Premier League Darts: Predictions & betting tips for Rotterdam from John Part

• Please note, there will be no darts podcast this week, but our team will return to preview next week's action

With 10 matches across two nights, Dutch darts fans are in for a real treat and it all starts with a bang on Wednesday as in-form Michael Smith takes on Gary Anderson.

All five of Wednesday's fixtures went the distance when last played and there's only one player priced up at shorter than 4/5 for victory - the irrepressible Michael van Gerwen.

MVG is part of John Part's treble along with Anderson to beat Smith and Raymond van Barneveld to bounce back and see off Simon Whitlock, available at 9/2 with Sky Bet.

Here's Darth Maple's take on the action and he'll be back on Thursday afternoon with a look ahead to the second night.

John Part's selections & treble

Scroll down for his full rundown of each match, helpful stats, bet explanation & latest table

Part's treble: Anderson (to beat Smith), Barney and MVG all to win at 9/2 - Click to back at 9/2 with Sky Bet

• Daryl Gurney to beat Rob Cross - Click to back at 5/2 with Sky Bet
• Barney to win, hit over 2.5 180s & checkout over 101.5 - Click to back at 6/1 with Sky Bet
• MVG to win, hit over 3.5 180s & checkout over 111.5 - Click to back at 4/1 with Sky Bet
• Cross v Anderson over 11.5 legs, highest checkout & 121.5 and over 7.5 180s - Click to back at 6/1 with Sky Bet

Michael Smith (5/2) v Gary Anderson (4/5) (draw 3/1)

Head-to-head: 3-8
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 93.90 - 98.16
180s: 24 - 38
100+ checkouts: 6 - 10
Highest checkout: 160 - 170
Checkout %: 41.22% (61/148) - 39.33% (59/150)

Earlier in the season I was on Michael in Sky Bet's match treble, which came in at 5/1, but I'm switching sides and picking Gary this time.

He's in a position where he's fighting more than Michael is - there's no doubt that Smith is far less desperate. Gary is going to be sharper, crisper and probably handle the crowd better.

I have the utmost respect for Gary as a dangerous opponent when he's got his head right, which he so often does, and he won't at all be put off by what should be huge, vocal crowds in Rotterdam.

For the most part, with the exception of their clash earlier this season, he's owned Michael and I think we're getting down to the nitty-gritty of the league, which makes Anderson all the more dangerous.

I don't think Smith's defeat on Sunday will have a negative impact - he's not going to feel bad about his game just because he lost a tight match there to Max Hopp.

Maybe it even gives him some incentive to bounce back, but my respect for Gary in this sort of situation is extremely high and he's the first leg of tonight's treble.

Rob Cross (4/5) v Daryl Gurney (5/2) (draw 3/1)

Head-to-head: 2-2
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 98.44 - 97.87
180s: 34 - 47
100+ checkouts: 7 - 6
Highest checkout: 143 - 121
Checkout %: 49.14% (57/116) - 35.19% (57/162)

Their first meeting earlier this year was an excellent game, Daryl getting the better of Rob on home soil in Belfast.

Neither one of them will really have the experience of this kind of venue - we've had some great venues already, but this is the biggest and loudest by sheer numbers. Berlin from all reports was a large venue but maybe not as chaotic as this week, especially with the importance ramped up a notch.

I don't see an edge either way, and it looks a bit of a coin flip. With that being the case, I have to take 5/2 Gurney to win - there's surely not that much between them here.

It's hard to know exactly how much Daryl's been home and away with a new child, balancing responsibilities and so on, but just in general he must be feeling really good about life right now. His state of mind is the most important thing and it seems to be all very positive.

It's looked at times like Rob has been a little worn out, too, since winning the World Championship - they've both got new things to deal with, so let's not worry about assessing that and instead take the value approach and back the supposed underdog.

