Duell der Ex-Weltmeister an Tag 2!
Is Thursday the first major highlight of this year’s World Darts Championship? The last match of the day has in any case the potential to become a real cracker. After already before the Alexandra Palace will be heated up by the German youngster Fabian Schmutzler and the first lady this year with Lisa Ashton, in the fourth match of the Evening Session Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis will meet.
This is the duel fans in London have been hoping for and the two former champions have faced each other twice before in a World Championship final. After 2011 and 2016, this time it comes down to an early Round 2 clash with the Scot favoured in the British duel.
Between Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis the odds for a win by the “Flying Scotsman” are at 1.60 at the top, while the stake can be just over doubled with bets on “Jackpot”. The match does not start before 23:00 German time.
Gary Anderson – Statistics & current form
How good is Gary Anderson this year? The two-time World Champion has been said to be letting his career gradually coast along for a number of years. Indeed, the results kept dropping and the 50 year old is by far not as consistent on the PDC Tour as he used to be. However, the truth is that on a good day the world number six can still defeat any opponent at the oche.
Anderson again in top form in time?
Much depends on the Flying Scotsman’s motivation, which should certainly be there on the biggest stage in the world. It was no coincidence that he was able to reach the final last year when almost no one had him on their radar before the tournament began. Also at the end of 2021 Anderson could visibly improve and showed some good performances at the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals.
With an average of 104 points he defeated Raymond van Barneveld and in the close defeat against Michael von Gerwen he had a three-digit average as well. Anderson often adapts to his opponents and the fast throwing rhythm of Adrian Lewis should suit the Scot.
Fast rhythm suits the Scot
While he is certainly not considered one of the all-time favourites, the Flying Scotsman should be on the list of co-favourites. In his opening match he is rightly favoured and between Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis it can be predicted that the number 6 of the world will prevail – at least if he can keep up the level he showed last time
Last matches of Gary Anderson:
World Darts Championship
12/16 2021 – Gary Anderson 3 – 1 Adrian Lewis
Players Championship Finals
11/27 2021 – Michael van Gerwen 10 – 6 Gary Anderson
11/27 2021 – Ryan Meikle 2 – 6 Gary Anderson
11/26 2021 – Stephen Bunting 5 – 6 Gary Anderson
Grand Slam of Darts Final Stage
11/18 2021 – Michael van Gerwen 10 – 8 Gary Anderson
Adrian Lewis – Statistics & Current Form
It’s been a decade since Adrian Lewis was crowned back-to-back World Champion and seemed to herald a new era in English darts after Phil Taylor. But the golden days are long gone for Jackpot and the 36-year-old is struggling to catch up with the world’s best.
In search of world champion form
In the ranking of the PDC Lewis dropped to 34th place and 2021 was not a very successful year either. A final defeat in a Players Championship event against Dimitri Van den Bergh almost stands out as a highlight. The married family man was eliminated in round 1 of the World Championship last year. He was able to jump over this hurdle once before.
The duel with Canadian Matt Campbell was a real test of endurance. The tough North American acted on a par and had to admit defeat with very similar statistics only narrowly with 1:3. Five 180s, a double rate of almost 40% and an average of 94.4 points are very solid numbers.
Increase needed after Campbell match
But they will need to step it up in their next match against the world number 6 if Jackpot is to pull off his first big surprise of the year. Even though two former champions are facing each other, the form of the last few weeks speaks for itself. In the pairing Gary Anderson vs. Adrian Lewis a tip can only be made in the direction of the Flying Scotsman
Last matches of Adrian Lewis:
World Darts Championship
12/16 2021 – Gary Anderson 3 – 1 Adrian Lewis
12/15 2021 – Adrian Lewis 3 – 1 Matt Campbell
Players Championship Finals
11/27 2021 – Peter Wright 6 – 5 Adrian Lewis
11/26 2021 – Adrian Lewis 6 – 3 Kim Huybrechts
Players Championship 30
11/04 2021 – Jonny Clayton 6 – 1 Adrian Lewis
Gary Anderson – Adrian Lewis Direct comparison / H2H record
When it comes to picking the best odds between two top players like Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis, you obviously have to take a look at the direct comparison. A whole 50 duels can be found in the history books between the two players, of which Anderson won 30 and Lewis 20.
Of particular relevance, of course, are the most recent encounters, of which only one took place in 2021. At the Masters earlier this year, Lewis won 10-8 as an underdog. The two biggest duels, of course, were in the finals of the 2011 and 2016 World Championships. It’s 1-1 on stage at the Ally Pally, and after more than five years, it’s back to a major clash in London.
Gary Anderson – Adrian Lewis Tip
The favourite position of the Flying Scotsman in the odds comparison is absolutely understandable and could be even clearer. Not only the world ranking position is clearly better for the 50-year-old, but above all the form of the last few weeks.
While Jackpot just can’t find his A-game anymore, Anderson is getting back into shape in time for the big highlight of the year. After reaching the final last year, the world number 6 can be expected to do well again this time around and if he can build on the form he has shown in recent tournaments, there is nothing standing in the way of a first win on Thursday
Lewis produced a solid performance against Matt Campbell on Wednesday but it won’t be enough for an underdog win a day later. In the match Gary Anderson vs. Adrian Lewis a bet on the odds of the favourite is recommended in every way. Besides the pure match outcome, a bet on the handicap (-1.5 sets) can also be placed. More than one run is almost not to be trusted to Jackpot, which is why a stake of six units is placed on this value bet.
