Sunday World Series Darts Tips and Preview

After a couple of frustrating evenings, we move onto the quarter final stage. These matches are a longer format, best of 19 legs, before this evening’s semi-finals and finals which are best of 21. Check out James Punt’s Sunday World Series Darts Finals tips below.

Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Niels Zonneveld

Ratajski has done the job so far and taken advantage of a good draw. He hasn’t quite hit top gear yet, but that may be no bad thing. No paper he has another winnable match against young Zonneveld who was a rare ray of light for us last night, beating Gary Anderson 6-4. It was a much improved performance compared to his first round and he is under little pressure and is enjoying his time on the big stage.

These two have only met twice and both have one win. Ratajski is the 1.35 favourite with Zonneveld at 3.40.

Ratajski has played in no less than nine quarter finals in 2021. The worrying stat is that he has only won two of them. In terms of stage quarter finals, he has played five, won one. That is not a great record, but to put some perspective on the bare stat it should be pointed out who he lost to. Bunting, Cullen (twice), Van Gerwen, Suljovic, Clayton and Chisnall. All accomplished, experienced players.

Lack Of Experience

Zonneveld is only 23 years old and most of his experience is playing at Development and pro tour level. He has very little stage experience, not that you have thought that on this weekend’s performances, and he has played in just one best of 19 leg match on stage. He lost that 7-10 to Rob Cross in the 2020 UK Open. Zonneveld does have home advantage, but it will be interesting to see how noisy the crowd are on a Sunday lunchtime compared to Friday and Saturday nights.

In terms of seasonal averages, Ratajski is 97.3, Zonneveld 89.9. Clearly Zonneveld needs to play at his very best to compete or hope Ratajski has an off day. One stat which highlights how hard this could be for Zonneveld is Ratajski’s average against throw of 98.9. Zonneveld’s with throw average is 89.7. Over a longer format, Zonneveld looks likely to get broken too often to make winning likely.

Sunday World Series Darts Finals Tip: 1 point Ratajski to win -2.5 legs @ 1.80 with Unibet, Betvictor, SportingIndex

Dimitri van den Bergh vs. Kim Huybrechts

An all Belgian clash. The long-time standard bearer for Belgian darts, Kim Huybrechts, and the new number 1, Van den Bergh.

They have met eleven times and Van den Bergh leads by just 6 to 5. They have only met on stage twice, both on the Euro tour back in 2016 and 2016, with Huybrechts winning both. Not a surprise as Dimitri was still at the foetal stage back then. They have met twice this year with one win each, the most recent was a players championship semi-final match last Tuesday, won 7-2 by Van den Bergh. Hopefully that can be repeated today. Huybrechts averaged 102 in that match but was still hammered.

Taking out the very short format World Cup matches, and you have to go back to the 2017 UK Open to find Huybrechts last TV quarter final. He lost that 9-10 to Alan Norris. Before that he lost the 2016 quarter final of the Player’s Championship finals 9-10 to Peter Wright. You must go back to the 2014 Grand Slam to find the last time Huybrechts won a televised quarter-final, a 16-10 win over MVG. Van den Bergh has won his last three televised quarter finals, not including the World Cup.

Dimitri Is Fav

Van den Bergh is the 1.40 favourite, Huybrechts 3.20. Given their H2H record, there looks to be a bit of value in Huybrechts odds, but that recent win for Dimitri last week will be fresh in both their minds. Scoring wise, Huybrechts isn’t a mile away from Van den Bergh and he is a very competitive player. He never gives it less than 100% and if he gets a sniff of any weakness in Van den Bergh’s game, he will take it. Huybrechts does have an unfortunate knack of playing very well but seems to inspire his opponents to do the same.

Both players have won seven of their last ten matches and I get the feeling that this could be a close match. Huybrechts has beaten Michael Smith and Peter Wright so far, but this is a longer format and Van den Bergh will be a tougher nut to crack. In his last 50 TV matches Van den Bergh is averaged over a ton in 46% of them, compared to just 16% for Huybrechts. The younger Belgian should have too much fire power.

Sunday World Series Darts Finals Tip: 1 point Dimitri van den Bergh to win -2.5 legs @ 1.91 with Ladbrokes, Hills, Skybet

Jonny Clayton vs. Gerwyn Price

Another inter-nation quarter final and a repeat of the recent World Grand Prix final which Clayton won 5-1. That was the double in format, so we are not comparing like with like. Their H2H record is 11-6 to Price and before that Grand Prix win, Clayton had lost his last eight consecutive matches against Price. Has the worm turned?

In terms of televised tournaments, their H2H record is 3-3 but Price has won three of the last four on TV.

Both players are at the very pinnacle of the sport, both are major champions, and both are multiple title winners in 2021. Price has played in six televised quarter finals in 2021 and won four, Clayton is two from two.

Their stats are very close in terms of almost everything, Price just edges it in terms of scoring and win rate but on the day their matches are generally toss ups, which Price has the knack of winning. Did beating Price at the World Grand Prix get that losing habit against Price off his back? We are going to find out.

Gerwyn Price is the 1.63 favourite with Clayton a 2.38 shot. Given their H2H record, that looks about right. It is hard to find any value in this match. No bet.

Michael van Gerwen vs. Merv King

Something of a grudge match to end the afternoon session. They have played each other 44 times with MVG winning 31 to Kings 13. Eight of Kings wins came in 2007 to 2010, all consecutive. MVG won eleven in a row in 2012- 2013 and in their last ten it is 8-2 to MVG. Their last meeting was in the final of last years Players Championship, which MVG won 11-10 and he nearly prolapsed his arse several times with his celebrations, much to Merv’s chagrin.

That was then and this is now. That win over King was the last time MVG won a major title, and he has only won non ranking event since, the qualifier for this event. MVG has diminished as a winner since then, his scoring is just as good, but his win rate has dropped and his confidence with it.

Flawless King

King has yet to drop a leg so far. A 6-0 win last night saw a 98 average, tame compared to his 115 average when beating James Wade 6-0 in the first round. Last night he was struggling just to stay awake against Razma who put in a truly dismal performance and for King it was just a bit of practice.

MVG beat Maik Kuivenhoven 6-4 last night and it was a less than impressive display. Kuivenhoven missed a load of darts to take it to a decider after Van Gerwen blew a big lead. It was another nervy performance and if he puts one of those in this afternoon, he will lose.

We can expect the crowd to be very much on Kings back, but he knows what to expect and he will relish the fight. He would love to put one over MVG in Amsterdam and if he can keep up his good form, then he is in with more than a shout. For Van Gerwen, he will want to smash King to a pulp, which to be fair, he has done many times.

Van Gerwen is the 1.37 favourite with King a best priced 3.25

Given their H2H record, MVG should win, but this is the 2021 MVG, not the winning machine of old. He is just about worth taking on at the odds.

Sunday World Series Darts Finals Tip: 1 point Merv King to win @ 3.25 with Unibet

-JamesPunt