We were treated to some sensational darts last night in the final match between Van den Bergh and Chisnall. James Punt correctly predicted over 13.5 180s at odds of 2.45 (19 thrown). Rydz pulled off a major shock in the opener, beating Cross 11-8. The Polish Eagle was far too clinical for Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price destroyed Jonny Clayton. Let’s hope for another winner or two this evening, check out James Punt’s PDC World Matchplay Wednesday tips below.

Jose De Sousa vs. Michael Smith

Michael Smith leads the H2H stats 4-3 and the overall leg score 58-53. This suggests a close match between two of the most in-form players of 2021.

Smith has won eight of his last ten matches and what is worrying for De Sousa backers is that he has checked out at over 50% in his last four. When Smith is checking out well he is a formidable opponent.

De Sousa has won seven of his last ten and his scoring remains the best on tour at 99.49 in 2021. In his last fifty matches his average has only slipped below 95 six times and been a ton plus twenty seven times. He is a scoring machine and that puts a lot of pressure on his opponents. Smith cannot afford to miss his double chances and under pressure, he can be fragile in that department.

We should expect a close, high quality match but De Sousa should be able to put enough pressure on Smith to edge the win. The Special One is the 1.55 favourite which is a little short if anything.

Backing a long match may be the better option. De Sousa has been dethroned as the top 180 hitter in 2021 after Vanden Bergh hit an record equalling 14 from 19 legs last night. Smith is ranked 22nd for 180’s per leg in 2021 and in a long match we should see a healthy helping of maximums hit.

PDC World Matchplay Wednesday Tip: 1 point over 18.5 legs @ 2.00 with Betfair, Skybet

PDC World Matchplay Wednesday Tip: 1 point over 12.5 180’s @ 2.00 with Skybet, Boylesports

Gary Anderson vs. Nathan Aspinall

Aspinall leads the H2H stats 4-2 with two premier league draws. Both players win rate is down on last year with Anderson at 56% and Aspinall 60%. Their scoring averages are nearly identical at 96 for Anderson and 95.5 for The Asp. On recent form Anderson has won six of his last ten, Aspinall seven.

It is not an easy game to call. Neither player is at their best, but Aspinall is arguably showing a bit more consistency scoring wise and maybe deserves to be a slight favourite but only very slight. Both can be backed at evens which sums this match up. No bet.

Michael van Gerwen vs. Iain White

White survived a late comeback by Daryl Gurney to win his first round match 10-7 and was one of only three unseeded players to make the second round.

Van Gerwen beat Damon Heta by the same margin in a decent if not great performance. His average in 2021 is 98.5 compared to 94.6 for White, his win rate is 71.4% compared to just 50% for White. The H2H record is 20-7 to MVG but it is 2-2 for the last four although they last played in 2020. They have met in this event twice with Van Gerwen winning both, once in a quarter final and that was the only time White has gone beyond the second round in nine attempts.

Van Gerwen may not be the force he once was but he should have enough against a very inconsistent opponent. MVG is the 1.25 favourite, White 4.50. Van Gerwen can be opposed on a more regular basis these days but I am not sure White is in good enough form to do it. He has lost six of his last ten matches while MVG has won seven from ten. No bet.

Peter Wright vs. Joe Cullen

Joe Cullen was very emotional after beating Chris Dobey 10-8 in the first round. He declined to elaborate what the off the oche matters were but clearly he is in a raised emotional state. That works both ways. It completely knocked the stuffing out of him at the recent Super Series 5 where he lost every match before he pulled out and went home early. But we have seen players raise their game in memory of a loved one lost. Whatever he is going through he was able to hit an average of 98 against Dobey so, clearly he has got his head back in the right place to play.

Peter Wright stayed with the same darts that we won PC 20 a couple of weeks ago. He gave Danny Noppert an absolute battering in round one, averaging 99.7 and has now won his last eight matches in a row while Cullen has lost six of his last ten. Their H2H record shows a 19-5 score line in Wrights favour, and it is 6-2 to Wright in the last two years.

Cullen is enjoying his best ever season, leading the Pro tour OOM, winning two titles but he is up against an elite player who has found his best form in recent weeks. They have met just once in 2021 and Wright won that 7-2 and the total leg scores over the last two years is 52-31 to Wright and he should be able to overcome a -2.5 leg handicap.

PDC World Matchplay Wednesday Tip: 1 point Peter Wright to win -2.5 legs @ 2.05 with Ladbrokes

-JamesPunt