PDC World Darts Championship: Day three predictions, odds, betting tips, order of play & TV times

21:38 · SAT December 16, 2017

The 25th PDC World Darts Championship continues today so here's the full order of play, predictions, Sky Bet odds and a suggested accumulator.

There are eight matches today split between afternoon and evening sessions, with two-time world champion Gary Anderson bringing the action to a close tonight.

We have today's full running order, the Sky Bet odds, Chris Hammer's predicted scoreline for each game, his suggested bets and accumulator. You can also click here for his outright bets and click here for the full tournament draw, daily schedule and results.

World Darts Championship: Saturday December 16

Click on the odds for more Sky Bet match markets

AFTERNOON SESSION

TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts (1230 GMT)

First Round: (Best of 5 sets), Preliminary: (Best of 3 sets)

Alan Ljubic (7/2) v Brendan Dolan (P) (1/5)
Experience really should pay off here for Brendan Dolan, who plays a Croatian making his first appearance on TV. Alan Ljubic won an Eastern Europe Qualifier to be here but with so little known about him, it's probably best to swerve this one.
Prediction: 1-2
Benito van de Pas (4/7) v Steve West (11/8)
Blessed with bags of talent, Benito van de Pas will be battling it out for the big titles once he finds some consistency and reliability in his game and while he's favourite to win this, a steady operator like Steve West will punish him if he has a bad day. I prefer to side with Benito when he's an underdog and this one might be quite a battle.
Prediction: 3-2
Mervyn King (2/7) v Zoran Lerchbacher (13/5)
We saw tears of emotion from Mervyn King when he won his first-round match last year although I don't think he'll feel a victory over Zoran Lerchbacher will require waterworks. He's won their two previous meetings this season 6-0 and 6-2 while the Austrian has never been beyond the opening round in three previous visits to Alexandra Palace.
Prediction: 3-1
Robert Thornton (4/7) v Alan Ljubic/Brendan Dolan (11/8)
If, as I expect, Brendan Dolan wins the earlier preliminary round match then I reckon he'll be a spot of value to defeat Robert Thornton. The Irishman will be coming into the match well warmed up and if the Thorn makes a sluggish start and gets taken over by that negative body language of his, then a minor upset is on the cards. Thornton has had a difficult few years but will draw some confidence from the battling victories that help him reach the World Grand Prix quarter-finals so you may prefer to back over 4.5 sets.
Prediction: 2-3

EVENING SESSION

TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts (1900 GMT)

First Round: (Best of 5 sets), Preliminary: (Best of 3 sets)

Jeff Smith (8/15) v Luke Humphries (P) (6/4)
We know about Jeff Smith's talents from the BDO, reaching the final of the World Championship in 2016 while also impressing at last year's Grand Slam of Darts. He's chalked up as favourite but I fancy rising star of the PDC Luke Humphries to go through. He's had a superb year on the Development Tour, finishing top of the Order of Merit thanks to five tournament wins and that's what earned him his spot here - as well as a PDC tour card for the next two seasons. It will be a close match.
Prediction: 1-2
Joe Cullen (4/11) v Jermaine Wattimena (11/5)
I've already talked highly of Joe Cullen in my outright tournament preview and I expect him to reach the quarter-finals. Jermaine Wattimena has never gone beyond the first round here but he's certainly dangerous to pinch a set.
Prediction: 3-1
Jelle Klaasen (1/2) v Jan Dekker (13/8)
It's been an awful injury-plagued season for Jelle Klaasen which was hampered by him battling on to a ninth placed finish in the Premier League. He's not found any real form other than a couple of quarter-finals on the European Tour so it's well worth siding with his fellow Dutchman Jan Dekker. He impressed at the recent Players Championship Finals, where he gave MVG a run for his money during a 10-7 defeat in the quarter-finals, so he'll be full of confidence and eyeing a scalp.
Prediction: 2-3
Gary Anderson (1/25) v Jeff Smith/Luke Humphries (10/1)
Gary Anderson is prone to early shocks in the leg-play majors but not here. He'll be switched on and eager to win in a hurry regardless of who he faces.
Prediction: 3-0