During a sensational showing on Night Six, world champion Luke Humphries got his first victory of the 2024 Premier League Darts season by defeating Michael Smith 6-3 to claim a crucial five points in Brighton.
'Cool Hand Luke' handled the field with ease, winning by an aggregate score of 18-8 in victories over Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross and Smith – averaging 105.50, 113.71 and 101.04 in those wins. He faces a rematch against Smith in the quarter-final of Night Seven at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Thursday evening.
Humphries out-averages Smith (102.09-96.19), checks out at a higher percentage (42.38-39.57) and has won a higher percentage of legs against the throw (42.37-29.63). The world champion has also won his last three matches against Smith by an aggregate score of 22-14 and won six of their last eight meetings.
The Night Six winner is 2/5 to defeat 'Bully Boy', 4/6 to win 6-4 or better, and 6/4 to claim the win and most match 180s double. Both are near the top of the standings in terms of hitting maximums, so a Humphries win-Smith 180s double is a 13/5 shot.
The other match-up in the top half of the draw sees Gerwyn Price boast 4/9 favourtism over Peter Wright, who has lost six consecutive quarter-finals to start the season.
'Snakebite' has been a class below his Premier League rivals this season and ranks last in average, average against the throw, checkout percentage, 180s and functional doubles percentage. An 'Iceman' match double – victory and most 180s – at 11/10 is an easy punt.
The bottom half of the draw sees Michael Van Gerwen joust with Luke Littler and Rob Cross lock horns with Nathan Aspinall.
'MVG' and 'The Nuke' have become regular foes in 2024 meeting three times – all three going the way of the Dutchman – including two Premier League meetings that ended 6-5. The over 9.5 legs bet at 5/6 is an easy back on a parlay if you are struggling to pick a winner.
Statistics also favour the league leader Van Gerwen – he boasts a 56.12% functional doubles percentage, tops the checkout percentages at 45.39% and sits third in the averages at 98.29. Littler, meanwhile averages 99.24, but ranks sixth in checkout percentage at 36.26% - with both players boasting 40 180s to date.
The final match sees Cross, who has lost just one of his six quarter-finals, take on Aspinall, who has failed to reach the semi-finals four times to date.
However, 'The Asp' holds a 2-0 record over 'Voltage' in this season's competition – winning the Night Four semi-final 6-4 and the Night Five final 6-2 – with the career series between the two tied at 7-7.
Best Bets – Treble (8.62/1)
Luke Humphries win and most 180s hit (6/4)
Gerwyn Price win and most 180s (11/10)
Over 9.5 legs in Michael Van Gerwen v Luke Littler (5/6)
