2024 BetMGM Premier League Darts: Night Five Preview
2024 BetMGM Premier League Darts: Night Five Preview
On Thursday, reigning champion Michael van Gerwen will be looking to extend his already impressive advantage at the top of the BetMGM Premier League table when travelling to Exeter.
Michael Van Gerwen has won three of the four nights thus far, the most recent being his third consecutive night triumph. Despite the Asp’s spectacular start, the Green Machine proved too much for Nathan Aspinall in Newcastle, winning 6-4.
Michael van Gerwen’s red-hot form is visible in the standings, with his nearest challengers, Michael Smith and Luke Littler behind him by an astounding eight points.
2023 Premier League Winner v 2023 World Champion
Michael Van Gerwen begins the evening’s matches against World Number One Luke Humphries, who is still looking for his first night win of the season.
The current leader, Michael Van Gerwen, and seven-time winner of the competition recently obtained his third consecutive win, extending his Premier League win streak to nine games. He faces Humphries, who is now barely outside the playoff spots by a point.
They meet for the second time this season, with the Green Machine defeating Cool Hand 6-5 in the Final on Night Three in Glasgow.
Snaky Showdown – As the Asp clashes with SnakeBite
The winner of the van Gerwen-Humphries match will play Nathan Aspinall or Peter Wright in the semi-finals. The current World Matchplay Champion competes against a two-time World Champion.
The wait for Aspinall’s first points of the new season had stretched to three weeks, while Wright’s wait continues after narrowly losing to Warrington Wonderkid Luke Littler.
Aspinall narrowly missed out on a nightly victory owing to Michael van Gerwen’s resolute performance, but has since increased his advantage over the bottom of the table to three points.
Wright and Aspinall will meet off for the first time this season.
2023 Runner-Up v 2019 Runner-Up
Gerwyn Price, last year’s runner-up, has failed to recreate his previous season’s success, which included four weekly triumphs over the course of 16 nights. It’s fair to say that the Iceman has yet to fire up the competitors. Currently ranked third from bottom, the Iceman has yet to stake his claim to the famous title.
He takes on Rob Cross, who, although having only one more point than Price, is now in the last playoff spot. Despite three semi-final appearances out of four, he has failed to go to the final, unlike his competition.
They meet for the second time this season, with the Welshman winning bragging rights in the first week, with Voltage losing 6-2.
Guaranteed to be a classic with outstanding combo finishing powers.
Night Two Runner Up takes on Night One Winner
Luke Littler remained in the top three last week after losing by a narrow margin of 6-5 in the Semi-Final to the eventual victor, Michael van Gerwen.
The Bully Boy is slightly ahead in second place thanks to a head-to-head victory on the first night in Cardiff. Many expected the former number one’s early success to serve as a spark, but he has yet to return to one of the night’s finals.
Both had previously fought in Week One’s Semi-Final, with the Bully Boy advancing to the final and eventually defeating Welsh number one Gerwyn Price. To pick up the first five points of the campaign.
There is little question the Nuke will return for revenge, in the final Quarter Final on Thursday, since success would move him beyond Smith in the rankings.
2024 BetMGM Premier League Night Five – Westpoint Exeter
Thursday 29th February
Luke Humphries v Michael Van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall v Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross
Luke Littler v Michael Smith