2024 BetMGM Premier League Darts: Night Thirteen Preview

Following the completion of Night Twelve, we are now just four weeks away from the coveted play-offs, and no one’s spot in the playoffs is guaranteed. Although Luke Littler and Luke Humphries continue to lead with an impressive 26 points apiece, Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen are close behind.

After prevailing in Rotterdam, the Asp bolstered his play-off hopes by putting himself three points ahead of play-off contender Michael Smith, who is still two points behind, after defeating the Bully Boy in the night’s final.

Prior to the final, the Snaky Showdown transpired once more, but this time it was not the nail-biting battle many had anticipated, with Peter Wright posting his worst TV average of 77.48, cementing Snakebite’s position at the bottom of the table. Aspinall would go on to win by six legs to two.

In the semi-finals, the Stockport Star faced World Number One Luke Humphries, where he started disastrously, dropping four of the first five legs. However, the Asp responded perfectly, scoring five consecutive legs to set up a final tie against Michael Smith.

Nathan Aspinall eventually defeated Smith by six legs to four, marking the second year in a row that Aspinall won in Rotterdam of the BetMGM Premier League.

Second takes on Third from bottom

In the first game of the BetMGM Premier League Night Thirteen, last year’s runner-up Gerwyn Price faces off against this year’s debutant Luke Littler; the duo had previously met in Night Ten’s final, with the Warrington Wonderkid coming out victorious.

It is fair to say that both are having contrasting seasons, with Gerwyn Price struggling to recreate his success from last year, which had him in play-off places for the bulk of the weeks.

Although the Nuke has had an exciting first season, many have struggled to detonate the Nuke, and as a result, Luke Littler is tied for first place in the leaderboard.

The odds may be stacked in Littler’s favour, but when the Welsh Number One is at his peak, few can beat the Iceman. With the scoring power both possess, don’t be surprised if there are a great deal of 180s and plenty of high checkouts.

The Sixth Showdown looms

Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall will face off for the sixth time this season, with their first meeting on Night Three of the BetMGM Premier League, when Cool Hand defeated the Asp 6-3. They also meet in consecutive weeks following their Semi-final match last time around, when Aspinall won the night.

Both are currently in the play-offs, but Humphries leads Aspinall by three points, but a victory for the Stockport man would see this reduce the gap once again.

The current World Champion has won three of the five encounters so far, earning bragging rights. This game has the potential to be another blockbuster, especially given how clinical the duo have been in their recent outings.

2017 Runner Up versus Seven Time Winner

In the penultimate quarter-final, Peter Wright will play Michael Van Gerwen, who is on the verge of relegation. Snakebite’s campaign has been far from a fairytale, with only two wins, four less than his nearest challenger, Rob Cross. Wright is currently at the bottom of the standings, eighteen points from the play-offs. Although not technically impossible, it is exceedingly implausible.

His opponent is the Green Machine, Michael Van Gerwen, who began the campaign with three consecutive nightly victories, but has struggled to replicate that form owing to injuries. As a result, he takes the final spot in the play-offs by a little margin.

With both struggling for form in recent weeks, this may be the ideal confidence boost for both parties, especially as we approach the last four weeks of the current season before the play-offs begin.

The Former World Champions collide

In the last quarterfinal of Night Thirteen of the BetMGM Premier League, 2018 World Champion Rob Cross will face 2023 World Champion Michael Smith. The two will face off for the second time this season, the first encounter taking place in mid-February for the third installment of the BetMGM Premier League.

Voltage defeated the Bully Boy with a six-to-four leg scoreline. However, Smith has won twice as many games (12 vs. Cross’s 6) and has a nine-point lead over Cross heading into their matchup. Despite losing out on last week’s final, Bully Boy is presently two points outside the play-offs.

With victory and results going his way, Michael Smith may find himself in the play-off places once more, but Cross will be full of confidence after narrowing losing in the Semi-finals to eventual European Tour champion Gary Anderson. So a good encounter looks to take centre stage once more.

 

2024 BetMGM Premier League Night Thirteen – M&S Bank Arena Liverpool

Thursday 25th April

Quarter-Finals

Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price

Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall

Peter Wright v Michael Van Gerwen

Michael Smith v Rob Cross