Rob Cross and Michael Smith will battle it out for the second biggest major of the year and layers have Cross as the 4/5 favourite with Smith the slight outsider at 6/5.
Voltage earned his spot in the final after a shell shock to go be 14-7 then 15-9 down on a race to 17. Cross has not won a major since winning the World Championship on 2018 and his opponent has yet to have his major legacy under his belt.
Cross was impressive going through the gears despite his opponent being a two time major winner Daryl Gurney.
Smiths route to the Final was in comparison a more comfortable affair being in the lead from leg 1.
Match odds
Cross - 4/5 Betfair
Smith - 6/5 Spreadex
Head to Head - Cross leads 12-3
On the basis that Cross has won all of the last three meetings in 2019 would give punters some confidence on the Hastings thrower. With Bullyboy there or thereabouts can Smith finally get over the line after appearing in the World Final back on New Year’s Day?
With the ante post prices as they appeared the money would be best spent on Cross. Showing his power through the gears demonstrated resilience of the highest level.
Smith will know the pace of the game will help his rhythm.
Based on the event stats:
Cross has a three Dart average of 99.19 across the event with 29 maximums under his belt. His maximum per leg average sits at 0.3186 based on 91 legs played.
Smith’s consistent average at 97.16 with 25 maximums implies over the 93 legs faced has a 180 per leg at 0.2688.
Layers have Smith at 11/10 with Cross 5/4 and the maximum tie at 12/1. Without the draw on the draw no bet market the pair are 5/6 apiece with Coral and Ladbrokes.
We did scratch on our semi final bet, and with the final at stake may come increasing nerves. With our Smith average unsuccessful sustaining a 97.50 average over the duration is not easy at all between 15-16 Darts and with the line a point higher and odds against on Smith I feel he is more vulnerable than Cross here on the average. 11/10 on under 97.50 especially when Hills are 5/6 on the same bet.
Another stat personally compiled, which you will unlikely see anywhere else is only Smith has landed a maximum in the first leg of any of his matches, which was his first round game. Big firms such as Corals, Ladbrokes and Hills are 4/5 on the opening leg drawing a blank in the maximum count.
Recommendations
Smith U97.50 average 11/10Sportingbet 1pt
First leg 180 NO 4/5 Ladbrokes 1pt
Rob Cross to win the Matchplay - 4/5 Betfair - 1pt
Voltage earned his spot in the final after a shell shock to go be 14-7 then 15-9 down on a race to 17. Cross has not won a major since winning the World Championship on 2018 and his opponent has yet to have his major legacy under his belt.
Cross was impressive going through the gears despite his opponent being a two time major winner Daryl Gurney.
Smiths route to the Final was in comparison a more comfortable affair being in the lead from leg 1.
Match odds
Cross - 4/5 Betfair
Smith - 6/5 Spreadex
Head to Head - Cross leads 12-3
On the basis that Cross has won all of the last three meetings in 2019 would give punters some confidence on the Hastings thrower. With Bullyboy there or thereabouts can Smith finally get over the line after appearing in the World Final back on New Year’s Day?
With the ante post prices as they appeared the money would be best spent on Cross. Showing his power through the gears demonstrated resilience of the highest level.
Smith will know the pace of the game will help his rhythm.
Based on the event stats:
Cross has a three Dart average of 99.19 across the event with 29 maximums under his belt. His maximum per leg average sits at 0.3186 based on 91 legs played.
Smith’s consistent average at 97.16 with 25 maximums implies over the 93 legs faced has a 180 per leg at 0.2688.
Layers have Smith at 11/10 with Cross 5/4 and the maximum tie at 12/1. Without the draw on the draw no bet market the pair are 5/6 apiece with Coral and Ladbrokes.
We did scratch on our semi final bet, and with the final at stake may come increasing nerves. With our Smith average unsuccessful sustaining a 97.50 average over the duration is not easy at all between 15-16 Darts and with the line a point higher and odds against on Smith I feel he is more vulnerable than Cross here on the average. 11/10 on under 97.50 especially when Hills are 5/6 on the same bet.
Another stat personally compiled, which you will unlikely see anywhere else is only Smith has landed a maximum in the first leg of any of his matches, which was his first round game. Big firms such as Corals, Ladbrokes and Hills are 4/5 on the opening leg drawing a blank in the maximum count.
Recommendations
Smith U97.50 average 11/10Sportingbet 1pt
First leg 180 NO 4/5 Ladbrokes 1pt
Rob Cross to win the Matchplay - 4/5 Betfair - 1pt