Premier League Darts Night 11: Belfast brings a double dose of Barney, Thornton

Thornton did force a draw earlier in the season, with odds of 4/1 for that to happen again, but expect crowd puller Snakebite to be in a venomous mood after dropping a point to Jackpot. A close call still looks the best bet, with a 7-5 scoreline to Wright a nifty 9/2.

Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor

The Power still holds an electric 54-16 head-to-head record against this very familiar foe, but belligerent Barney has proven a banana skin for the summit straddler, with the darting duo each winning three from their last six meetings. It’s been said many times before: these two bring the best from each other.

Current table-topper Taylor is the obvious odds-on 8/15 favourite following his emphatic drubbing of world champ Anderson and Wade. Yet, on the opening night in Leeds, the Englishman was handed his only Premier League loss so far by bold Barney, in a 7-2 thrashing.

The Dutchman is 7/2 to make it two in a row versus The Power, but as Van Barneveld keeps frustratingly letting results slip a draw between these giants is most tantalising at 4/1.

James Wade v Adrian Lewis

The Machine (7/4 to win) historically has the edge over his fellow Englishman, but Jackpot has taken bragging rights from all of their past three frays, making Lewis 11/10 match favourite. Both have needed a little rub of the green to grind out results, so it might not be pretty.

Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson

Surprisingly both have struggled of late but, luckily for fans, this should mean a ferocious fixture is in the offing, as again pundits would struggle to separate the two tungsten titans, who have each one three of their previous six also.

MvG roared to rack up the highest checkout and most maximums last time out against The Thorn, and is odds-on at 4/7 and 5/6 to repeat those feats respectively. So, why not take better value at 5/2 for Mighty Mike to be anointed King of the Oche (win match, most 180s and highest checkout. If any of the markets are tied, bets will be settled as losers)?

Should your loyalties instead lie with The Flying Scotsman, a hedging of bets at 11/8 for a double chance of Anderson to win or a draw could prove profitable.

Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton

On paper Van Barneveld should easily get the better of his fellow veteran, but the inconsistent Dutchman could conceivably conspire to fluff his lines, with a 7/2 price for a draw appealing.

Still, Barney’s back is up against it if he is not to lose touch with those above, so the Dutchman is 10/11 for a tigerish triumph and 7/1 to beat The Thorn 7-5 for the second time this Premier League season. There are also tempting odds of 11/8 for Van Barneveld to send his Barney Army wild by notching most maximums.

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Coral’s top tip: Barney looks a good bet at 7/1 to beat Thornton 7-5.