Michael Smith took the honours in Week 1 of the 2024 Premier League in Cardiff which means he'll have a target on his back as the eight-man field heads to Germany for the second round of action.
Smith opens up at the Mercedes-Benz Arena against Gerwyn Price, the man he thrashed 6-2 in last Thursday night's final.
Two of the Week 2 quarter-finals - Nathan Aspinall against Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries versus Peter Wright - feature the four players who are yet to register a point after first-round flops in Wales.
The fourth tie features Luke Littler against Rob Cross in a rematch of their World Championship semi-final which The Nuke won easily.
- Michael Smith to beat Gerwyn Price
- Luke Littler win and most 180s double versus Rob Cross
- Luke Humphries to beat Peter Wright 6-1 or 6-2
Cardiff Clue Points To Bully Boy Success
Smith and Price meet on matchday 2 in Berlin in a repeat of last Thursday night's final, which Bully Boy won 6-2.
Smith had been nerveless up to that point, pipping first Van Gerwen, then Littler, in last-leg deciders.
And come the final he had far too much scoring power for Price, who couldn't cope in front of his home fans.
Consistency is an issue with both men, but given that Smith had Price's measure in Week 1, there's a solid case for thinking he'll see him off in Week 2 as well.
MICHAEL SMITH TO BEAT GERWYN PRICE
Littler Looks Built For The Big Time
Littler and Cross - who clash in the third quarter-final on the Mercedes-Benz Arena stage have each got two points on the board following wins last week.
Littler beat Humphries in a rematch of their World Championship final, while Cross saw off a below-par Wright. Both men then fell in the semis.
Of the two, Littler is producing the better numbers, averaging over 100 in his games against Humphries and Smith last week, powering in eight 180s in the 19 legs he played. Cross hit two in the 17 he played.
The 17-year-old beat Cross 6-2 in the World Championship semi-finals so can beat him again amid a barrage of maximums.
LUKE LITTLER WIN AND MOST 180s
Snakebite To Slither To Another Loss
Wright did little to silence the critics who questioned his selection for the Premier League when posting a sub-84 average in his opening-night loss a week ago.
That just continued a sorry decline in the form of the Scot, who is a clear favourite to finish in last place this year.
It certainly doesn't get any easier for Snakebite, who now has to take on world No.1 and newly-crowned world champion Humphries.
Cool Hand Luke has not had the greatest of starts to the year himself, winning just two matches in the four events he has played in.
But he is still riding the crest of a wave, whereas Wright is down in the doldrums and the English debutant wins this easily.
LUKE HUMPHRIES TO WIN 6-1 OR 6-2
