UK Open Sunday Afternoon: Simon Whitlock vs. James Wade

The two veterans opening today’s UK Open Sunday afternoon proceedings. Across their matches so far there is little to separate them. Wade is averaging 100.0 to Whitlock’s 98.4, Wade is been better on the double’s as he usually is while The Wizard is the biggest 180 hitter left in the tournament, scoring at 0.49 per leg to Wades 0.25.

We can see how this match should go. Whitlock will be throwing more bombs trying to get to the doubles before Wade, while Wade will take more of his chances if and when Whitlock fails to do so.

Wade has been very consistent so far with averages of 102.3, 97.5 and 99.9 but it is Whitlock who has been machine like averaging 98 in all three of his matches. Wade was lost 21 legs, Whitlock 24.

The Wizard beat Labanauskas and Dolan in his last two matches, two of the most tenacious players on the circuit, and both went to a deciding leg. Good practice for a match with Wade. James Wade didn’t have to break sweat to beat Gabriel Clemens 10-5 as the German just didn’t show up, averaging 89.

These two haven’t met for over two years and Whitlock leads the H2H 22-18, but that is old form.

Will They Produce Their Best?

The problem with betting in matches with these two players, is that they both have tendencies to suddenly lose form. Both have been very consistent so far, but I just expect them both of to have a bad performance at some point. When is the question.

Hopefully both will continue in the same vein as in their first three matches and if so, we should get a close match and a reasonably long match. Our bet on Whitlock to have more than 6.5 maximum’s paid off last night thanks to Dolan being Dolan and taking the match to a deciding leg, giving Whitlock the full 19 legs to hit. In the end he hit 10.

Wade is the 1.63 favourite with Whitlock at 2.50. I would say the Aussie is a little bit of value but I prefer to stick with the 180 market. We got 3.00 for over 6.50 last night and for the same score today it is 2.20. I still think that represents decent value. The Wizard hit 21 across his two matches yesterday at a rate of 0.55 per leg. The bookies reckon 10-8 or 10-9 will be the most likely match score and I tend to agree that we should see 17 or more. That should give Whitlock the time to hit more than 6.5 even if his strike rate drops to 0.375.

UK Open Sunday Afternoon Tip: 1 point Over 16.5 legs @ 1.83 with Betfair

UK Open Sunday Afternoon Tip: 1 point Whitlock to hit over 6.5 180’s @ 2.20 with Ladbrokes

Gerwyn Price vs. Devon Petersen

Price woke up last night and showed us the kind of performance we are used to seeing from him. He beat Chris Dobey 10-5 and averaged 102. Dobey played well, averaging 101 himself but Price was never in any trouble and he looked much happier with his performance. Timing his run nicely.

Petersen didn’t look comfortable when beating Peter Jacques 10-4. It was a comfortable score line, but The African Warrior averaged just 90 and he was lucky that Jacques just was not up to the job. Jacques averaged just 88 and now Petersen is going to face someone likely to be averaging around the ton mark.

These two had some cracking matches last Autumn. Price won 8-7 in the final of PC17, and Petersen came form behind to beat Price 6-5 in the German Darts Championship, going on to win the title. That was when Petersen was at the peak form and I don’t think he is now. His throw looked jerky, too much body movement and I reckon he has got as far as he will. He has averaged just 93.5 so far and he is the weakest player on the doubles of those remaining. Price should be able to overcome a 2.5 leg handicap.

UK Open Sunday Afternoon Tip: 2 point Price to win -2.5 legs @ 1.80 with Ladbrokes

Dave Chisnall vs. Luke Humphries

The winning post is coming into view. Time for Chizzy to get tight? Very possibly. He made a meal of beating Alan Souter last night. The new tour card holder had Chizzy under pressure despite averaging just 91.2. Chisnall was giving us the full repertoire of his many throws, the good, the bad and the lasso. He managed to win 10-2 but was far from convincing.

Luke Humphries beat Martijn Kleermaker 10-4 and he didn’t have to do much to win. The big Dutchman had been lucky to get that far, and his luck ran out. It wasn’t Humphries best performance, but it didn’t have to be. He is averaging 98.2 so far, a little shy of Chisnall’s 101.3 but within reach.

Chisnall is 5-0 in their H2H’s but their last two stage matches have been close. If Humphries can put pressure on Chisnall he will have a chance to end Chisnall’s dreams of that elusive first TV title.

UK Open Sunday Afternoon Tip: 1 point Luke Humphries to win @ 2.75 with SpreadEx

UK Open Sunday Afternoon: Michael van Gerwen vs. Krzysztof Ratajski

This is a tricky one. We have seen both players play some excellent darts but also we have seen both wobble. MVG looked back to his best when thrashing Suljovic 10-4 yesterday afternoon. A 103 average, huge checkouts and good body language. Then against De Souse last night, he wobbled. It was mostly a very good performance with lots of sub 15 dart legs, but he let De Sousa back into the game, missing big doubles and his confidence suddenly looked fragile again.

Ratajski was brilliant when thrashing Aspinall in round 4, a brilliant display. He then fell over the line against Razma, still averaged 100 but he very nearly lost that match. Last night he was back to his very best, beating our last hope, Jonny Clayton 10-3. He has the game to beat anyone when he brings this kind of form, but he hasn’t done it against MVG. Remember how long it took Gerwyn Price to beat MVG? There is something similar going on with Ratajski.

MVG could have a crisis of confidence but I suspect he will be giving it very large in an attempt to remind Ratajski who he is playing, and it will probably work. Would I back him at 1.44? No.

-JamesPunt