2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day Two Afternoon Session
2024 Betfred World Matchplay Day Two Afternoon Session
Luke Humphries has set the marker on day one, and Josh Rock and Ross Smith will face off in the opener on the only day we see eight games
Rock Faces Smith
This should be a belting way to kick off day two, which starts two hours earlier than usual to get every match finished in time for the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.
The PDC have allowed England fans to wear football shirts today and that will add to a more patriotic atmosphere than usual when an Englishman takes to the crowd so that could benefit a charged up Ross Smith, especially if he’s banging in 180s at the usual rate.
Both players have picked up a title this season but I’d say Smith has enjoyed a stronger campaign given he’s reached three finals compared to Rock’s two and, more importantly, the latter two have come in the last few weeks.
Wade Back Again
James Wade dug deep to sneak into the 32-player field at the 11th hour and he’ll now be eager to mark his 19th successive World Matchplay appearance with a victory.
The 2007 champion, who also reached the final on debut way back in 2006, loves the Winter Gardens and will also love the patriotic atmosphere that will be building inside the venue.
However, he’s not been in great form and a pretty calm Danny Noppert will probably enjoy being a bit of a mood killer.
The Dutchman has also enjoyed a superior season having reached the latter stages of numerous tournaments and also won a Players Championship title a few months ago.
Dancing Dimi Returns To Blackpool
Dimitri Van den Bergh added another major to his collection earlier this season at the UK Open but his hopes of a second World Matchplay title were dealt a blow with this draw.
Martin Schindler has always had the talent but never seemed to show it on the stage but back in April he won his maiden PDC title in a European Tour event and maybe now he’ll start to fulfil his potential on TV.
Schindler’s stats are significantly better than Van den Bergh this season even though the latter has picked up two titles overall, and I fancy the German to win his first match on the Winter Gardens stage at the third time of asking.
Bullet Looking To Make An Impact In Blackpool
Brace yourself for one of the loudest renditions of Titanium ever heard outside of the Ally Pally as Stephen Bunting takes to the stage at a raucous Winter Gardens.
Not only is the Bullet as popular as ever, but he arrives in Blackpool for the first time as a PDC major champion having broken his duck at the Masters and since then he’s continued to produce some great darts, including a mesmerising 117.12 average on the European Tour last month.
Ryan Joyce is enjoying another progressive season, reaching the latter stages of several Pro Tour events this season but ultimately I feel Bunting, who has a vastly superior 180 per leg rate will have too much firepower.
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