Premier League Darts – Phil Can Power Past Barney In Birmingham

The Premier League Darts season is reaching its climax and we’re in for yet another night of high-octane action when the wagon rolls into Birmingham for the Week 13 round of matches on Thursday.

It’s the turn of Phil Taylor to play twice on one card. The Power will face redoubtable Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the second match of the evening, then square up against Dave Chisnall in the concluding face-off at the NIA.

TV Bet analyses three of the most intriguing matches of Week 13…

Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor

Even allowing for the fact that Adrian Lewis wasn’t at his best, Barney’s victory over Jackpot last week was impressive and, in current form, the 47-year-old should give The Power plenty to think about.

However, while the Stoke thrower made an inauspicious start to the season, he has momentum on his side now. Indeed, Taylor is unbeaten since Week 5 and proved that he means business when defeating Michael van Gerwen two weeks ago.

At around the 4/7 mark, The Power is hardly a value bet, but he rates a very solid one all the same. He knows that there is little margin for error now – any slip-ups could see him fail to qualify for the play-offs – but I can’t envisage that happening.

Taylor has rediscovered his sangfroid and has a psychological edge over Barney, whom he has a good record against. At 6/5 with Bet365, I like the look of Taylor -2.5 in the handicap.

Betting advice: Phil Taylor -2.5 in the handicap betting @ 6/5 with bet365

Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson

Reigning Premier League champion and current world No 1 Van Gerwen is in pole position to retain his crown at the O2 later this month, but he won’t have things all his own way against Gary Anderson this evening.

Mighty Mike cut a frustrated figure when outpointed by Phil Taylor a fortnight ago, but normal service was duly resumed when the Dutchman saw off Dave Chisnall last week.

The Flying Scotsman has been living up to his name of late. Victories against Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis were followed by creditable draws against Robert Thornton and Phil Taylor seven days ago.

The 43-year-old is, of course the underdog going into this match – he’s a top-priced 10/3 with BetVictor against Van Gerwen, who is as short as 1/2 with William Hill – but I reckon this game will be much closer than the odds suggest.

I wouldn’t be so bold as to predict victory for Anderson but, as in the Van Barneveld-Taylor match, the handicap market is where the value is to be found: the 10/11 available with BetVictor about +2.5 in the Scot’s favour rates a cracking bet.

Betting advice: Gary Anderson +2.5 in the handicap market @ 10/11 with BetVictor

Adrian Lewis v Peter Wright

This is one of the most evenly-matched games at the NIA this evening, which is reflected in the betting, with many firms going 13/10 each of two.

Based on current form you’d have to go with Snakebite; he didn’t have a good night in the penultimate round of matches, but duly bounced back when getting the better of Robert Thornton in a cracking match last week.

Conversely, Jackpot hasn’t been firing on all cylinders of late but it would nevertheless be churlish to dismiss the Stoke man. Indeed, if he bounces back to anything akin to his best in Birmingham he’ll win alright.

It really could go either way, and whichever way it does go there won’t be much in it. However, the 7/5 on offer with Betfair about Lewis emerging victorious is quite simply too good to miss.

Betting advice: Adrian Lewis to win @ 7/5 with Betfair