Raymond van Barneveld (5/4) v Simon Whitlock (6/4) (draw 3/1)

Head-to-head: 17-14 (1 draw)
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 93.86 - 94.11
180s: 25 - 28
100+ checkouts: 5 - 7
Highest checkout: 167 - 121
Checkout %: 35.61% (47/132) - 38.24% (52/136)

Raymond showed a lot of bad body language in both defeats last week, in fact at times it was horrible to watch. You look at that and say how could you ever back the guy? But he is at home, and that's going to play a big part in how he plays.

It's about pride, never mind the league - he's going to be up for these nights and if he gets two points against Whitlock it'll give him some hope. The main thing is where he is, who is in front of, and I think he'll come out flying and do a job on the Australian.

Whitlock has been grinding it out and playing well and I've a lot of respect for what he's done, but Raymond is different class when he's got his stroke going and he's got every reason to come out with his game face on here.

Raymond is 6/1 for three or more 180s, a checkout of 102 or higher and to win the match and the first two are probably a given if he does win.

I don't think the motivation of staying in the league is the big thing here. It's personal and professional pride, being in Holland, and he's got to come back tomorrow and play Michael van Gerwen - he will not want to be doing that on the back of a defeat here. His pride is really on the line and if he doesn't win this, he'll be shattered.

He's just about in the last chance saloon, but where better than Rotterdam for van Barneveld to find some sparkle?

Peter Wright (5/1) v Michael van Gerwen (1/3) (draw 9/2)

Head-to-head: 12-50 (2 draws)
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 96.39 - 103.51
180s: 21 - 39
100+ checkouts: 7 - 13
Highest checkout: 132 - 170
Checkout %: 38.52% (47/122) - 45.03% (68/151)

MVG in Holland... I can't get too much past that. I think he's peaking at the right time and he's playing great darts. Yes he got beat by Ian White at the weekend, that seems to be an annual thing in Germany, but he'll be right up for it again - much like Raymond.

Neither one of them wants to be the one to disappoint the crowd and I expect both to win.

Building the price for a van Gerwen win is tricky, but 4/1 on a win, four or more 180s and a checkout of 112 or higher looks very solid.

If Peter is playing well, I don't think he's quite at the level where he's going to win but he could force a few extra legs for us to get that high outshot and pass the maximum mark, too.

Besides, even if Peter is a no-show as he has been on some occasions in the Premier League, van Gerwen can quite easy pass both marks in a 7-0 win.

Rob Cross (11/8) v Gary Anderson (11/8) (draw 3/1)

Head-to-head: 1-5
PL Darts 2018 stats
3-dart Average: 98.44 - 98.16
180s: 34 - 38
100+ checkouts: 7 - 10
Highest checkout: 143 - 170
Checkout %: 49.14% (57/116) - 39.33% (59/150)

They just played a few weeks ago and Rob finally beat Gary for the first time in their PDC careers. There's not much between them.

Gary would have the edge if it was the first match on the oche as he has the experience of the atmosphere, but Rob will have tasted it earlier in the night and will be nicely warmed up for what should be a great match.

Instead of attempting the impossible and picking a winner even before their earlier matches, let's try the Price Boost treble for the match to go the distance, with a checkout of 122-plus and at least eight 180s, priced at 6/1.

• Odds correct at 1620 BST on 17/04/18.

2018 Premier League Darts table

1. MVG P 10 W 9 D 0 L 1 LegD +38 Pts 18
2. Smith P 10 W 7 D 0 L 3 LegD +23 Pts 14
3. Cross P 10 W 7 D 0 L 3 LegD +11 Pts 14
4. Anderson P 10 W 4 D 3 L 3 LegD +6 Pts 11
5. Gurney P 10 W 3 D 5 L 2 LegD +2 Pts 11
6. Whitlock P 10 W 4 D 2 L 4 LegD -1 Pts 10
7. Barney P 11 W 3 D 2 L 6 LegD -18 Pts 8
8. Wright P 11 W 2 D 4 L 5 LegD -19 Pts 8
9. Suljovic P 9 W 2 D 0 L 7 LegD -13 Pts 4
10. Price P 9 W 0 D 2 L 7 LegD -29 Pts 2

Click here for the 2018 Premier League darts fixtures, results & statistics

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