Grand Slam of Darts: Wednesday predictions, odds, betting tips, accas, order of play & TV times
Our guide for Wednesday's action at the Boylesports Grand Slam of Darts includes the order of play, match-by-match predictions, Sky Bet odds and a suggested acca.
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The second round gets under way in Wolverhampton with four matches from the bottom half of the draw, including Peter Wright v Rob Cross and Michael Smith v Daryl Gurney.
And my predictions for all tonight's games are (drum roll please)...
Grand Slam of Darts: Wednesday November 13
SUGGESTED ACCAS
- Clemens, Smith and Wright at 6/1
- Click here to build your acca at Sky Bet
EVENING SESSION
- TV Coverage: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
- Second round: Best of 19 legs
Dave Chisnall (1/12) v Ryan Harrington (6/1)
Group Position: 1st (Group E) - 2nd (Group F)
Head-to-head: 0-0
2019 Meetings: 0-0
Titles this season: 3-0
There's only one winner here isn't there?
As much as I like to theorise about the possibilities of shocks, I think it's asking far too much of Ryan Harrington to beat the 'new' Dave Chisnall over 19 legs.
The tournament debutant wouldn't have expected to be here a little over a week ago, let along reach the knockout stages so, without wanting to sound too corny, he'll be considered a winner in the Harrington household regardless of tonight's result.
The whole experience could well give him the shot in the arm he needed to significantly climb the rankings but as far as this challenge goes, it'll be too much too soon.
Chizzy beat Rob Cross and Jamie Hughes en route to topping Group E and having only been denied - yet again - by MVG in the World Grand Prix final, his wait for a televised title is surely to end sooner than later.
If someone can take care of MVG in the top half of the draw for him, there's no reason why it won't be this week.
Prediction: 10-3
Gabriel Clemens (11/10) v Glen Durrant (8/11)
Group Position: 1st (Group F) - 2nd (Group H)
Head-to-head: 1-1
2019 Meetings: 1-1
Titles this season: 0-2
How can Gabriel Clemens be the outsider here based on how he's been playing this week?!
The German is, in the eyes of many darts purists, his country's brightest prospect despite Max Hopp being more widely known although that could well soon change if this season is anything to go by.
It's not as if Clemens has come out of nowhere this week - he reached the German Darts Masters final earlier this year, as well as two others on the Pro Tour, and just hasn't had many other televised chances yet as he continues to climb the rankings.
He'll become a far more familiar face in the months and years to come and I'm kicking myself for not making him my big priced outsider this week instead of Brendan Dolan!
From a betting perspective, I'm rooting for Glen Durrant because in my pre-tournament preview I thought the 9/1 about any player from the 'group of death' lifting the trophy was a good price but unfortunately Duzza hasn't shown us title-winning form.
Sure, he defeated UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall 5-0 to qualify but both players averaged in the mid-80s in what was a very disappointing match while Clemens topped his group with three impressive wins out of three.
The three-time Lakeside king will need to up his game and use his wealth of experience in the longer format but based on what we've seen, Clemens is where the smart money is going now.
Prediction: 10-7
Michael Smith (4/5) v Daryl Gurney (1/1)
Group Position: 1st (Group H) - 2nd (Group F)
Head-to-head: 7-5 (1 draw)
2019 Meetings: 1-2
Titles this season: 0-2
Michael Smith described his table-topping group campaign as the 'good, bad and the ugly' but apart from the last game, in which he survived three match darts to beat rock bottom Martin Schindler 5-4, he's been better than that.
Bully Boy averaged close to 100 in a crucial 5-3 triumph over Glen Durrant before recording a breathtaking mark of 113.62 - the third highest in the tournament's history - to crush Nathan Aspinall.
That latter performance sealed his place in the last 16 so the 'dead rubber' with Schindler was the ideal time to throw in a sloppy display before the real fun and games begins.
Smith, who is chasing his maiden major crown, will need to be close to his best again when he comes up against Gurney tonight and although he lost both their Premier League meeting this season, he did win a classic encounter over 19 legs at the UK Open.
That went the distance and I really wouldn't be surprised if this one does as well.
Prediction: 10-9
Peter Wright (4/5) v Rob Cross (1/1)
Group Position: 1st (Group F) - 2nd (Group G)
Head-to-head: 6-10 (2 draws)
2019 Meetings: 1-3 (1 draw)
Titles this season: 4-2
What a match to end the night.
Having backed Peter Wright pre-tournament, I'm going to stick with him tonight but I'd probably be doing the same anyway given how well Snakebite has performed so far.
The 2017 runner-up has coasted into the knockout stages without breaking much sweat and has still averaged around 100 in all three matches, so expect him to find another gear tonight.
The same can be said of the World Matchplay and European champion, who will still be breathing a sigh of relief about getting out of the group following that huge scare against Jamie Hughes.
Voltage spurned four match darts for a 5-1 victory and then a further two at 4-3 up before finally getting the job done in a nervy deciding leg.
Ideally he'd have loved to top the group and face Ryan Harrington but instead he has a second-round clash against one of the best in the business.
Cross has the edge on the head-to-head but Wright's solitary success this year was the most recent meeting at the Champions League of Darts, where he went on to agonisingly finish runner-up to MVG.
Prediction: 10-7