2016 Grand Slam of Darts finals day preview: MvG and Anderson destined for final

In fact Wright has won just one of the previous 25 duels with the reigning Grand Slam champion (4/9 odds-on favourite to defend the title), so his odds of 4/1 don’t quite look enticing enough judging by the above stats.

Saying that, however, he does seem to be getting closer and closer to finally beating MvG on the big stage – the most notable of his eight victories from 50 meetings was at the 2015 Japan Masters semis – and Van Gerwen is still yet to really hit top gear.

Watch Wright narrowly miss a nine-darter against Taylor in the second round…

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While the 27-year-old (heavy odds-on 1/6 match favourite) demolished Dolan in the last round 16-3, the Northern Irishman was nowhere near his best all competition and the same can be said for the Dutchman too.

These days Van Gerwen is used to hitting over 100 averages almost every time in front of the cameras, but managed only 93.64 and 95.93 in the group stage. Only throwing 104.58 against Dolan again earlier in their pool has risen his overall tournament average to 98.94, which could be down to not really being tested.

Wright on the other hand has an overall tally of 100.92, after recording a huge 107.36 to whitewash Simon Whitlock in the groups and then 103.37 to see off six-time Grand Slam champion Taylor in the second round.

It certainly promises to be a thrilling affair, between two stars who’ve had one or two oche fall-outs in the past, and one that could go the distance. Snakebite lost by two legs last time out against MvG, so is 14/1 to go down 16-14 on this occasion.

If you fancy Wright to come out on top in one market, though, he is a tasty 7/4 chance to get the highest checkout of the match after he managed a few ton-plus finishes against Taylor.

Gary Anderson v James Wade

This is certainly an intriguing match-up as, although Anderson has a convincing 28-14 winning record over Wade, it is the Englishman who has got the better of the Scot in recent head-to-heads.

The Machine was victorious over The Flying Scotsman last time out at the European Championship in dominant fashion, as he whitewashed him 6-0. Although another win to nil (16-0) is so unlikely that odds are not even available with Coral, he is still a tasty 9/4 just to triumph for a fourth time in five meetings.

Former finalist Wade also has a notable victory against Anderson this year in the Shanghai Masters (8-7) and two draws in the Premier League, so a closer match is on the cards. Odds of 10/1 say that the world champion Scot can win 16-13.

That is the same scoreline he inflicted on Barney in the quarters too, which suggests he is firmly over his poor showing in the last major tournament and used to his new bespectacled look.

Wade, meanwhile, has yet to really be tested – except for his loss to already-eliminated Dave Chisnall in his final group game, which was incidentally the only occasion when he’s averaged over 100.

On a major title drought since The Masters in 2014, and only reaching one final following that success, The Machine looks unlikely to cause another upset this time.

As for Anderson (1/3 odds-on match favourite), this is the first time in five years he’s reached this stage, and the 2011 runner-up is 3/1 to go all the way this time and add this title to his growing collection.

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