Will Anderson fail again against MvG?

The last time Michael van Gerwen won the Grand Slam of Darts of the PDC four years ago, since then the Dutchman failed three times in a row in the knockout phase. This year it’s the next attempt for “Mighty Mike” to win the big trophy

After a commanding group stage in which Michael van Gerwen recorded three wins in three group matches, the Dutchman faces his first acid test in the last 16. The world number three of the PDC will meet Gary Anderson – for the fourth time this year

As expected Michael van Gerwen is the favourite against Gary Anderson. For a bet on the Dutchman odds in the range of 1.30 are offered. For those who like to take risks, there are attractive odds on van Gerwen vs Anderson in the event of a Scottish win.

Five months ago the two star players of the PDC met in the Players Championship 14. At that time Michael van Gerwen created a clear balance of power in the Best-of-13 and got a clear win with an advantage of five legs – a good omen before the upcoming last 16?

Michael van Gerwen – Statistics & current form

Compared to a Gerwyn Price who currently tops the PDC rankings and has already won a Major event this year, Michael van Gerwen has largely flown under the radar so far. During the European Championship 2021 the Dutchman fought his way into the final but was defeated by a strong Rob Cross.

Since then almost a month has passed and Michael van Gerwen still remains difficult to assess. Before the ongoing Grand Slam of Darts 2021 “Mighty Mike”, currently ranked third in the PDC, got a total of 29 wins in his last 36 matches.

Among others there were surprising defeats against players like Searle, van Duijvenbode and Cullen. The latter defeated Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals of the Players Championship 30 before the start of the Grand Slam of Darts 2021 group stage. However, “MvG” seems to have recovered from that defeat.

Will the strong form from the group stage continue?

In three group matches van Gerwen got three wins. In total the Dutchman conceded only three legs in this period and deservedly won the group. As already in the PC30 Michael van Gerwen met Joe Cullen in the Grand Slam. This time “MvG” won 5:2 against the Englishman with a great average of 115.19.

In his last appearance against John Henderson, however, there was no power show. Nevertheless a win of “Mighty Mike” was not threatened at any time after the weak performance of Henderson – only an average of 86.83 over nine legs.

Against Gary Anderson the first hard test of the current Grand Slam is on the agenda. Encouraging is the current series against the world number six from Scotland. Michael van Gerwen didn’t lose any of the last five matches against Gary Anderson. The last time the two players met in a Grand Slam it was a 10:2 win for “MvG”.

If the Dutchman prevails again against his Scottish opponent in the last 16, odds of 1.33 are paid out for a tip on “Mighty Mike” in van Gerwen vs Anderson

Last matches of Michael van Gerwen:

Grand Slam of Darts Group G
11/16 2021 – Michael van Gerwen 5 – 1 John Henderson

11/14 2021 – Michael van Gerwen 5 – 2 Joe Cullen

11/13 2021 – Michael van Gerwen 5 – 0 Lisa Ashton

Players Championship 30
11/04 2021 – Michael van Gerwen 4 – 7 Joe Cullen

11/04 2021 – Matthew Edgar 3 – 6 Michael van Gerwen

Gary Anderson – Statistics & current form

Gary Anderson already conceded one defeat in the Grand Slam of Darts 2021. Nevertheless, “The Flying Scotsman” managed to master the group phase. Especially the last group match against Raymond van Barneveld was decisive.

Against the Dutchman, who is currently ranked 79th in the PDC after his long break, Gary Anderson won 5:2. After a weak start Anderson got better into the match and with three 180s and an average of 103.88 he got the well deserved win over “Barney”.

To master the last 16 against Michael van Gerwen the world number six from Scotland will have to improve a lot. After his recent performances against Michael Smith and van Barneveld it is not at all surprising that Anderson is rated as an underdog against van Gerwen for tips and experts.

Is van Gerwen a fearful opponent for Anderson?

Looking at the recent record between the PDC’s two star players, it’s more than bold to place a prediction on the Scottish underdog in the last 16 of the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts when it comes to van Gerwen vs Anderson.

Since November 2018, when Gary Anderson last eliminated van Gerwen from the Grand Slam of Darts, the 50-year-old Scot has won just one of his last 13 matches with “Mighty Mike”.

That the “Flying Scotsman” nevertheless is not to be underestimated already showed his participation in the final of the World Darts Championship 2021. Only against the strong in form Gerwyn Price Gary Anderson failed in the final of the prestigious PDC tournament.

Last matches of Gary Anderson:

Grand Slam of Darts Group H
11/16 2021 – Gary Anderson 5 – 2 Raymond van Barneveld

11/14 2021 – Gary Anderson 2 – 5 Michael Smith

11/13 2021 – Gary Anderson 5 – 1 Joe Davis

Players Championship 30
11/04 2021 – Callan Rydz 6 – 2 Gary Anderson

11/04 2021 – Jamie Hughes 4 – 6 Gary Anderson

Michael van Gerwen – Gary Anderson Direct comparison / H2H record

This is the 38th time these two players have met. Michael van Gerwen currently leads the direct comparison against Gary Anderson with a record of 24-3-10. In this calendar year “Mighty Mike” and the “Flying Scotsman” already met three times. Two of the three matches van Gerwen won, one match in the Premier League ended with a draw.

In their last meeting five months ago Michael van Gerwen defeated Gary Anderson 7:2. In a Grand Slam of Darts the two players already met twice in their career. Three years ago Anderson won against van Gerwen. In the last GS meeting a year ago “Mighty Mike” celebrated an unchallenged victory.

Michael van Gerwen – Gary Anderson Tip

Michael van Gerwen has underlined his 2021 Grand Slam of Darts title ambitions after a strong group stage. The Dutchman has won three of his three Grand Slam matches so far, conceding just three legs in the process. The Round of 16 will be a test of recent form, with Gary Anderson coming in handy as the first acid test.

“The Flying Scotsman played a mixed group stage and only got his ticket to the last 16 on the last day against a rusty Raymond van Barneveld. As van Gerwen was one of Anderson’s fearful opponents in the last years we tend to rule out a surprise in the last 16 of the GS of Darts 2021.

As in the group phase against Ashton, Cullen and Henderson we expect a power performance from Michael van Gerwen against Gary Anderson. In the Best-of-19, odds in the region of 1.80 are already being offered for a win by “Mighty Mike” with at least three legs to spare.

However, we opt for bets on “Michael van Gerwen scores more 180s than Gary Anderson” when the two players meet. Already in the group stage “MvG” threw more 180s – two times in a row at last four 180s – than Gary Anderson who remained harmless for the most part.

For van Gerwen vs Anderson, betting odds of up to 2.50 are offered. We are using a total of six units for this bet.