The final four have been settled after
fourteen gruelling weeks touring the UK for the 2013 Premier League
Darts. The draw for the final night as well has been settled, taking
the positions of first playing fourth and second playing third. That
means Michael van Gerwen v James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld v
Phil Taylor. It is the Netherlands v England in both of the semi
final matches which are the best of 15 legs. This season of Premier
League darts betting has been made all the more interesting because
of the vulnerabilities of Phil Taylor. He has long been the expert in
this format, winning six of the previous nine titles. It is The Power
who is the reigning champion as well after beating Simon Whitlock in
last year’s final. However, he is not the favourite this time
around.
Phil The Power Taylor, who has gone
entire regular seasons of the Premier League unbeaten, was toppled
four times in his sixteen matches this season. He was well below his
usual mark of landing 180’s during the tournament, but somehow he
still managed to compensate for that by finishing with the highest
three dart average above everyone else. Taylor takes on his old rival
Raymond van Barneveld in the semi final on finals night, and during
the season, Taylor beat the Dutchman 7-3 before they settled for a
tie in their second meeting. Taylor generally has the upper hand over
Barneveld and could be worth backing again. Taylor does usually turn
up when it matters most and that is why he is trading at 11/4 second
favourite to take the Premier League title for the seventh time.
But Barneveld was more consistent than
he has been in recent seasons, powering his way to ten wins from his
sixteen league matches, losing just three. He fired off 23 more
maximums than Taylor did as well this season. Barneveld was one of
the best players over the course of the season, but as he found out
at the 2013 World Championships, Taylor still has the beating of him.
But Barneveld does seem to have had the bit between his teeth this
season in looking for his first ever Premier League title, and the
Dutchman could have value at 11/2. Going up against Taylor will be
the heavyweight clash of the semi finals and the winner will be
heading into a final showdown against Michael van Gerwen or James
Wade. A repeat of the 2013 World Championship final between Van
Gerwen and Taylor is certainly on the cards as they go as favourites
to win outright.
It is Michael van Gerwen, the hot new
ticket on the darts scene that is taking all favouritism here. This
is his debut season in the Premier League and it has been an
impressive one. Like Barneveld, he lost only three matches all
season, but took top spot in the league standings with eleven wins
from his sixteen matches. He just has the quick, heavy scoring touch
which has seen him translate to this format so well. Van Gerwen drew
once and beat Taylor heavily during the regular season, and he
produced two wins over his fellow countryman Barneveld during the
season. That is why he is trading as favourite, and why it leaves
James Wade, a former Premier League winner, as the rank outsider.
Wade was very strong over the first half of the season, but only
picked up two wins from his last seven matches, squeezing into the
playoffs.
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