Start time: 2015, 03/01/2023
Venue: Alexandra Palace
TV: Sky Sports
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith were our pre-tournament picks to dominate the PDC Darts World Championship and a cracking final is on the cards.
England’s Smith has impressed in reaching back-to-back deciders but may again have to settle for second best against the outstanding Dutchman.
We’re taking 11/2 for MVG to prevail 7-4 in our first Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen prediction.
Michael Smith odds
Smith wasn’t overly convincing when seeing off Stephen Bunting 5-3 in the quarter-finals, wobbling a bit after leading 4-1 before missed darts allowed him to claim the eighth set.
However, Bully Boy stepped up a level when brushing aside Gabriel Clemens with a brilliant 6-2 semi-final victory.
“I told myself I had to step up, it’s the semi-finals of the worlds, I can’t keep playing the way I was – and I did,” said Smith. “I had a 180 in the very first leg and that set me up.”
The 32-year-old, from St Helens, went down 7-5 to Peter Wright in last year’s final and was beaten 7-3 by Van Gerwen in the 2019 decider.
He returns this term as a more confident player, though, having finally broken his duck in Majors with a Grand Slam of Darts success in November.
“The only thing I am thinking about is lifting that trophy,” added Smith. “I know I want revenge but I see it as another opportunity.
“I just want to do me and be me – and hopefully you see what Michael Smith is all about.
“It means everything, from my heartache last year when I was 5-4 up against Peter and lost 7-5, to where I have battled through for 11 months just to get back to the stage again and get another chance.”
Smith averaged 101.85 against Clemens, throwing 19 maximums and taking out five 100-plus finishes, including a majestic 161.
Looking at the Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen odds, he is value at 6/5 to have the highest checkout.
Michael van Gerwen odds
Mighty Mike has had a frustrating wait for his fourth PDC Darts World Championship title but has looked in a determined mood this time.
The Dutchman has averaged over 100 in every round and been simply ruthless at the business end of the tournament.
Chris Dobey managed to win just three legs in a 5-0 quarter-final thrashing and Dimitri Van den Bergh picked up only four when demolished 6-0 in the semis.
After averaging 108.28 against the Belgian, Van Gerwen dismissed Smith’s hopes of gaining revenge for the 2019 clash.
“He is not going to stop me, no one is going to stop me,” MVG declared. “I feel too good for that, I feel comfortable and I am playing some good darts.”
Looking back on the rout of Van den Bergh, he added: “It feels phenomenal. To play the game I played tonight, it feels phenomenal.
“I gave it everything and I am playing out of my skin at the moment. It costs so much energy but I’m able to do it, that’s the most important thing. It feels phenomenal.”
There hasn’t been a nine-dart finish in this year’s competition so far, but punters can get 10/1 for that to change in the final.
It is 11/4 for there to be a 170 checkout in the decider, while Smith is 5/11 favourite to fire in the most 180s.
For those who want a fast pay-out, how about a bet on the first dart? A single 20 is 4/6 favourite here, with a treble 20 quoted at 13/8 and any other score 7/1.
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