Simon Whitlock to hit most maximums against Magician

Day five
Sky Sports Action, 7pm Wednesday

Whitlock v Wade
H2H: Whitlock leads 21-17
James Wade, the only former champion left in this year's World Matchplay, can respond to his first-round wake-up call by sending Simon Whitlock packing on day five – but the Aussie is expected to be hitting the big numbers.

Wade started off dozily against Jermaine Wattimena and it wasn't until the match approached overtime that the leftie finally started to produce some solid scoring and trademark clinical finishing. He eventually got home 12-10.

Whitlock had no such diffi­culties against debutant Richard North, racing to a 10-2 success.

Despite playing ten more legs, Wade hit just two 180s compared to Whitlock's four, something that won't surprise seasoned arrers observers.

It's now a best-of-21 marathon, plenty of time for Whitlock's greater scoring power to be have an impact, so take him to cover the 180s handicap minus 1.5.

Recommendation
S Whitlock -1.5 180s handicap
2pts 11-10 Coral

Suljovic v White
Suljovic leads 5-3
Ian White, like Simon Whitlock, should have the measure of his opponent in the art of 180 gathering – the White-Whitlock most 180s double makes sense and that can be considered.

But, like the Wizard, that extra scoring power doesn't necessarily mean a place in the last eight at the Winter Gardens is assured. Far from it.

Suljovic just gets better and better and looks utterly and totally fearless on the stage. You definitely can't say the same of White, who has rarely taken his floor form into the arenas. The odds look about right.

Cross v D Webster
Cross leads 2-0
It's played two, won two, and world champion Rob Cross can complete the hat-trick against the Sniper.

Cross had plenty of flat moments against the dogged Mervyn King in his opener yet still wound up with a 98.6 average, almost seven points higher than Webster managed against Steve Lennon.

Voltage's finishing against King was simply electric, averaging around 47 per cent.

The Sussex man is a 2-9 chance which is short enough – Webster is far too nuggety to be swept away. Take Cross to win 11-6, 11-7 or 11-8 at 15-8.

Recommendation
R Cross to win 11-6, 11-7 or 11-8
1pt 15-8 Betfred

Wright v K Huybrechts
Wright leads 16-10
Kim Huybrechts has broken his hoodoo and now has the confidence to give Peter Wright a decent run.

After six first-round exits the Hurricane finally triumphed at the Winter Gardens on Monday, pipping John Henderson 13-12 in a thriller.

The quality was good, certainly far better than Snakebite produced against Jelle Klaasen, though the Scot was never seriously over-exerted.

Huybrechts beat Wright in their last meeting on his way to the Dutch Masters semis in May and scores powerfully on his own throw to be able to run anyone close.

Recommendation
K Huybrechts +2.5 legs
3pts 11-8 Betfair

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