John Part Premier League darts tips

The 2017 Premier League Darts season continues at the First Direct Arena in Leeds tonight (February 16), featuring Michael van Gerwen's clash with Jelle Klaasen, and here John Part previews the latest matches in his weekly Sporting Life column.

Over the coming months Part, who triumphed in two PDC World Championship finals against Phil Taylor and Kirk Shepherd to add to his BDO crown of 1994, will bring you match-by-match analysis and predictions ahead of every round of the 16-week season, including the finale at London's O2 on May 18.

First, he reflects on Michael van Gerwen's sensational double nine-dart finish in a UK Open qualifier last Friday.

Part on MVG...

Michael continues to raise the bar and I guess it's conceivable that one day he wins a set at the World Championship in just 27 darts. There's always this pursuit of perfection with the very best and with someone like Michael, anything is possible.

Other professionals - what you might call normal ones! - often struggle after throwing a nine-dart finish, it just takes so much energy and when the adrenaline dips, you can see them go from hitting the perfect leg to struggling in an instant.

But with Michael, and with Phil Taylor before him, they're at that point where these achievements become normal - they just keep on going.

Obviously, it's going to be hard for MVG to match Phil's world title haul, something he's said himself, so he's chasing these incredible numbers and trying to push the boundaries in terms of averages and legs.

I think if he can get to a level where he's pushing the 120 threshold on a consistent basis, and from that throwing 12-dart legs as his standard level of performance, that's going to make him almost impossible to beat and it's a target you feel he can work towards.

Premier League Darts: Week three predictions

Click on each match for more Sky Bet's odds

JOHN PART'S TREBLE: Anderson, van Barneveld and Huybrechts all to win at 11.19/1

Gary Anderson (8/13) v Peter Wright (3/1) (draw 4/1)

It's been a very nice start for Gary Anderson. He's happy, he's at his best under the spotlight these days and he's very comfortable on the Premier League stage.

He doesn't care too much what happens at the weekend, where Peter has been winning lately; that won't bother Gary a jot. That's no disrespect towards Peter, it's just the difference in mindset between the best and those just behind them.

It's a nice venue in Leeds, the crowds are right on top of you and you notice them. It's good for the atmosphere and it'll be good for Gary, more so than Peter, despite his walk-on. Gary tends to fare better in this sort of situation and you can see why he's such a strong favourite in this format.

For Peter, these weekend wins will help him to the next level, there's no doubt about it - as you win, whatever the level, you become more comfortable with what you can do and all of a sudden anything is possible.

It's hard to take a clear view here after Peter failed to perform under similar circumstances against MVG last week. On the one hand he's in great shape on the floor, but that was exactly the situation a week ago and he didn't perform.

Gary has dominated Wright, albeit not to the same extent Michael has, and Peter could be right back down to earth again.

He'll need a good start, that'll be key. If Gary gets a lead he's going to be very hard to beat - Peter absolutely needs to hold his throw first of all or get that early break. There's just no way I can see him allowing Anderson to take those first two legs and still work his way into the match - it'll be over before he knows it.

All things considered, Gary is likely to win and I think it'd be fair to say he'll hit the most 180s in doing so - 15/8 looks solid enough for the double and I expect him to get our treble off to a nice start with a pretty convincing victory.

Adrian Lewis (11/10) v James Wade (13/8) (draw 7/2)

These two both started out around the same time and are the closest thing to rivals each other has. First, James was on top and then Adrian got those World Championship titles and that changes things again - but now along comes Michael and they're both wondering what comes next in their careers.

Still, both are showing some promise and there's more hope than doubt as they look forward - they know they'll have their opportunities however good MVG has become.

James was unlucky not to get two points last week, Phil's 142 coming at just the wrong time, and Adrian played really nicely, too. Unlike in the past, Lewis didn't let himself falter, he controlled the match and I think each man is looking good.

Both had a good Sunday after a couple of poorer efforts over the weekend, but at least that puts them on the front foot going forward into this one. It wasn't terrific for either, but it was enough to not be a negative and I expect they'll both perform close to the level of last week, which should make for a great contest.

This looks the closest match of the night, but Adrian has the edge somewhat and can win with the most 180s at 9/4. If he's winning, he's getting 180s, so while it wouldn't be a confident vote I do think upwards of 2/1 looks good value.

Phil Taylor (evens) v Raymond van Barneveld (15/8) (draw 7/2)

It's always a treat to see these two go head to head and I'm believing what I saw at the Worlds - Raymond just has a lot more left in the tank than Phil at the moment. There are no more pit-stops for Phil and even though Raymond was talking about retirement after he lost to Michael, he looks to have a lot more to give in my eyes.

Raymond did well to get that point last week as James was great - it was his experience which got him the point and things just seem to be coming to him now; he's throwing the darts he needs to throw, when he needs to throw them, and that's a huge positive over this best-of-12 format.

We'll see even more focus here against Phil, you can be sure of that, and I like the greedy option of Raymond grabbing the match treble - that's to win the game, hit the most 180s and the highest checkout, available at a pretty generous 13/2.

We know that Phil switches a lot and it feels like Raymond has been hitting those massive checkouts for a solid six months now. If he brings his best game to this match I think he can win and the odds on that treble look good.

Michael van Gerwen (1/7) v Jelle Klaasen (10/1) (draw 9/1)

It'll be fast and furious here - which should bring out the best in both. That said, I think Jelle has lost the last eight matches he's played against Michael, which isn't a good sign, but these runs eventually end!

The way Michael feels, having taken the weekend off after those two nine-dart legs, he's going to be well rested and it's difficult to see him failing to win - something the odds obviously reflect.

But let's not rule out Klaasen. He played well against Anderson and is the type of player who could spring an upset. That's not to say I'm really interested in taking the 10/1, but nor would I want to be putting it all on Michael at 1/7.

Clearly, we need another option here and the Match Action market looks a good one, playing the over option. We need seven 180s, a checkout of 121 or more - not a problem considering Michael will likely hit a 170! - and 10 legs, so a 7-3 win for Michael would do it.

The only thing that scares me is Michael is showboating with that 177 as he did last week, but we shouldn't worry too much as it's easy to see both players peppering that treble 20 bed and 4/1 looks a fair price for the treble.

Dave Chisnall (11/10) v Kim Huybrechts (13/8) (draw 7/2)

It's been a kind run of fixtures for Kim to start but does that bring pressure with it, given that he has some tough ones coming up soon after this match with Chisnall?

In truth, the pressure is on both to get a win here in what should be a high-tempo match.

Chisnall may be even more desperate than Huybrechts given that he hasn't yet got a point on the board but I'm not sure he'll be getting one here, as Kim was probably a little more consistent on the floor over the weekend and maybe that little bit of luck he had against Raymond will push him to a big performance here.

He's certainly looked pretty solid so far, more so than Dave, and I like him to win and throw the highest checkout at 100/30, while he also looks a nice option to boost the price of our treble.