PDC Champions League of Darts preview: Saturday afternoon session
NewsSaturday, 22 September 2018 at 12:20
The PDC Champions League of Darts has definitely brought a touch of glamour to the calendar.
There's the new host city, Brighton - a far cry from Barnsley or Wigan. The fact that the world's eight best players will all be in one place. That £100,000 top prize. Even the £50,000 sponsors Paddy Power will disperse among the crowd if there's a nine-darter. Being the PDC Champions League of Darts winner isn't the most prestigious of accolades - but there's no doubt that it's an eye-catching one.
Mensur Suljovic has come, seen and conquered already. Appearing in his first Champions League in 2017, the Gentle won all five of his matches and took the title. He opens the 2018 event, against another highly-fancied debutant. Rob Cross, as the world champion and third seed, will see an opening victory as a major statement of intent.
The second tie in Group B features two players whose Premier League campaigns ended up falling flat. Peter Wright took a win and a draw against Simon Whitlock in an overall disappointing campaign. That has now been consigned to the past, however. Victory over the Wizard would put Snakebite on course for success in Brighton.
Mensur Suljovic has come, seen and conquered already. Appearing in his first Champions League in 2017, the Gentle won all five of his matches and took the title. He opens the 2018 event, against another highly-fancied debutant. Rob Cross, as the world champion and third seed, will see an opening victory as a major statement of intent.
The second tie in Group B features two players whose Premier League campaigns ended up falling flat. Peter Wright took a win and a draw against Simon Whitlock in an overall disappointing campaign. That has now been consigned to the past, however. Victory over the Wizard would put Snakebite on course for success in Brighton.
Group of Death?
Group A begins with the UK Open and World Matchplay champion taking on the Grand Prix champion. Gary Anderson and Daryl Gurney are both big hitters, for sure. Neither has made a big splash in recent weeks however - now would be the right time to get back in the game.
Michael van Gerwen tends to be the favourite for just about anything. That tag didn't help him in the Matchplay, though. And Mighty Mike faces a seriously tough group. First up for the Dutchman is the notoriously inconsistent Dave Chisnall. Either the man who averaged 118.66 at the German Darts Championship will show up, or the one who seems to make hard work of even the simplest tasks. Only one of those options gives Chizzy even a chance of an opening win.
The four winners will meet each other on Saturday evening, with the four losers matching up facing the added pressure of sealing an exit with a second loss.
The afternoon session action begins at 1.15pm, and is live on BBC One.
Play Fantasy Champions League of Darts! At least 308 euro in prizes!
Michael van Gerwen tends to be the favourite for just about anything. That tag didn't help him in the Matchplay, though. And Mighty Mike faces a seriously tough group. First up for the Dutchman is the notoriously inconsistent Dave Chisnall. Either the man who averaged 118.66 at the German Darts Championship will show up, or the one who seems to make hard work of even the simplest tasks. Only one of those options gives Chizzy even a chance of an opening win.
The four winners will meet each other on Saturday evening, with the four losers matching up facing the added pressure of sealing an exit with a second loss.
The afternoon session action begins at 1.15pm, and is live on BBC One.
Play Fantasy Champions League of Darts! At least 308 euro in prizes!
Afternoon session schedule
Rob Cross v Mensur Suljovic (B) Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock (B) Gary Anderson v Daryl Gurney (A) Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall (A)
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- Am not outraged and as said above i dont like anyone from any country doing it to anyone from any country. Whoever is going for a double should have best of order.Mysstree17-11-2024
- Say what? It happens in other countries; Littler in January - this year (Holland), go and watch the evidence on YouTube. If it is going to be done to English players, then we are more than entitled to dish the same back when players face off in England. When it happened to Littler in Holland in January... where was your outrage then? ABE attitude.MrYnyslas197117-11-2024
- I dont like individuals or crowds trying to put any player off when they are trying to check out, how anyone can think its okay for the crowd to whistle or shout as someone is throwing for a double is beyond me but it does seem to have become part and parcel of the modern game. I no longer play now, darts is as good as dead at a local level round my way but when i did play many years ago, no matter how intense the rivalry you never shouted out or whistled when an opponent from the other team was throwing for a double.Mysstree17-11-2024
- The pundits glossing over the other factor at play in that match. They appear to be somewhat constrained in what they can say publicly.
UndartedWaters16-11-2024 - So, you don't like Littler, then? I was cheering him on, being a fellow Englishman. Honestly, some of us get far too offended nowadays. If you want to see crowd passion... watch a match when German and Dutch players face off... that can be just as bad if not worse for crowd noises. It happens, I have watched and heard Littler being jeered - Dirk van Duijvenbode in Holland, January this year. Where was your outrage then? Yes, I can clearly see what is going on here.MrYnyslas197116-11-2024