What will happen on Judgement Night? Wayne Mardle's Premier League Darts predictions...
Wayne's expecting one big shock!
Saturday 2 April 2016 14:29, UK
It's Judgement Night on Thursday which means only one player out of struggling trio Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall and Robert Thornton will survive.
And while two men will crash out of the Premier League, another battle resumes at the top of the table. Michael van Gerwen is playing Raymond van Barneveld in a mouth-watering all-Dutch dust-up - and Wayne has got some brave things to say about that match!
Without further ado, here's Mardle's predictions...
Live Premier League Darts
James Wade v Gary Anderson
Wayne said: This isn't a tough one to call! Anderson is playing beautifully. He's up there with Taylor and Van Gerwen - they're the best three players in the world by some way. They're the most consistent. When they have a chance to win, they win. I can't believe I'm saying this about Anderson who found a way to lose for 15 years!
Wade is coming in untested [after a week's break], players have gained on him. It happened to us, back in the day. I was usually bottom and you'd leave one point adrift, then come back two weeks later three points adrift! You have a week off and can't do anything about it.
Prediction: James can beat anyone, we know that, but he'll have to score very well. He's made a living from 101 finishes. It's a tight game but Anderson will win 7-5. (Anderson 9/2 with Sky Bet to win 7-5)
Michael Smith v Phil Taylor
Wayne said: Not making the cut in the Premier League is horrible. It's basically saying that you're in the bottom two over nine weeks. You've underperformed, you've underachieved, you've not won as many games as you should. It's a slant on your ability, but you can't look at it like that.
Gary Anderson has finished bottom of the Premier League. But he believed in his ability - Smith is a young man and I hope, if he gets eliminated, that it doesn't dent his confidence.
Prediction: I think Taylor wins this game. Smith has to be worried about elimination, it's looming large. (Taylor 2/7 with Sky Bet to win)
Dave Chisnall v Peter Wright
Wayne said: Wright will have taken confidence from the fact he played so well at the European Tour event at the weekend. Chizzy played decent enough in it, but hasn't in the Premier League.
Chizzy's scoring has been fine, but his combination shots have been really poor in some weeks. He's got to put away the 58 and 64 finishes. That's what he continues to miss.
Wright, at the moment, is playing far better and more consistently. Chisnall has to get something from this game otherwise he will be eliminated, but it doesn't help going on first because he'll still have uncertainty.
Prediction: I think Wright wins this, and I think Chizzy will be hesitant most of the way through. I think Wright wins comfortably, maybe 7-3. (Wright 9/2 with Sky Bet to win 7-3)
Robert Thornton v Adrian Lewis
Wayne said: Adrian very, very rarely annihilates people. He does, obviously, but not as often as he should. He's miles better than his Premier League reads, which is terrible.
When Lewis plays well he beats people, but he has a struggle winning when he's not on his A-game. Robert will play with more freedom than he has done.
Prediction: I fancy the draw. Robert may have nothing to play for because he may already be safe, or he'll have to grind it out - he won't mind either way. (Draw 9/2 with Sky Bet)
Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
Wayne said: I said last week that I'm never, ever going to back against Van Gerwen. I'm going to say something now that is contentious, but I don't care! Michael's form has tailed off. I think Michael has reached the point where he finds the game so easy that he is coasting to victory. But when asked a question during a game, he's not always finding an answer.
Last week for instance, he couldn't find the answer against Thornton. You do not want to be playing Barney if you're not on top form. Holland make such a big thing of this match, and I think Michael has trouble beating Taylor and Van Barneveld. They are the two players he struggles against. Why don't the bookmakers learn?
Prediction: I think Barney wins this game! I'm going for a 7-4 win for Barney. (Barney 22/1 with Sky Bet to win 7-4)
