Adrian Lewis strong enough to shock Van Gerwen

Sky Sports Arena 12.45pm & 7pm Thursday

There are 20 left standing at Alexandra Palace as the most enthralling William Hill World Championship for many a year approaches its climax, and it’s the big two who top the bill.

Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen are the star turns on the 12th night and given what’s unfolded during this craziest of tournaments, they won’t be taking respective opponents Chris Dobey and Adrian Lewis lightly.

Devon Petersen v Steve West
Head-to-head: 2-2

Devon Petersen, one of nine non-seeds remaining, has worked hard to set up a round-of-32 tussle with Steve West.

The South African was taken all the way by Wayne Jones and Ian White, his average improving from 84 to 94 in the process. He clearly needed the run and can storm past the 87.5 that Hills have him in for.

West is the higher-ranked player but Petersen would be a top-32 arrowsmith if he played over here more. There’s nothing between them in the head-to-head stats yet plenty of difference in the price and Peterson is a spot of value.

Recommendations
D Petersen
2pts 2-1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet
D Petersen over 87.5 average
3pts 5-6 Hills

Dimitri van den Bergh v Luke Humphries
Van den Bergh leads 4-3

A clash of the non-seeds and two young men who have seriously impressed.

These two have played several times – though never on the main tour – and there’s been precious little to choose between them.

Van den Bergh delivered just about the perfect performance against Johnny Clayton in round two and on that evidence alone merits being an odds-on shot.

Reaching last year's quarter-finals is also in his favour but Humphries, a gold-plated advert for the PDC’s highly-vaunted Development Tour, has looked nerveless.

Michael Smith v John Henderson
Smith leads 6-4

Bully Boy has won the last five showdowns with Big Hendo and should be the stronger player again.

However, Henderson is a competitive beast who has at least a set in him and Hills have probably underestimated total legs at 21.5.

Recommendation
Over 21.5 legs
4pts 8-11 Hills

Toni Alcinas v Benito van de Pas
Van de Pas leads 3-2

Toni Alcinas reached the last 16 last year and can get there again.

After struggling in a low-quality affair with Craig Ross the Spaniard looked a million dollars taking out third seed Peter Wright in round two.

Van de Pas has endured the most dismal of seasons but couldn’t have hand-picked a more obliging second-round opponent than Jim Long. Even then, the Dutchman struggled to get over the line.

Forget the odds-on Alcinas wins and take the juicier prices that he can come through with a bit to spare

Recommendation
T Alcinas -1.5
1pt 6-5 Hills

Gary Anderson v Chris Dobey
Anderson leads 4-1

Chris Dobey, one of the game’s rising stars, can win two sets off stablemate and pal Gary Anderson as the third round gets underway.

The Scot looked to have everything in his favour against Jermaine Wattimena in the previous round before limping over the line 4-3 and this next generation of arrowsmiths have no regard for reputation.

Dobey blitzed Steve Beaton 3-0 – dropping just two legs – and then showed he can thrive in a fight by toppling Vincent van der Voort in an epic with a 97-plus average.

Recommendation
C Dobey +2.5
1pt 6-5 general

Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
Van Gerwen leads 38-14

Once upon a time not-so-long-ago this sort of fixture would have been a semi-final tie at the minimum. Indeed, they’ve twice met in world semis though the last time was in 2013.

Jackpot’s stock is on the wane but he’s not such a backmarker that he will crumble against Van Gerwen, and as a twice champion he knows how to thrive on the big stage.

If Van Gerwen is vulnerable (and the general consensus is that he is) then the 4-1 Lewis is worth a nibble.

Recommendation
A Lewis
1pt 4-1 general

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