Friday's first-round match betting previews, free tips & analysis

Free darts tips, best bets and analysis for Friday's Ladbrokes Masters action.

Where to watch

ITV4 from 7pm Friday

Best bets

M Suljovic +1.5 legs
2pts 10-11 general
Click to bet on this tip with Hills

J Wade +1.5 legs
2pts 10-11 BoyleSports
Click to back this tip with Coral

J Clayton most 180s
1pt 7-2 Sky Bet
Click to back this selection with Hills

Preview

James Wade and Mensur Suljovic are seeded to be first-round fallers at the Ladbrokes Masters but neither man looks like going down without a fight.

Ninth seed Wade, a former winner of the seasonal curtain-raiser featuring the world’s top 16, takes on debutant Nathan Aspinall in round one.

UK Open winner Aspinall is certainly bullish about his chances after reaching the world semis at Alexandra Palace but Wade is rarely easily shaken off and there’s nothing between them in terms of head-to-heads.

Suljovic actually boasts a winning head-to-head record against Michael Smith, who has never been a fan of the Austrian’s stop-start style.

Bully Boy has also been struggling with a back injury since returning from a holiday and it remains to be seen quite how mobile he is.

Jonny Clayton is given little chance against defending champion Michael van Gerwen though statistically at least, one bet that might well be value is the Welshman to hit most 180s at 7-2.

Van Gerwen is a master switcher and Clayton boasted a better 180s-to-legs ratio than his opponent on the Players Championship circuit last year.

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