PDC World Darts Championship: Wednesday's predictions, odds, betting tips, order of play & TV times
The 25th PDC World Darts Championship resumes today with second and third-round matches - here's the order of play, our predictions, odds and a suggested acca.
After the short Christmas break, there's six more matches today, split over an afternoon and evening session, with Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld all in action tonight.
Below is the full running order, complete with the Sky Bet odds, Chris Hammer's predicted scoreline for each game, his suggested bets and accumulator. You can also click here for the full tournament draw, daily schedule and results.
World Darts Championship: Wednesday December 27
Click on the odds for more Sky Bet match markets
AFTERNOON SESSION
TV coverage: Sky Sports Darts (1230 GMT)
Second round: (Best of 7 sets)
Simon Whitlock (8/13) v Darren Webster (5/4)
Simon Whitlock will have attempt to forget about his last performance here a week ago, in which a bout of flu didn't help. He averaged only 87 in a woeful match against Martin Schindler in which they combined to miss 56 doubles (28 each) - although Darren Webster wasn't much better 24 hours later! The Wizard has won both their best of 11 legs encounters this year but perhaps more crucially, the Demolition Man thrashed Whitlock 4-0 on this very stage 12 months ago.
Prediction: 2-4
Alan Norris (8/13) v James Richardson (5/4)
For Alan Norris this must feel like a completely different tournament having last won here way back on Sunday December 17. He was pretty dominant against Kim Viljanen as he averaged over 95 and dropped just three legs in a 3-0 victory and he'll be secretly pleased he's playing James Richardson next after the English journeyman put Kim Huybrechts' to the sword in a shock whitewash win. The erratic Belgian averaged 86 on one of his very poor days, with Richardson towards the very top end of his game 10 points higher - but that's a level Norris can consistently reach.
Prediction: 4-1
Kevin Munch (10/11) v Toni Alcinas (10/11)
It's safe to say Kevin Munch had the happiest Christmas of them all and probably still can't believe he's still here. Ranked outside the world's top 300, the German found himself a leg away from going two sets down against Adrian Lewis, who was 1/200 in-play to avoid a first ever defeat in the opening round, but produced inspired darts to pull off one of the biggest upsets ever. He hit seven of his eight 180s in seven legs as well as checkouts of 158, 124 and 118 so on this evidence, the decision to put his career as a landscape gardener on hold was a good one! This next clash is so hard to call - it's a match both players will be gutted to lose. Toni Alcinas stunned his much higher-ranked fellow Spaniard Cristo Reyes in a low-quality battle and it's no surprise to see both priced up at 10/11. Munch surely can't play quite so well again but at least he showed signs of brilliance on this stage that Alcinas didn't.
Prediction: 4-2
EVENING SESSION
TV coverage: Sky Sports Darts (1900 GMT)
Second round: (Best of 7 sets)
Peter Wright (1/8) v Jamie Lewis (5/1)
There's be no shortage of punters backing an upset at a juicy price in this one. Peter Wright was still not at feeling 100% during his hard-fought win over Diogo Portela having suffered with gallstones in early December - but he still managed an average of almost 98. Jamie Lewis came into this tournament having never really shown what he can do in the PDC but played brilliantly in a 3-0 victory over the seeded Jonny Clayton, who admittedly was well below his best. That was way back on Sunday December 17 and he could have done without such a long break compared to Snakebite but I'm still going to side with him on the sets handicap (+2.5) at 11/8.
Prediction: 4-2
Third round: (Best of 7 sets)
Vincent van der Voort (23/10) v Raymond van Barneveld (1/3)
Out of almost nowhere, Vincent van der Voort is playing some of the best darts of his life on the biggest stage and is a shadow of the man who not only contemplated quitting the sport 12 months ago but also failed to go beyond a quarter-final at any tour event since then in 2017. The 42-year-old unseeded Dutchman followed up a rampant 3-0 win over Dave Chisnall (averaging just shy of 99) with an explosive 4-0 victory over Steve Beaton in double quick time. He fired seven 180s, averaged over 101 and hit two ton+ finishes. His more illustrious countryman has also been highly-impressive, averaging almost 103 in a 4-1 drubbing of Kyle Anderson in which he also hit seven maximums. And that was a few days after pummelling Richard North 3-0 with a 102 average. This one promises to be fast and explosive with a lot of 180s, and if van der Voort puts Barney under pressure, then we could see a shock.
Prediction: 4-3
Michael van Gerwen (1/33) v Gerwyn Price (11/1)
Michael van Gerwen's 4-0 demolition of James Wilson, in which he also won every leg, was brutal viewing and on that form he's clearly too good to stop. However he did drop a set against the 100+ averaging Christian Kist in the opening round and the fiery Gerwyn Price will come out all guns blazing after dropping just one set himself following two fine performances. The Welshman can nick a set and I feel he's a good price at even-money to do so.
Prediction: 4-1
Wednesday's suggested darts bets
- Darren Webster to beat Simon Whitlock at 5/4
- Jamie Lewis (+2.5 sets) to beat Peter Wright at 11/8
- Over 13.5 180s in van der Voort v Barney at 6/5
- Over 4.5 sets in Van Gerwen v Price at evens
Wednesday darts acca
- Lewis (+2.5 sets), over 13.5 180s in van der Voort v Barney & over 4.5 sets in MVG v Price at 9.45/1
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