Will Kleermaker cause the next surprise in the Ally Pally?
Last year Martijn Kleermaker missed the World Championship in the “Ally Pally”, but this time the Dutchman is represented in the darts mecca. In the first round Kleermaker won against John Michael and mastered the compulsory task to start the tournament. Wednesday evening “The Dutch Giant” will have his first test of maturity on the agenda.
In the second round of the 2022 World Darts Championship the 30-year-old will meet Simon Whitlock. The Australian takes part for the 19th time in a World Championship and has in terms of experience a clear advantage over Martijn Kleermaker who debuts in this PDC World Championship 2022.
Simon Whitlock as seeded player still had a walk-through in the first round. The World Championship 2022 started for the Australian with the match against Martijn Kleermaker, where the best betting companies even rate “The Wizard” as favourite. Surprisingly so, because Kleermaker made a promising start to the World Cup.
After all, the Dutchman had an average of 91.17 with a total of four 180s against John Michael. If that continues, a surprise against Simon Whitlock cannot be ruled out. Especially as Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock has long since passed his zenith. Accordingly, in the match Whitlock vs. Kleermaker the forecast seems to make sense with attractive odds on a victory of the Dutchman.
Simon Whitlock – Statistics & current form
If Simon Whitlock has a good day, “The Wizard” has the potential to keep up with the elite of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). However, in recent years there has been a clear downward trend for the Australian darts legend, particularly in the PDC’s major tournaments and World Championships.
Since the World Championship 2014, where Whitlock was eliminated in the semi-finals by Peter Wright, the now 52-year-old had to quit five times in the last seven attempts in the first or second round of a World Darts Championship. Only in the last two World Championship appearances Whitlock was on the redemption course and at least prevented an early super-GAU.
After the fourth round exit in the World Championship 2020 last year a knockout in the third round of the World Darts Championship 2021 followed. Against Krzysztof Ratajski the Australian had no chance in the best of seven and had to say goodbye with a 0:4 from the World Championship 2021. This year, the “oldie” may now face the next setback.
Daily form decisive for Whitlock
Before the World Championship in the “Ally Pally” Simon Whitlock took part in the Players Championship 30 and also in the Players Championship Finals. While in the PC 30 he reached the last 16 Whitlock had to withdraw from the PC Finals already at the beginning of the tournament.
The Australian lost his first match against Ryan Searle who in the further course of the PC Finals even fought his way into the final. Against Searle Whitlock only had an average of 87,05 in the best-of-11. Over eleven legs Whitlock didn’t throw a single 180 and had only a meagre double rate of 25%.
Nevertheless Whitlock won five legs against Searle and in the deciding leg even had the chance to reach the last 16. Looking back at recent performances, it’s more than risky to bet on the Australian in Whitlock vs Kleermaker on Wednesday night. Especially as Whitlock has only won five of his last 15 matches.
Last matches of Simon Whitlock:
World Darts Championship
12/22 2021 – Simon Whitlock 1 – 3 Martijn Kleermaker
Players Championship Finals
11/26 2021 – Ryan Searle 6 – 5 Simon Whitlock
Players Championship 30
11/04 2021 – Simon Whitlock 2 – 6 Krzysztof Ratajski
11/04 2021 – Simon Whitlock 6 – 5 Raymond van Barneveld
11/04 2021 – Karel Sedlacek 5 – 6 Simon Whitlock
Martijn Kleermaker – Statistics & current form
Martijn Kleermaker makes his debut in the current PDC World Championship at the “Ally Pally”. Last year the 30 year old Dutchman had already won the right to start in the 2021 World Championship but after a positive test Kleermaker had to cancel his participation at short notice. But “The Dutch Giant” was represented on the PDC Tour during the year.
Though on the tour the big success didn’t come, nevertheless the Dutchman at least gained the necessary experience to start at the World Championship in the “Ally Pally”. So in this calendar year he already had a surprise coup against Gerwyn Price, the highest ranked player of the PDC.
During the Players Championship 22 Kleermaker kicked the tournament favourite out of the competition with 6:2 in a best-of-11. Surprisingly in the following round he lost a close match against Woodhouse and the 30 year old lost any momentum from the surprise win before
Will Kleermaker move on to the next round?
Since the loss to Woodhouse, Kleermaker has flown largely under the radar. The Dutchman’s tournament opener at the 2022 World Championships was therefore all the more commendable, as he celebrated an unchallenged victory over John Michael in which the 30-year-old was brimming with confidence.
Over four sets, the Dutch giant had an average of 91.17, a double rate of 30.3% and a total of four 180s. It is therefore more than surprising that Kleermaker is classed as an underdog after his recent performance against the in-form Whitlock at London’s Ally Pally.
Betting fans who want to make a prediction on the supposed underdog in Whitlock vs. Kleermaker can currently pick up odds of up to 2.50 in the event of success. Bets on this have real value.
Last games of Martijn Kleermaker:
World Darts Championship
12/22 2021 – Simon Whitlock 1 – 3 Martijn Kleermaker
12/19 2021 – Martijn Kleermaker 3 – 1 John Michael
Players Championship Finals
11/26 2021 – Scott Mitchell 6 – 5 Martijn Kleermaker
Players Championship 30
11/04 2021 – Martijn Kleermaker 5 – 6 Matthew Edgar
Players Championship 29
11/03 2021 – Daryl Gurney 6 – 3 Martijn Kleermaker
Simon Whitlock – Martijn Kleermaker Tip
That Martijn Kleermaker is not a flash in the pan, the 30-year-old Dutchman has already proven several times this calendar year. After all, there was not only a surprise coup against Gerwyn Price. Kleermaker could defy many other top players of the PDC over the year.
Against elite players like Wright, Anderson & Co. there were only narrow defeats in the Players Championships. So the Dutchman has the potential to master the second round of the World Championship 2022 against Simon Whitlock. Especially as the Australian “oldie” was not in the best shape in the last months.
To make matters worse, Simon Whitlock has been eliminated in the first or second round in five of his last seven World Championship appearances. We don’t rule out a super-GAU for “The Wizard” this year either and therefore dare to bet on an underdog coup for the Dutchman at odds of 2.50 on Whitlock vs. We are betting six units for this.
