Wayne Mardle: Taylor and Barney to progress to the last four

28Dec 2012

We're down to the last eight at the PDC World Championships and Wayne Mardle believes we're in for two great games tonight with Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld both in action. He's looking to the 180s for his recommended bets

Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton

Whilst I think Taylor is out of sorts at the moment, he is still doing enough to win games and I believe he will win this match. But this will be tough because Hamilton is a nuisance of a player, he's never beat and he never gives in.

The power always asks the question, CAN you beat me? And that's because even Phil's under par performances are special and usually good enough to win most games.

The best bet for me here is The Hammer to hit the most 180s. Phil switches to the 19 segment when he dislikes the way the previous darts have entered the board, and that's not what you want to see if you've backed him to hit a plethora of maximums. The Hammer is a good grouper of the dart however and should out-do Phil in this regard at least.

Selection: Back Hamilton most 180s @ 1.7

Simon Whitlock v Raymond Van Barneveld

This could be anything, the format is now best of nine sets, if it was 5-2 either way I wouldn't be surprised.

But Barney is confident, which in turn is giving me confidence in him. His Sky Sports interview last night where he stated that he looked at the draw and thought it was tough... for the other players (against him) was the sign of a man brimming with confidence, and I like that.

I'm not a lover of betting against the big Aussie, he's a class act who rarely puts in a sub standard performance, but on this occasion I'm going to.

Barney is hitting more 180s than ever and his double hitting is there for all to see. Watching him demolish Gary Anderson last night, it was fascinating to see Barney hit so many crucual doubles with his last arrow. That demoralises opponents, as it did Anderson.

Selections: Barney to win 5-2 @ 6.2 & Barney most 180s @ 1.7