Wednesday at the World Darts Championship
Wayne Mardle helps us look ahead to day seven at Alexandra Palace
Wednesday 20 December 2017 23:52, UK
2010 World Darts Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock enters the fray on Wednesday when Phil Taylor will find out his second-round opponent.
The Wizard of Oz will take centre stage with a tough-looking contest against Germany's Martin Schindler, who has been making waves on the tour this year, and Whitlock will need to be at his best if he is to avoid becoming the latest seed to fall by the wayside.
Whitlock was beaten by Phil Taylor in the 2010 final and, despite a lean couple of years, returned to his best with a run to the World Grand Prix final a couple of months ago.
Twenty-one-year-old Schindler earned his PDC card at Q-school last January and impressed in Germany's run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Justin Pipe, a semi-finalist at the Players Championship in November, will face the winner of the preliminary round match between Bernie Smith and Xiao Chen Zong and Smith knows that success will see him into a second-round showdown with The Power on Saturday night.
The night begins with what could be the match of the evening, a returning to form Michael Smith faces a tricky test against Steve Lennon, another Q-school graduate in January who surprised everyone by reaching the knockout stages of the Grand Slam in an impressively steady debut year.
Over to Wayne Mardle.....
Michael Smith v Steve Lennon
At the Grand Slam, Steve Lennon was a sensation, he just gets up, shakes the markers hand, shakes the officials' hands and his opponent and then it's game on.
There is not a peep from him other than quality darts so it is not going to be easy for Michael Smith, I think he wins quite comfortably with maybe a little wobble in there.
I always back Michael and he always lets me down but now I really believe he is not that kid anymore. He seems to have found a method, a routine and a rhythm that works for him.
The immature Michael seems to have gone and there have been a few changes, he's got a son, a house and Gary Anderson as an inspiration who is there for him. I think Gary has been in his ear and said you've got a God-given talent, don't waste it.
I think a good Michael Smith is good for darts, there is a potential Premier League place if he does well - if he can relax and enjoy it more he can go a long way.
Simon Whitlock v Martin Schindler
Simon started to play some really good darts around the Grand Prix where he reached the final and won a few tour events - I thought 'The Wizard is back'.
Well, he seems to have gone backwards and I don't fancy him to win this game. Martin Schindler is better than his results show and he was fantastic at the World Cup where he had a lot of pressure on him.
It was in Germany and he is now the best German player - Germany are expecting and he is under pressure to perform and he is taking it well, he is different to Max Hopp who has struggled.
I think it's a really close game and Martin can pull off a big upset against Simon who is another who is in the mix for a Premier League spot so feels he needs a run.
Justin Pipe v Xiao Chen Zong/Bernie Smith
I have no idea which Justin will turn up and the prelim matches are proving very hard to predict - so it's hard to say anything other Pipe should do enough and come through.
If he wins he will play Phil Taylor and that is an incentive but he can't think about that.
In knockout events you can't get ahead of yourself, I've done it, winning quarter-finals and thought who have I got in the final and been knocked out in five semi-finals so the warning is 'Do not look forward'.
The 2018 World Championship from Alexandra Palace continues on Wednesday night with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts and ending with the final on New Year's Day.
Live World Darts Championship
Keep up to date with the news as the PDC celebrates 25 years on Sky Sports. So get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts - don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
