Darts Tips
13:00: Mickey Mansell v Martin Lukeman – Martin Lukeman -2.5 leg handicap
15:00: Luke Littler v Gary Anderson – Over 3.5 Total 100+ Checkouts
WHERE: WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton
WHEN: November 9-17th
TV: Sky Sports Mix
Mickey Mansell v Martin Lukeman – Martin Lukeman -2.5 leg handicap
Friday’s quarter-final between Cameron Menzies and Mickey Mansell summed up the bizarreness of this year’s Grand Slam of Darts. I have not quite decided whether it was gripping or mind-numbing; such was the drama at the expense of true quality.
Despite his double trouble throughout the match, it felt inevitable that the Northern Irishman would prevail. Even how he did it was fitting, as he crawled over the line in the 31st leg with one trebleless visit after another. Menzies had pushed his luck to get to the last eight, and by the latter stages of the tie, his fortune, and head, had gone.
Mansell’s checkout percentage through his first four fixtures was 63.64%, which would always be difficult to sustain. The stakes are multiplied at this tournament stage, and the pressure is felt, as the Clonoe Cyclone required 52 attempts at the outer ring to get to 16 legs.
Now that his finishing statistics have regressed, Mansell’s numbers for the event look relatively ordinary. The 51-year-old will have been grateful for his Saturday off but it is still a big ask for him to go again after such a gruelling victory.
Martin Lukeman had a much more straightforward Friday night, coming from 5-1 down to defeat Rob Cross 16-11. Smash looked comfortable even while trailing, and all aspects of his game appear to be in good shape.
Unlike Mansell, Lukeman’s level has improved as the competition and format have become more intense, and there is no reason why the two-time major quarter-finalist can’t post another average in the high 90s which would surely be enough.
Luke Littler v Gary Anderson – Over 3.5 Total 100+ Checkouts
Poor Jermaine Wattimena never had a sniff against Luke Littler, as the 17-year-old rattled in 12 180s and four 100+ checkouts en route to a 16-2 triumph.
Gian van Veen matched Gary Anderson for large parts of their encounter on Saturday, but the Dutchman paid the price for a poor second mini-session and the Flying Scotsman’s accuracy on the outer ring never let up.
Littler recorded finishes of 167 and 164, plus another two ton-plus outshots. Anderson broke Van Veen’s throw in the opening leg with a 124 and later took out a 120 to make it 9-5 and keep the world number 32 at bay.
Anderson had four three-figure checkouts against Bunting in the last 16. Those combinations to close out legs have been a feature of his run to the semis, and in a game against the odds-on favourite for the title, over 3.5 100+ checkouts between them does not feel like a particularly tall order.
Grand Slam of Darts betting tips
13:00: Mickey Mansell v Martin Lukeman – Martin Lukeman -2.5 leg handicap
15:00: Luke Littler v Gary Anderson – Over 3.5 Total 100+ Checkouts
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
- Check out Darts Betting Tips and previews at Paddy Power News
- Paddy Power World Darts Championship odds: Luke Humphries the early favourite
- Paddy confirms £1m donation to Prostate Cancer UK
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
