World Matchplay Darts: Friday predictions, odds, betting tips, order of play & TV times

Have you got your breath back yet?

After last night's mesmerising action, which saw Gary Anderson hit a nine-dart finish (click here to watch) and Jeffrey de Zwaan upset the odds again to reach the semi-finals, it's going to be a hard act for tonight's four hopefuls to follow.

First up we have last year's runner-up Peter Wright taking on Simon Whitlock before Mensur Suljovic faces Darren Webster, with the winners meeting in Saturday's semi-finals.

Below we have the full running order of both games, Chris Hammer's match-by-match previews & predictions as well as his main suggested bets and a double.

Friday's suggested darts tips

• Simon Whitlock (+2.5) to beat Peter Wright at 5/4
• Darren Webster (+2.5 legs) to beat Mensur Suljovic at 6/5

Click here to back these selections with Sky Bet

RequestABet

• Whitlock v Wright - Over 27.5 legs, 14+ 180s & four or more 100+ checkouts at 5/1

Friday's darts double

• Webster (+2.5 legs) and Whitlock (+2.5 legs) both to win at 9/2 (Click to back with Sky Bet)

World Matchplay: Friday July 26

Click on the odds for more Sky Bet match markets

• TV Coverage: Sky Sports (7pm BST)
• Quarter-Finals: Best of 31 legs

Peter Wright (1/3) v Simon Whitlock (23/10)

• Head-to-head: 12-7 (1 draw)
• 2018 meetings: 2-0 (1 draw)
• Tournament Average: 96.95 - 91.57
• Tournament 180s: 4 - 9
• Checkout %: 47.73% (21/44) - 31.34% (21/67)

For a world number two to fly under the radar takes some doing but that's pretty much what Peter Wright has done this week.

Amidst all the carnage of shocks, comebacks and drama, the 2017 World Matchplay runner-up has breezed into the quarter-finals with the minimum of fuss, first defeating Jelle Klaasen 10-5 with the help of a 170 checkout and then posting a tournament high average of 105 in an 11-5 thrashing of Kim Huybrechts.

It was that latter performance which reminded us why the 2017 UK Open champion should be widely regarded as a contender to bag his second major TV title.

His disappointing Premier League campaign, in which he failed to reach the play-offs, and the fact he's yet to win a PDC title of any kind this year having bagged 10 in 2017, means there has been lowered expectations surrounding Wright but this could be where he kicks on again.

He'll certainly fancy his chances against Simon Whitlock, who can count himself rather fortunate that his poor finishing (missing 28 darts at doubles) in the previous round wasn't punished by an out-of-sorts James Wade.

The Wizard's emphatic 10-2 triumph over Richard North was also aided by his opponent's average of just 80 so it's fair to say he's yet to be pushed to find that extra gear.

But don't underestimate the veteran Aussie, especially in this tournament that continues to teach us that anyone can beat anyone at the highest level.

Whitlock can be backed at 5/4 with a 2.5 legs head start on the handicap and I feel that's a price worth taking.

I've also had my own RequestABet priced up which is the match to be over 27.5 legs, 14+ 180s and four or more 100+ checkouts.

Wright has hit five three-figure finishes so far and if it's going to be as long a match as I expect then this treble has a great chance of coming in.

Prediction: 16-14

Mensur Suljovic (4/11) v Darren Webster (11/5)

• Head-to-head: 4-1
• 2018 meetings: 1-0
• Tournament Average: 95.26 - 92.73
• Tournament 180s: 9 - 5
• Checkout %: 36.84% (21/57) - 38.18% (21/55)

Darren Webster produced one of the big shocks at this year's World Matchplay by knocking out the world champion Rob Cross but few inside the game were particularly surprised.

The Demolition Man, who turned 50 last week, may not have a rich history of winning many tournaments on the PDC circuit but he's a dogged performer with plenty of fighting spirit to give anyone a game.

He also showed great character against Cross after missing the big number when trying to take out 76 for the match at 10-7 up. As Voltage made him pay in that leg, he opened up with a 180 to start the next before holding his nerve on double eight to complete the victory.

This will be his fifth major TV quarter-final although he's only managed to win one of those at the 2016 Players Championship Finals, where he led MVG 6-0 in the semi-finals before eventually running out of steam.

Mental fatigue could prove to be his undoing if it becomes a long gruelling affair against Mensur Suljovic, who is preparing for his third quarter-final appearance at the Winter Gardens.

The Gentle has never gone any further but since last year's quarter-final run here, Suljovic has bagged a maiden TV title in the Champions League and won three other tournaments, including two in the past three months.

And although his Premier League campaign didn't go to plan as he suffered relegation on debut, to say he was unfortunate in some of his defeats is an understatement.

He should come through this fixture but it'll be closer than most would think, so I'm siding with Darren Webster on the handicap at +2.5 legs at 6/5.

Prediction: 16-14

CLICK HERE FOR FULL WORLD MATCHPLAY SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Related darts links

• World Matchplay draw, schedule & TV guide
• World Matchplay Podcast special
• Player-by-player guide
• John Part's predictions
• Chris Hammer's World Matchplay tips
• 2018 PDC calendar & results