PDC WDC round 2: Barney, Van Gerwen, Wade an all-star cast

The prize from this match, which will undoubtedly be fiercely fought, may well be a third round fray with world number one Van Gerwen, so expect Barney to do all he can to book a re-match after Mighty Mike just ousted him from the World Series of Darts Finals.

There has been only one previous PDC World Championship contest between these pair, which thrillingly ended 5-4 to Van Barneveld, with the Hague-born hero holding a tearful Bunting’s arm aloft to give due to his darting performance. So, back Barney at 4/1 to win by 4-3 here, with The Bullet on the losing end by one leg yet again.

James Wade v Wes Newton

It was an almost flawless performance, with Wade barley flexing his muscles, and he looks great value at 11/8 to complete another whitewashing here, but this time by 4-0.

Newton, who somehow managed to dump out up and coming Cristo Reyes, despite having a 77.80 average compared to his opponent’s 87.05 in a bizarre battle, will not find Wade so obliging. The Warrior is really up against it on the oche here, but can be backed at an unlikely 13/2 for his luck to continue.

Michael van Gerwen v Darren Webster

Title favourite Mighty Mike was spared that embarrassment, with his cool and composed finishing in the final two legs helping him avoid a sporting shock. It was not that the Dutchman played poorly, he was simply caught out by The Cube after initially coasting.

Still, don’t expect another near miss now Van Gerwen has got that out of his system. Webster faces this fearsome foe, likely to be incredibly fired up, at precisely the wrong time, so is generous at even long odds of 9/1 to win.

Mighty Mike is overwhelmingly odds-on at 1/20 for victory, but is better value at 5/4 to win by 4-0, or 25/1 to bounce back with a nine-darter, with the dominant Dutchman an odds-on favourite in most other scoring and maximum markets.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Barney at 4/1 to oust Bunting by a 4-3 scoreline.