No happy send-off for doomed Klaasen

Week nine
Sky Sports 1, 7pm Thursday

Phil Taylor v Jelle Klaasen
Taylor leads 13-3

Jelle Klaasen already knows this is his final bow in the Betway Premier League for this year – but a wrist injury which requires surgery suggests he’ll sign off with another loss. That’s certainly how the market sees it with The Power a 2-9 chance even though he’s past his best.

Klaasen, interestingly, reached the German Championship semis at the weekend with averages ranging from 82 versus Dave Chisnall to 100 against Benito van de Pas. The injury cannot help the consistency which he’s going to need to halt The Power.

Taylor ought to win this well and a better way of siding with him might be in the most 180s market. They have both hit 17 180s but in the last four weeks, with Klaasen struggling, Taylor has hit 11 compared to the Dutchman’s five.

Recommendation
P Taylor most 180s
1pt 6-5 bet365, Hills, Sky Bet

Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis
Anderson leads 26-19

Adrian Lewis has been saving his better efforts for the top boys – he beat The Power, drew with Michael van Gerwen and produced a 109 average in defeat against Peter Wright.

That makes him a dangerous and unpredictable adversary for Gary Anderson who, by his own admission, hasn’t been at his best.

There is virtually nothing between them in the standings and this could well go the distance.

Recommendation
A Lewis-draw double chance
1pt 6-5 Coral

Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Van Barneveld leads 23-21

James Wade is proving as hard to beat as ever so don’t expect Raymond van Barneveld to blow him away this evening.

Barney is on cloud nine after back-to-back triumphs over Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen but no one has ever doubted the five-time world champ’s ability to raise his level for the top guns. A 7-2 hammering by Dave Chisnall, however, shows he remains unreliable.

Wade took four legs off Michael van Gerwen last week, his lowest return of the tournament to date. This tussle between two very well matched pros looks set to go the distance.

Recommendation
Over 11.5 legs
1pt 5-4 Sky Bet

Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Van Gerwen leads 35-9

Michael van Gerwen’s 44-match unbeaten streak in TV matches was ended by Barney last Thursday but the world No.1 can return to winning ways against Dave Chisnall.

Van Gerwen has won his last 13 matches against Chizzy, who averaged under 80 when losing a third-round tie against Jelle Klaasen in Germany on Sunday.

He’s still banging in the maximums – 29 in 92 legs compared to Van Gerwen’s 30 in 91, so there’s no obvious edge there.

Chisnall is the sort of mercurial ace who could cover the 3.5 leg spread at 6-5, though it’s a risky bet for a small price.

For an interest and at a reasonable price, there’s a case to be made for Chisnall having the highest checkout at 21-10. Most of the outshots he’ll be presented with will be three figures and he can nail those as well as anyone.

Recommendation
D Chisnall to score highest checkout
1pt 21-10 Coral