Players Championship Finals: MvG, Van der Voort vie in 2nd round

James Wade v Benito van de Pas

Yet, Big Ben previously exited the World Championship in the last 16 and could repeat that again here, with Wade’s pedigree perhaps meaning a quarters place is a step too far for the fledgling thrower at the moment. The Englishman (1/3 favourite) has, of course, beaten the oche prodigy three times to nil before.

Adrian Lewis v Alan Norris

Punters can back this former BDO star and current underdog at 5/2, after Lewis emerged victorious despite a mixed bag of a battle with John Henderson, against whom he almost slipped up. Should Jackpot take to the oche and finish to the best of his ability, however, it’s tough to look past a 3/10 triumph for the English hope.

Dave Chisnall v Jamie Lewis

Chisnall is the obvious odds-on 1/3 favourite, but his Welsh opponent Rasta reached new heights by holding on and proving a thorn in World Grand Prix champion Robert Thornton’s side to reach this stage. Chizzy can of course be inconsistent and, if he is on the night, Lewis (9/4 for successive shocks) will lunge.

Michael van Gerwen v Vincent van der Voort

Mighty Mike (1/9) was given a real run for his money by up-and-comer Keegan Brown, and will have to find match focus and quick thinking when facing fast thrower The Dutch Destroyer, though the latter has lost seven straight games to Van Gerwen so is a clear outsider at odds of 11/2.

Gary Anderson v Daryl Gurney

It doesn’t get much tougher than taking out The Power, so Anderson is understandably 1/7 to defeat Dude (9/2), and now 9/2 to retain the title, though further up the road Wade may be waiting in the wings.

Ian White v Gerwyn Price

The ante will have to be upped by White (odds-on at 4/7), then, if he is to progress past emerging oche talent The Iceman, who out-classed Jelle Klaasen and is a princely punt at 11/8 to coolly book a quarters slot.

Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock

Of course, darts competitions like these always have the capacity to shock, but Wright should have enough in his oche locker to beat Whitlock and set up another potential meeting with familiar final day foe Adrian Lewis.

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Coral’s top tip: Back impressive Price at 11/8 to push past White.