Van Gerwen in no mood to hang around

Sky Sports Arena, from 1pm Friday

Gerwyn Price v Ian White
Head-to-head: White leads 6-1

Former rugby player Gerwyn Price looks like a big man for the big stage but he may well meet his match in the shape of mild-mannered Ian White.

Pumped-up Price’s roars will bounce off the walls at Alexandra Palace, but it’s White who can produce the celebration that matters when he pings the winning double as round two of the William Hill World Championship starts.

Once camera-shy, White looks far more at home these days under the TV lights and after producing a run to the last 16 last year, he’ll fancy he can go at least as far again.

Both men looked good in round one and both their previous TV meetings went to a final leg. It could well be close but White should throw fewer stray darts and can land the odds in what looks set to be a belter.

Recommendation
I White
1pt 23-20 Betfair

Vincent van der Voort v Steve Beaton
H2H: Beaton leads 9-6

These two produced a pair of classy efforts in round one – beating Dave Chisnall and Irish starlet Willie O’Connor respectively – and look fairly well matched.

The layers err towards Van der Voort, whose injury troubles seem to be a thing of the past, and if he does nail the big scores (he should win the 180s matchbet) then the prices are about right.

But both men have to be on it for this to be a classic and you can’t guarantee that with either.

There could be three or four real whirlwind sets and it looks unlikely that the match will go beyond 23 legs.

Recommendation
Under 23.5 legs
2pts Evs Sky Bet

Jan Dekker v Dimitri van den Bergh
H2H: Van den Bergh leads 2-1

Dancing Dimitri van den Bergh produced all the right moves seeing off Stephen Bunting but looks set to face a test against Jan Dekker.

Dutchman Dekker looked as if he had never played darts during a first set to forget against Jelle Klaasen but then lit the blue touchpaper and stormed to a 3-1 win.

Three ton-plus checkouts and a 64 per cent checkout rate were the difference against a disappointing Klaasen, but the question is, can he sustain those levels over a longer best-of-seven sets format?

It’s possible, but all the evidence suggests the prices are about right.

Mensur Suljovic v Robert Thornton
H2H: Suljovic leads 8-5

Robert Thornton turned back the clock in round one and looks as if his consistency has returned.

A near-99 average, six 180s and a 60 per cent checkout rate was too good for Brendan Dolan, and would be too good for most.

The Thorn needs to be confident, as he was in his pomp in his early days at the PDC, and he looks like a player who can give Mensur Suljovic a game.

The Scot can cause a surprise, and because of his insatiable 180 power (an area of the game where Suljovic is less strong) take the plunge on Thornton winning and landing the most 180s.

Recommendation
R Thornton to win & score most 180s
1pt 16-5 Betfair

Gary Anderson v Paul Lim
H2H: Anderson leads 1-0

Gary Anderson has shown at times that he can be got at and the double world champ may well be affected by the passionate support underdog Paul Lim will be getting at the Palace.

Paul Lim’s On Fire was reverberating around the arena on Monday night and it was all too much for Mark Webster, who was also getting jeered whenever he missed.

If Lim can nick a few legs then Anderson, who does let himself get bothered by crowd or player antics from time to time, may be detained far longer than a 1-25 shot should be.

Michael van Gerwen v James Wilson
H2H: Van Gerwen leads 4-0

Michael van Gerwen leads James Wilson 4-0 on head-to-heads – which is probably what the scoreline in the final match of the night should be.

If it’s a game that could be over in 17 or 18 legs, then have a punt on the 180s being of manageable proportions.

Recommendation
Under 11.5 180s
1pt 11-10 BoyleSports

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter@racingpostsport

Like us on FacebookRacingPostSport