Unibet PDC Home Tour – Group 25 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 25 taking place? Monday 11th 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
KEEGAN BROWN
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Quarter-finals x1
Last 32 x3
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 93.81
180s – 38 (0.21 per leg)
H2H
vs Jose de Sousa
N/A
vs Robert Thornton
W7, L4
Last meeting: Keegan Brown 6-5 Robert Thornton (Sept 2019 – Players Championship)
vs Reece Robinson
W3, L4
Last meeting: Reece Robinson 6-5 Keegan Brown (May 2019 – Euro Tour qualifier)
PROSPECTS
NHS worker Keegan Brown returns to the PDC Home Tour having been forced to pull out of Group 12 after one match due to his internet connection failing – an issue that has now been resolved. He lost to Conan Whitehead on that previous occasion and will be hoping for an improved performance both on the oche and with his internet connection!
JOSE DE SOUSA
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Last 16 x1
Last 64 x5
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 95.75
180s – 45 (0.33 per leg)
H2H
vs Keegan Brown
N/A
vs Robert Thornton
W1, L0
Last meeting: Jose de Sousa 6-4 Robert Thornton (Feb 2020 – Players Championship)
vs Reece Robinson
W1, L2
Last meeting: Jose de Sousa 6-4 Reece Robinson (Feb 2020 – Players Championship)
PROSPECTS
Portugal’s Jose de Sousa showed his calibre when he won two ranking titles in 2019. Although he didn’t have a particularly noteworthy start to 2020 on the circuit, his performances were not poor and he has the highest average out of the four players who are contesting this group.
ROBERT THORNTON
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Last 64 x3
Last 96 x1
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 88.90
180s – 22 (0.24 per leg)
H2H
vs Keegan Brown
W4, L7
Last meeting: Keegan Brown 6-5 Robert Thornton (Sept 2019 – Players Championship)
vs Jose de Sousa
W0, L1
Last meeting: Jose de Sousa 6-4 Robert Thornton (Feb 2020 – Players Championship)
vs Reece Robinson
W2, L0
Last meeting: Robert Thornton 6-3 Reece Robinson (Apr 2013 – UK Open qualifier)
PROSPECTS
Robert Thornton is a vastly experienced, successful player who has won major titles and competed in the Premier League. Although the Scotsman is not as formidable as he was a few years ago, there is of course a chance he could roll back the years and qualify from this section.
REECE ROBINSON
2020/21 SEASON SO FAR
Best Results in PDC Ranking Tournaments
Last 64 x1
Last 128 x8
Stats in PDC Players Championship tournaments
Average – 89.30
180s – 20 (0.23 per leg)
H2H
vs Keegan Brown
W4, L3
Last meeting: Reece Robinson 6-5 Keegan Brown (May 2019 – Euro Tour qualifier)
vs Jose de Sousa
W2, L1
Last meeting: Jose de Sousa 6-4 Reece Robinson (Feb 2020 – Players Championship)
vs Robert Thornton
W0, L2
Last meeting: Robert Thornton 6-3 Reece Robinson (Apr 2013 – UK Open qualifier)
PROSPECTS
Reece Robinson regained a place back on the PDC circuit at the start of 2019 by coming through successfully at Q School. The best results in his career came when he played on the youth circuit but he hasn’t yet managed to fulfil the potential he showed back then.
THREE PICKS FROM 3 DART ANALYST
Keegan Brown to beat Robert Thornton 5-4
The last three meetings between Brown and Thornton have gone the distance with Brown claiming victory on each occasion, and a similar outcome is not out of the question in this encounter.
Jose de Sousa to win the group
De Sousa has shown enough times over the last year or so that he is a very consistent player who has plenty of quality. He is worth considering for sure when looking at the outright group winner market.
Jose de Sousa to win vs Keegan Brown
If De Sousa is going to win the group, he will most likely have to defeat Keegan Brown and I’m siding with the Portuguese star to just have the edge.
