Premier League Darts: Wayne Mardle makes week three predictions
Thursday 18 February 2016 23:50, UK
Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld will fail to win their Premier League Darts matches in Dublin this week, believes Wayne Mardle.
For the first time this year we've got a full complement of 10 healthy players (we hope) although Sky Sports darts expert Mardle has threatened to throw a sickie...
Here are his predictions for the third week of the Premier League...
Peter Wright v James Wade
Last week, Peter felt the need to use different darts which was the wrong decision even though he won. People will say he got away with it, but if he uses those darts again, he won't. At the weekend he went back to the equipment he has been using for the past six months, and he was miles better.
Wade has looked really patchy. He has been a million dollars at times - he did enough against Michael Smith and played well against Phil Taylor but his average didn't tell the whole story. Wade was battered by Taylor and left behind in the scoring and Wright could do a similar number on him. At this current point, Wright is a better player than Wade.
Prediction: Wright will go back to using his old equipment and will beat Wade.
Dave Chisnall v Michael Smith
Without categorising players into brackets, some are not as good as others. For example, Michael van Gerwen is better than Wade - of that, there is no doubt. Smith has lost to Wade and Wright and Adrian Lewis, none of these are as good as Van Gerwen. Smith still has Van Gerwen and Taylor to play.
There are no easy games. Chisnall doesn't go and have 85 averages anymore, he will always average 95-100. Smith, again, has his work cut out.
Prediction: Smith's confidence is low, Chisnall will plough on.
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Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Anderson played superbly against Van Gerwen but was beaten by the better man. Taylor played excellently two weeks ago in a Tour event, then he averaged 111.20 in beating Wade. That's not a coincidence, he had the confidence.
What is interesting is that people need to start realising Phil can win. He is the favourite for this match, and it's against the two-time and reigning world champion. That's how good Phil is, people must realise he's not a spent force.
Yes, Phil's not as good as he was. He's not as consistent. Is he still as good on his day? Yes.
Prediction: This is too tough to call so I'll sit on the fence and say it's a draw.
Adrian Lewis v Michael van Gerwen
Lewis has played fantastic darts since last November, that's three months of confidence, which matters. In an individual sport you can't win if you lack confidence.
This is Lewis' best time to play Van Gerwen because he's playing brilliantly and believes he can win. I think this is the time that Lewis is playing the darts of his life. After he won last week, he spoke like someone who believes they can go all the way. He played well last week at a canter.
Prediction: I never thought I'd say this, because I remember saying a few weeks ago 'Michael will win every game, every week'. But I don't think he'll beat Lewis. Draw.
Robert Thornton v Raymond van Barneveld
Barney proved last week that he can lose to anybody, on any given day. He lost to Wright who averaged 84 for the best part of 10 legs. Barney will think 'how did I lose?'
I wouldn't touch this game with your money, let alone mine. Thornton, we don't know what form he's in. Has he recovered from the lowest ever Premier League average of 75.68? He's going to play better than that.
Thornton, if he's not behind after three legs, can take Barney. But Barney is the better player.
Prediction: I'm going for the outsider, I think Thornton will do a job on Barney.
Watch Premier League Darts at 7pm on Thursday on Sky Sports 1 HD. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
