Unibet PDC Home Tour – Group 16 Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
What is the Unibet PDC Home Tour? With the PDC Tour currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the PDC have devised the tournament to supply some darting action to players and fans, with all matches are being streamed live from the homes of the players who are involved.
Who is taking part in the Unibet PDC Home Tour? All 128 PDC Tour Card holders were invited to take part, though there are some absences, the most notable being Michael van Gerwen due to the birth of his second child earlier this month, whilst Gary Anderson and Daryl Gurney are both missing due to internet connection problems.
What is the format of the Unibet PDC Home Tour? Each night, four players compete in a round-robin format with matches played over the best-of-nine legs, with the 32 group winners qualifying for the second stage of the event.
When is the Unibet PDC Home Tour Group 16 taking place? Saturday 2nd May, 2020 – 19:30 start (UK)
Where can I watch the Unibet PDC Home Tour? All PDC Home Tour action will be broadcast live on PDCTV for FREE to ALL registered PDCTV users, regardless of whether you have a paid or free membership.
THE PLAYERS
RICKY EVANS
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Last 16 x2
Last 32 x2
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 93.79
180s – 46 (0.27 per leg)
H2H
vs Christian Bunse
N/A
vs Jeff Smith
N/A
vs Martin Atkins
N/A
PROSPECTS
Rapid Ricky Evans is one of the fastest throwers in the sport, but he is not just a speedster. He has been improving his consistency over the last couple of years and is now in the top 32 in the Order of Merit. Evans was in good form prior to the disruption of the tour and starts as the bookies' favourite to top the group.
CHRISTIAN BUNSE
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Last 16 x2
Last 64 x1
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 89.53
180s – 14 (0.10 per leg)
H2H
vs Ricky Evans
N/A
vs Jeff Smith
N/A
vs Martin Atkins
W0, L1
Last meeting: Martin Atkins 6-2 Christian Bunse (Mar 2020 – UK Open)
PROSPECTS
Germany’s Christian Bunse has been playing regularly on the tour since earning his card in 2019. He reached the last 16 in a couple of tournaments in the early part of 2020 and also claimed the very notable scalp of Michael van Gerwen in one of those events.
JEFF SMITH
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Final x1
Last 16 x1
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 94.56
180s – 23 (0.13 per leg)
H2H
vs Ricky Evans
N/A
vs Christian Bunse
N/A
vs Martin Atkins
N/A
PROSPECTS
Former BDO World Championship finalist Jeff Smith returned to the PDC circuit this year and made it through to the final in the very first ranking tournament of the season, having defeated Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall along the way. Smith has the highest tour average in 2020 of the four players in this group and will surely be in contention for the qualifying berth.
MARTIN ATKINS (WIGAN)
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Last 32 x1
Last 64 x1
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 86.81
180s – 8 (0.15 per leg)
H2H
vs Ricky Evans
N/A
vs Christian Bunse
W1, L0
Last meeting: Martin Atkins 6-2 Christian Bunse (Mar 2020 – UK Open)
vs Jeff Smith
N/A
PROSPECTS
Martin Atkins has won a tournament on the PDC Challenge Tour previously, but his performances on the main circuit have not been particularly good and he is the outsider with the bookmakers to win the group.
THREE PICKS FROM 3 DART ANALYST
Ricky Evans to win and score the most 180s vs Martin Atkins
Ricky Evans should be too good for Martin Atkins in the opening match of the evening and it could be worth siding with him to have the most 180s in the contest too.
Jeff Smith -1.5 handicap vs Martin Atkins
Jeff Smith is a very competent performer who should be confident in his game after a good start to the season on the PDC circuit, and the Canadian is capable of covering the -1.5 handicap against Atkins.
Ricky Evans to score the most 180s vs Jeff Smith
Evans has a much superior 180 hitting ratio than Smith on the PDC circuit and he looks good value to outscore his Canadian opponent in the final match of the night.
