As excitement builds ahead of BetMGM Premier League Darts Night Ten at Manchester’s AO Arena this Thursday, the race to the top four remains wide open. Follow along as Ryan Brayne delivers match-by-match previews, predictions and tips to keep you in the know.
Last week in Belfast saw Luke Littler earn his first Premier League night, edging the undisputed world number one Luke Humphries 6-5 in the quarter finals before comfortably beating Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall. His victory at the SSE Arena has propelled the 17-year-old to second in the table, just four points off Cool Hand at the apex.
Nathan Aspinall vs Rob Cross
Thursday provides a homecoming of sorts for the Asp, as he returns to Manchester off the back of a strong showing in Northern Ireland’s capital. The Stockport native reached another final, having clawed his way to the quarters in the German Darts Grand Prix at the weekend. His opponent, Rob Cross, continues to suffer without a rub of the green. Voltage suffered a crushing loss to Peter Wright last week, before falling to Danny Noppert in Munich.
Considering the ferociously competitive standard of the Premier League this year, truly anything could happen. Although Aspinall rarely dominates in matches he should win, tomorrow night should see the Asp collect vital points.
Prediction: Aspinall 6-3 Cross
Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen
Speaking of homecomings, the Runcorn born Littler is set to play his first major game in Manchester – a spectacle that is primed to electrify a partisan crowd. The Nuke picked up his first nightly win in Belfast in sizzling fashion, and following some time off this weekend, the wonderkid will look to continue where he left off.
Thursday may see MVG continue to slip further in the Premier League table, with the Dutchman having struggled through injuries since his dominant three night haul earlier in the season. While there were flashes of Mighty MIke’s best in Germany, he was bludgeoned by Luke Humphries to an 8-1 defeat in the final. Littler with backing of the home support should fuel the hype train further.
Prediction: Littler 6-4 MVG
Michael Smith vs Luke Humphries
Michael Smith should enjoy support in Manchester, despite not hailing from the city, and will hope that an added kick will help him find his mojo. Bully Boy has struggled with getting out of first gear, enduring an uneventful week in the league before falling to Josh Rock in the third round in Germany.
On the opposite podium, Smith will face a player who can simply do no wrong. The world champion, Luke Humphries, picked up yet another trophy at the weekend, walloping MVG to add the German Grand Prix to his glittering collection. Although Cool Hand narrowly lost to Littler last week, it was an epic saga that left all in attendance wanting more than 11 legs.
The world champions of 2023 and 2024 are both blitz scorers capable of bull-rushing the other, but the current number one has been far too good recently to overlook.
Prediction: Smith 2-6 Humphries
Gerwyn Price vs Peter Wright
Speaking of players in their prime who are unplayable, enter the Iceman. The scoring side of Gerwyn Price’s game remains ever dangerous, but a failure to capitalise on finishes has continually prevented any momentum from building. A narrow loss to Aspinall last week was followed by a strong run in Germany, but the Welshman’s costly finishing ultimately bottled his chance to beat a surging Humphries.
Peter Wright will look to do the double over Price this Thursday, having earned his first league points against the Iceman in Nottingham back on Night Seven. While Snakebite has been well off the pace this year, his two points earned against Rob Cross underlined the quality prevalent throughout the league.
An average weekend in Germany may have unfortunately ended Wright’s recent renaissance, but he will continue to play spoiler for the rest of the Premier League. In a bid by both players to make one last push for an unlikely finals night, Price can kick things off with a win.
Prediction: Price 6-4 Wright
Night Ten Predicted Semi-Final & Final Winner
Semi-Finals
Littler 6-4 Aspinall
Humphries 6-3 Price
Final
Littler 6-5 Humphries
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