2023 Saturday World Series of Darts Finals Preview

James Punt got off the mark with two winners last night. He is back in action again this evening, his 2023 Saturday World Series of Darts Finals tips are below.

Rob Cross vs. Jonny Clayton

Jonny Clayton managed a 6-3 win over Martin Schindler but it wasn’t a great match with both players averaging 88.8. That is four sub 90 averages in a row for Clayton since his return to action after the passing of his father. It is hardly surprising he isn’t yet firing on cylinders and its likely he’ll need to be here.

Rob Cross won both the World Series events down under and he has also won on the Euro Tour and the Pro Tour this season. Since returning after the summer break he has reached two Players Championship quarter finals and is playing with a commendable level of consistency.

He is 9-6 against Clayton but amazingly they have only played each other three times in the last three years and Cross won two.

I expected Cross to be a reasonably strong favourite but the market have them at 1.95 each. As such, Cross is the bet.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: 1 point Rob Cross to win @ 1.95 with SpreadEx

Luke Humphries vs. Krzysztof Ratajski

Ratajski beat Daniel Klose 6-3 last night and was one of only six players to average over 90 on a night of low quality darts. He only just managed it (90.27) and it must be said that while he has won seven of his last ten matches his scoring hasn’t been stellar. Of those last ten, four were sub 90s and only two 95 or better.

Humphries is in great form, winning eight of his last ten matches and since he returned after his summer break, he has won twelve from fifteen. Thirteen averages were 95+, including nine over 99. That is impressive consistency.

Eagle Leads H2H

Their H2H record is a surprising 3-2 to the Polish Eagle. They have not met in 2023 but Humphries won both their matches in 2022.

Humphries is the 1.57 favourite with Ratajski 2.75. Humphries to win is the call but in a first to six leg match those odds look about right. I was tempted by 1.90 with Humphries -1.5 leg handicap, but I’ll sit this one out. No bet.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: No Bet

Gerwyn Price vs. Keegan Brown

Brown was the 6-1 winner against Simon Whitlock last night. It was a poor game and to win 6-1 with an 87.8 average says it all. Brown has won five of his last ten matches and had just three 90+ averages. Needless to say he will have to find some better form tonight or he could get embarrassed.

Price is in great form, winning nine of this last ten matches and his last match was to win PC21 eleven days ago. He spent last weekend playing exhibitions and hit a nine darter against MVG.

H2H Close

Their H2H record is 4-4. Price won their only match this year 6-4 and their only TV match was a 6-0 win in the 2019 Players Championship finals. Price is averaging nearly 10 points more than Brown over the last twelve months and so long as he is not complacent, it should be a comfortable win for our number 1 ante post selection.

Price is the 1.12 favourite and this is not a great betting opportunity. No bet.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: No Bet

Michael van Gerwen vs. William O’Connor

Willie O’Connor is talking a good game here. He says MVG is going to get it tonight, that he is going to throw everything at him. I assume he was being ironic as he will be aware that their H2H record is 14-3 to MVG.

O’Connor beat Gabriel Clemens 6-2 last night and he played OK, averaging 91.46, but Clemens was appalling on the doubles and that was the difference.

MVG has won their last five meetings and has not lost to O’Connor since 2019. What may give O’Connor some hope is that MVG has lost four of his last five matches.

He has only played four competitive matches in the last two months and even for one of the greats of the game, that is not great preparation for the big money events that are coming up.

MVG is the 1.25 favourite with O’Connor 4.60. Is it worth taking MVG on? Yes, but it is a shame it is with O’Connor. It was 6-5 the last time they met back in February but usually, MVG is the comfortable winner. He has four 6-1 wins and three 6-2 wins. Three of their last four best of 11 leg matches have ended 6-2 to MVG.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: 0.5 point MVG to win 6-2 @ 5.50 with SpreadEx

Michael Smith vs. Raymond van Barneveld

Smith has won seven of his last ten matches and should be too good for a stroppy RVB. Barney had a the crowd fully behind him last night but he played like a beaten man. He beat Jeff Smith 6-2 with the Canadian averaging a very disappointing 78.8, but Barney cut a frustrated figure. Maybe he thinks he is still a contender?

Smith is 14-9 against Barney but on TV Smith has won their last five. He is the better player these days but he still has his off days.

Smith is the 1.38 favourite with Barney 3.50. Smith will have to put up with a hostile crowd but he is used to these things. The odds make no appeal on either side. No bet.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: No Bet

Nathan Aspinall vs. Danny Noppert

Noppert won the only proper game of darts on night one. He beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 with both players averaging over the ton. Noppert averaged 106 and was 75% on the doubles. More of that and the Matchplay champion could be out early.

Aspinall had taken an extended break after the World Series events down under and he returned to action on the Euro Tour last weekend, winning one match but averaging under 87 in both. Rusty.

Their H2H record is 10-6 to Aspinall and they last met in the Matchplay. Aspinall won that 11-9 and it must be said that their TV matches are usually very close.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair

Peter Wright vs. Haupai Puha

Puha got a very welcome win when beating Graham Usher 6-3 last night. It wasn’t a classic and the nerves of both players played a part. Puha was better on the doubles and he was allowed to take the win.

Wright reached a Players Championship semi-final eleven days ago and he played well. It looked like a corner had been turned. However he went to Germany last weekend and lost his opening match, averaging 89. Who knows how he will play tonight?

An 89 average might well be enough to win this unless Puha can relax and let his best game come to the fore. He is free rolling now, guaranteed £7500, and this is a free hit to try and make it £15000.

It is hard to get involved in Wright’s matches these days. He is opposable, but I’m not sure Puha is quite the player to do the opposing with, even at 4.33. He is worth a play on the handicaps. If Wright isn’t at the races, it could be close.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: 1 point Haupai Puha to win +2.5 legs @ 2.00 generally available

Dimitri van den Bergh vs. Ricky Evans

Reasonably quick Evans stumbled to a 6-5 win over Damon Heta last night to land our 3.00 bet. It was hardly convincing, but a win is a win. Like Puha, he is now free rolling and he is not without a chance here.

Van den Bergh has lost eight of his last ten matches and eight saw sub 90 averages. His game has headed south at a rate of knots in 2023 and if Evans can get stuck in and put some pressure on Dimitri, a win is there to be had.

2023 Saturday World Series Darts Tip: 1 point Ricky Evans to win @ 2.75 with Ladbrokes, Betfred, BET365

Due to GP commitments tomorrow, I win not be covering any more matches. Hopefully Price and Cross can give us a run for our money.

-JamesPunt