Price has the confidence but Wright is posting the figures
It’s semi-final time at the World Darts Championship and the top two in the betting at the outset still occupy those positions. But whereas Michael van Gerwen looks set to waltz past Nathan Aspinall this evening, second favourite Gerwyn Price has a far more difficult task against Peter Wright.
Unlike Price, Peter Wright did not come into this completion in flying form, but he has certainly come to hand at the right time and has posted some exceptional figures in the last two rounds.
Last night Peter Wright set an exceptional three-dart average of 105.86, registered a dozen 180’s and also recorded a 170 checkout amongst three 100+ finishes. …just compare that to MVG’s six 180’s and a 99.5 average. But Wright is not playing MVG, he meets the ever confident Gerwyn Price whose highest checkout last night was just 96 and he too averaged in the mid 99 percent.
Whilst admitting Gerwyn Price has the most important single line of form – a 16-6 victory in the decider of November’s Grand Slam of Darts – their lifetime head-to-heads read 13-5 in Wright’s favour. And, allied to Wright’s spellbinding form, I believe he’s a good bet to turn the tables on his adversary this evening.
Aspinall to win 180’s battle
The bet in the Aspinall/MVG showdown has to be the underdog to bag the most 180’s. Whilst conceding MVG has played less darts these past two rounds (winning 5-2 and 4-0) with 13 180’s he is someway short of Aspinall’s record – he has registered 22 180’s during his most recent victories (5-3 and 4-2). The reasoning is MVG’s willingness to switch to treble 19 – he does it frequently often despite nailing an opening pair of treble-20’s.
