Debutants Luke Humphries and Luke Littler top the standings after nine weeks of Premier League action and are going to take some reeling in as the field heads to Manchester for week ten.
Second-placed Littler’s showdown with third-placed Michael van Gerwen is the pick of the quarter-finals at the AO Arena.
Before that, though, Nathan Aspinall takes on Rob Cross, while Humphries would expect to overpower Michael Smith before the bottom two, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright, take to the stage in a must-win affair.
- Nathan Aspinall to beat Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries to win Week 10
- Luke Littler Win Match & Most 180s v Michael van Gerwen
Take The Asp To Make It 5/5
Although Nathan Aspinal has played four and won four against Rob Cross, he is still the outsider in the opening match in Manchester.
Aspinall and Cross meet for the fifth time in this year’s competition and it’s turning into a one-sided affair.
Despite the fact Aspinall is ranked higher, holds a 4-0 head-to-head record and is five points better off in the table, it’s Cross who assumes favouritism.
The law of averages says Cross will beat Aspinall at some point. The formbook and the market, however, suggest The Asp still gets the nod.
NATHAN ASPINALL TO BEAT ROB CROSS
Humphries To Win In Manchester
Even Michael van Gerwen has conceded that right now Luke Humphries is playing at a different level to anyone else.
Mighty Mike was speaking after being thrashed 8-1 by Cool Hand in the final of the German Grand Prix on Monday, an event in which the new world champion and current world No.1 produced four averages of over 106.
Humphries has won three of the last four Premier League nights and is four points clear of the field.
It’s hard to see him not beating Michael Smith in his opener and going on to take another nightly triumph.
LUKE HUMPHRIES TO WIN WEEK TEN
Littler To Overcome MVG Again
Luke Littler has been the joint-most consistent performer in his first Premier League campaign.
The 17-year-old has only suffered two first-hurdle falls in nine weeks, Aspinall being the only other player who can match that feat.
He’s clearly hard to beat and his all-round excellence finally paid off last Thursday night when he took the nightly honours - and he did it the hard way.
The Nuke saw off Humphries in round one and then Van Gerwen in the last four before beating Aspinall 6-4 in the final.
He meets Van Gerwen in the quarters this week and right now he appears to have the measure of the Dutchman. He is also banging in more 180s against an opponent who switches a lot more.
If you fancy Littler to land the odds, then double up and take him to hit most maximums as well.
LUKE LITTLER WIN & MOST 180s v MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
