2023 Night 2 Premier League Darts Preview and Tips – JP
2023 Night 2 Premier League Darts Preview
James Punt landed a nice 1.95 winner from two tips on Night 1 of the Premier League. Chris Dobey kept the momentum going from his Masters win and took the honours in Belfast. Tonight’s action comes from Cardiff so Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price should have the crowd on their side. Check out James’ 2023 Night 2 Premier League Darts preview below.
Michael Smith vs. Jonny Clayton
Both players averaged over 100 on Night 1 and both went out in the first round. It is a tough school. Clayton just couldn’t take his chances, and Smith started his match with MVG very well, but MVG was better.
Tonight’s action comes from Cardiff in Wales, so we have the first night where two players have ‘home advantage’, Jonny Clayton being one of them.
Michael Smith has won seven of his last ten matches, but three of his last five. Is his relentless schedule catching up with him? His scoring is holding up, his doubling is still decent and the only thing I can see is that his 180s per leg rate has not quite been where it was in the last two or three months. That can reduce his chances to check out first and perhaps that is the difference between a brilliant win rate and a good one.
Smith Edges H2H
Their H2H record is 12-10 to Smith. They played no less than eleven times in 2022 with Jonny Clayton winning seven of them. In the Premier League it is 4-4. They met here in Cardiff in 2020 and it was Smith who won 7-1 but that was Clayton’s first time playing in the PL, as one of the contenders. The Ferret did get to taste some home success when he beat Joe Cullen and James Wade in 2022, before losing the night’s final to a 113 averaging Peter Wright
Ferret out of form
Jonny Clayton is not in good form, losing five of his last ten matches and, like Smith, three of his last five. Like Smith, there is not too much wrong with his scoring, but his doubling is a bit hit and miss. His 180 per leg rate over the last 12 months is just 23%, compared to 32% for Smith.
Michael Smith is the 1.57 favourite, a bit short given their H2H record, and Clayton 2.50. The Ferret makes some marginal appeal at 2.50. The side market of interest is the most 180s. Smith is 1.54 and Clayton 4.35 with the draw 6.00. Total legs sees over 9.5 at 2.00. 47% of their 17 best of 11 leg matches have seen over 9.5 legs played, five of their last six were over 9.5 legs, but only five of their last ten.
Any value in this match is very marginal. No bet.
2023 Night 2 Premier League Darts Tip: No Bet
Nathan Aspinall vs. Peter Wright
Aspinall wasn’t great in Belfast but got a win over Gerwyn Price before losing to Chris Dobey, both matches ending 6-4. The Asp has lost five of his last ten matches and while he isn’t playing badly, he isn’t playing great either.
His scoring is a touch on the low side (he hasn’t averaged over 100 since October). His doubling is also OK but not great and overall, he is treading water. He will win matches but is likely to lose just as many. He needs to move up at least one gear.
Good Memories For Snakebite
Peter Wright returns to the scene of that massive 113 average when winning the final here last year. His scoring is very good, with four tons from his last five matches, and he has won seven of his last ten. His doubling is generally good to very good and there is plenty to like about his game right now.
Their H2H record is 8-5 to Aspinall and in the PL 3-2. Half of their best of 11 leg matches have ended with over 9.5 legs played.
Wright is the 1.64 favourite with Aspinall 2.40. I do fancy Wright to win as his form is better, but 1.64 is hardly generous. Wright giving up 1.5 legs at 2.00 makes enough appeal.
2023 Night 2 Premier League Darts Tip: 1 point Peter Wright to win -1.5 legs @ 2.00 with Ladbrokes
Gerwyn Price vs. Chris Dobey
Chris Dobey’s stay on Cloud 9 continues after he won the opening night in Belfast. It was steady mid 90 averages in all three matches, no real fireworks but he did enough. Confidence is a player’s greatest weapon and he is the most confident of the eight players on view tonight. He has won nine of his last ten matches, had just one ton plus average, but had eight between 94 and 96.
Gerwyn Price continues to struggle. He lost his opener in Belfast 4-6 to Aspinall and averaged just 91.2. He has won six of his last ten matches, not a disaster, but he has lost his last three, which is a worry. His six wins came in World Series matches. His four defeats were to Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Nathan Aspinall. He now faces a confident Chris Dobey.
Price Unbeaten Vs Dobey
Their H2H record is an emphatic 8-0 to Gerwyn Price. They have not played since 2021 but I dare say, Dobey will still be very aware that he has never beaten the Welshman. He may not get many better chances. But, this match is being played in Cardiff, the only PL venue where Price is going to be a crowd favourite. Bum draw for the Geordie.
However, Price has not got a great record on home soil. He has played four and won one, drawn one and lost two. He lost to Gary Anderson in 2018, beat Daryl Gurney in 2019, drew with Gurney in 2020 and lost to James Wade last year. Maybe the novelty of not being barracked puts him off.
Price is the 1.57 favourite with Dobey 2.60.
At the odds and given that Dobey has more confidence in his game than ever, and the fact that Price doesn’t seem to be himself at the moment, I’ll take the chance that Hollywood can finally get a win against Price, ironically in Cardiff.
2023 Night 2 Premier League Darts Tip: 1 point Chris Dobey to win @ 2.60 with Ladbrokes
Michael van Gerwen vs. Dimitri van den Bergh
Dancing Dimitri played nicely against Jonny Clayton in last week’s opener. He took his chances well and looked the part. He then lost 4-6 to Van Gerwen. MVG averaged 106 so he deserved the win, but Van den Bergh won four legs, despite averaging just 91.6.
Van Den Bergh has done that in a few recent matches, averaging around 90 but picking up four legs, and against decent opponents. His play has been erratic recently, losing five of his last ten and he is hard to read.
Consistent MVG
Van Gerwen has been much more consistent, with five ton plusses in his last ten matches, nine of 97 or better, but he has lost four of them. His confidence is not great and that is holding him back.
These two have played four times since last July and MVG has won all four, all of them on TV. Overall, their H2H record is 13-1 to MVG, with one PL draw. In best of 11 leg matches it is 7-0 to MVG, five ending 6-3.
Van Gerwen is the 1.30 favourite to win the match, Van den Bergh 3.70. I’ll take a chance on another 6-3 scoreline for the Dutchman.
