Betway Premier League Glasgow Preview

ANDERSON EAGER TO DELIGHT HOME FANS AS BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE VISITS GLASGOW
 

GARY ANDERSON is preparing to receive a World Champion's reception when the Betway Premier League visits Glasgow, as the tournament's top two players, Michael van Gerwen and Dave Chisnall, prepare to face off at The SSE Hydro.

Anderson will take to the big stage in Scotland for the first time since his World Championship victory in January when he faces Kim Huybrechts in front of a sell-out crowd of over 10,000 fans on Thursday.

While the proud Scot is relishing his chance to follow in the footsteps of Jocky Wilson in claiming the adulation of his home crowd, Anderson insists he cannot lose focus on his challenge against the Belgian.

"It's going to be the first time in Scotland that I'm announced as World Champion, so it's a heavy weight on my shoulders," said Anderson, who defeated Adrian Lewis 7-1 in Week Six and won a Players Championship on Saturday.

"I'm quite a quiet guy; I like to be in the shadows, go up, play my darts and disappear - but with winning the World Championship it's been a bit hectic and I'm doing things that I'm not quite comfortable doing.

"There's extra pressure because you want to win in your home country and people don't realise how much is on your shoulders. I'll enjoy it a lot better if I can get the win, or at least a draw!"

Although Anderson bounced back from a first-game exit in the UK Open with a superb display against Adrian Lewis last week, he is expecting a tough challenge against Huybrechts despite the Belgian being joint bottom of the league table.

"I'm playing well, but if Kim plays well then I'm going to have a battle," added Anderson.

"He's down there at the bottom of the table but he's probably not got the results his form has deserved this season because he's been one of the best performers.

"He had a 107 average against Dave Chisnall and walked away beaten, which is hard to take, but he's sticking in there and playing well.

"He's hitting high averages and playing well and he's going to come good sooner or later, so it's going to be hard to call on Thursday and the game will be nip and tuck."

The visit to Glasgow also sees Scottish-born Peter Wright facing a huge game in his battle to avoid elimination as he meets Stephen Bunting, a week after picking up his first victory of the season.

Wright also reached the UK Open final ten days ago in Minehead with a run which included his clinical 10-0 semi-final victory over Bunting.

"I'm playing a lot better now and taking chances when I get them," admitted Wright. "It's pretty tight down at the bottom now and I've got a couple of big games coming up.

"Stephen's playing really well but hopefully the 10-0 win from the UK Open will be in his head."

Bunting has also hit form recently, defeating Lewis and Dave Chisnall in his last two fixtures, and believes he has adapted to the Premier League stage following a rocky start.

"I've had a few hard weeks and obviously they don't get any easier, but I feel like I'm back playing some really good darts again," said Bunting.

"I want keep climbing up the table and get as far away from relegation as I can.

"Peter's a fantastic player but I'm hoping that he doesn't beat me to nil again and I can reverse the tables this week - I'll be ready for it!"

Reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld - who sits alongside Huybrechts at the foot of the table on three points - takes on great rival Phil Taylor knowing that a defeat could further damage his hopes of retaining the title.

2009 Premier League champion James Wade is hoping to follow Sunday's Players Championship win with a victory over rival Adrian Lewis which would see the Stoke ace dragged further into the elimination battle.

"I'm looking forward to playing Adrian," said Wade. "I had a couple of weeks where I lapsed off and let my opponent back in so I was glad to get the job done last week.

"When I had to produce good darts, it felt like it was there on a tap and I'm feeling happy and confident in my game at the moment."

The night's other game, at the head of the table, sees Chisnall looking to bounce back from his first loss of the season as he meets unbeaten league leader Michael van Gerwen.

"Dave's doing really well this season so I know that I have to perform as well as possible in Glasgow and that's what I'll be trying to do," said van Gerwen.

"There's no extra pressure on me because I'm at the top of the table - I want to perform better and better each week and I don't want to let myself down."

Thursday's league night sees the ten competitors playing their seventh games of the season, with only two weeks remaining before the bottom two players from the league table are eliminated following Judgement Night in Manchester.

Betway Premier League
Night Seven, Thursday March 19
The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Peter Wright v Stephen Bunting
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Kim Huybrechts v Gary Anderson
Dave Chisnall v Michael van Gerwen

Betway Match Odds
11/8 James Wade
7/2 Draw
11/8 Adrian Lewis

11/10 Peter Wright
7/2 Draw
13/8 Stephen Bunting

4/1 Raymond van Barneveld
9/2 Draw
4/9 Phil Taylor

3/1 Kim Huybrechts
4/1 Draw
8/13 Gary Anderson

7/2 Dave Chisnall
9/2 Draw
1/2 Michael van Gerwen
Odds subject to fluctuation, for latest odds see www.betway.com (Over-18s).

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