humphries faces Michael van Gerwen in the second semi-final and the Green Machine will be hoping to put his incredible record in this tournament to good use.
He is no stranger to the pressure of these final nights and will stand his ground, no matter how well Humphries has played this year.
The pair could be set to go the distance and as a result it may pay to side with plenty of 180s in this clash - take over 10.5.
Tip 3 – Michael van Gerwen to win the Premier League @ 7/2
Michael van Gerwen has not quite been at his brilliant best this season but his record in this competition is impossible to ignore and he could be overpriced to win it again.
The Dutchman has been victorious in six of the last eight editions of this event and secured the same number of night wins, four, across this year’s tournament as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, who are both more than half his price to lift the title.