2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day Three Session Preview
2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day Three Session Preview
After a memorable Sunday we return what promises to be a fantastic night of darting action with Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler going head to head, while Michael Smith takes on Gary Anderson. This is just half of the games on a fascinating night.
Nuke face off against Green Machine
Luke Littler has already produced more magic moments – and more titles – than most players could ever dream of achieving and it would be extremely dangerous to assume that he’s ‘due’ a quiet month!
He’s picked up a title in every month so far and hit FOUR nine-darters on his various debuts on the Pro Tour, European Tour, World Series and, of course, his maiden Premier League final.
It’s got to the point where we almost expect him do it again at some point during his debut World Matchplay en route to lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy – perhaps even tonight.
MVG has got the better of Littler in five of their nine meetings this year, he’s averaging in the low 90s and 80s far too many times for his liking over the past couple of months while Littler’s 180 per leg rate is far superior this season.
Smith faces Anderson
What a fascinating, fast paced encounter we are due with Michael Smith taking on Gary Anderson in the first round
When it comes to the statistics that everyone talks about the most the Flying Scotsman is the player of the season as he boasts the highest average across all competitions and has the most prolific 180 per leg rate at a whopping 0.41.
He’s also reached three finals and won two of them, including his first on the European Tour for over a decade, but without taking too much away, it’s all short format darts.
At his age, can he last the distance of the long format matches in the latter stages of this most elite of majors?
Heat Against Heavy Metal
Ryan Searle started the season like a train by reaching the first three Pro Tour finals of the season and picking up one title along the way thanks to a 107 average against Gary Anderson.
Heavy Metal hasn’t gone beyond the quarter-final of any tournament since but he’s consistently averaging in the mid-90s with a smattering of 100+ efforts so his form has hardly dropped off a cliff.
Damon Heta also picked up his sole title early on in the campaign but he’s also thrown in some other blockbuster performances including a 106 average to knock Luke Littler out of the UK Open and then a monstrous 117.48 in a European Tour back in March.
Overall they are so very closely matched and it really good go either way in ‘extra legs’.
Dobey Ends Round One playing Edhouse
Hollywood will be looking to brush aside Richie Edhouse in the final game of round one
Richie Edhouse will make his debut at the Winter Gardens and Dobey will lean on past experiences to get over the line
Each day we will be providing you recommend bets in partnership with Betfred.
Monday July 15 (1900 BST)
First Round x4
Damon Heta v Ryan Searle
Michael Smith v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler
Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse
