Instead it is one seventh placed Gerwyn Price who has only won four matches over the nine nights that has been picked in a bold choice from the 2020 Premier League Darts champion.
"When I think of Manchester, I think of Nathan Aspinall. There's going to be a Wonderwall of noise. 9,000 people singing Mr Brightside. Will that be a help or a hindrance? Well he's playing a potential banana skin in Rob Cross. I'm going to go against the grain and go for Rob Cross to play that party pooper role," said Durrant to SBK.
"Game two, Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen. I can't separate them. It's time for Michael to get that headline again, I see it going the distance. But maybe Luke just knows how to win right now and maybe wins that 6-4, 6-5."
"Luke Humphries can't do nothing wrong in the Premier League, win after win after win and a European Tour. I'd be mad to think he's not going to win it tonight, he's against Michael Smith who's not one for reputations. He'll love Manchester."
"I think Gerwyn Price beats Peter Wright and goes on to win the whole night. It would be a shock but ten weeks without Gerwyn Price not having the headline. Maybe tonight is the night."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
Who are you backing tonight in Manchester? 🎯
@Duzza180 couldn't miss when he backed Luke Humphries to win in Dublin, tonight he fancies Gerwyn Price 🏴
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