Emma Paton’s Grand Slam Tips
13:00: Mickey Mansell v Martin Lukeman – Martin Lukeman wins 16-10
15:00: Luke Littler v Gary Anderson – Littler to win, have most 180s and highest check-out
WHERE: WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton
WHEN: November 9-17th
TV: Sky Sports Mix
Mickey Mansell v Martin Lukeman – Martin Lukeman wins 16-10
Absolutely no one saw this semi-final coming.
Both Mickey Mansell and Martin Lukeman have been impressive in their own ways so far.
Mansell is making his debut at the tournament at the age of 51 and has made the final four, and it’s also Lukeman’s first time here. It’s a first major semi-final in the PDC for both too.
Mickey impressed against Cameron Menzies with the way he game thorough that last-leg decider. His finishing was brilliant and was the difference in the end.
For Martin Lukeman, the way he dispatched world number four was shocking – he’d been completely written off going into the match against the former world champ and overwhelming favourite. And he was 5-1 down, but kept his composure, didn’t panic and really didn’t look bothered when he was behind.
He ended up winning 16-11 and that coolness impressed me so I’m going for Martin Lukeman to win the first semi-final by a score of 16-10.
Luke Littler v Gary Anderson – Littler to win, have most 180s and highest check-out
It’s a glamour final four tie in the second semi-final at the Grand Slam of Darts as Gary Anderson, the former two-time World Champion and two-time runner-up at this event, goes head-to-head with the Premier League champ Luke Littler, who is playing in this event for the first time.
Both have had brilliant tournaments so far. Anderson has produced throughout the year but is yet to put a big run together on a big TV stage, though it looks like he is doing it in Wolverhampton this week. H2 had a really good group stage then beat Stephen Bunting in the last-16 and got past Gian van Veen who, stats-wise at least, had been the performer of the tournament.
But…
In this semi-final I simply cannot look past Luke Littler. He’s averaged over a ton in his three group games, then came from 8-4 down to beat Mike De Decker in the last-16. And then his quarter-final fixture with Jermaine Wattimena was over in a flash – 16-2!
The stats were amazing as well – a 105 average, 12 180s, there were four ton-plus check-outs, including a 167, a 164 and and a 110 to win it!
So I can’t see anything beyond a Littler victory – sorry Gary – and I think he’ll have the most 180s and the highest check out too.
Grand Slam of Darts betting tips
13:00: Mickey Mansell v Martin Lukeman – Martin Lukeman wins 16-10
15:00: Luke Littler v Gary Anderson – Littler to win, have most 180s and highest check-out
*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.
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