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 27 taking place? Wednesday 13th 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
STEVE BEATON
2020 PDC HOME TOUR
Previous results
(82.68) Steve Beaton 5-1 Callan Rydz (71.63)
(88.13) Steve Beaton 1-5 Matthew Edgar (92.37)
(88.37) Carl Wilkinson 5-2 Steve Beaton (87.88)
Stats
Average – 86.11
180s – 3
H2H
vs Ross Smith
W3, L2
Last meeting: Steve Beaton 6-2 Ross Smith (Apr 2019 – Players Championship)
vs Ron Meulenkamp
W1, L2
Last meeting: Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Steve Beaton (June 2019 – Euro Tour)
vs Scott Waites
W0, L1
Last meeting: Scott Waites 16-9 Steve Beaton (Nov 2010 – Grand Slam of Darts)
PROSPECTS
Steve Beaton is the highest ranked player in this group and there can be no doubting his quality, but if he is to top the section, he will have to show an improvement on his performance when he participated in Group 13 and won only one of his three matches.
ROSS SMITH
2020 PDC HOME TOUR
Previous results
(99.67) Ross Smith 5-1 Lisa Ashton (86.63)
(87.33) Ross Smith 3-5 Mickey Mansell (86.91)
(95.13) Geert Nentjes 5-3 Ross Smith (86.23)
Stats
Average – 90.15
180s – 4
H2H
vs Steve Beaton
W2, L3
Last meeting: Steve Beaton 6-2 Ross Smith (Apr 2019 – Players Championship)
vs Ron Meulenkamp
W1, L2
Last meeting: Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Ross Smith (Mar 2019 – Players Championship)
vs Scott Waites
W1, L2
Last meeting: Ross Smith 6-1 Scott Waites (Feb 2020 – Players Championship)
PROSPECTS
Ross Smith returns to PDC Home Tour action having featured in Group 4. On that previous occasion he started the night with an average of just under 100 in defeating Lisa Ashton but then proceeded to lose against Mickey Mansell and Geert Nentjes. Smith has a losing head-to-head record against the three other players in this group but not with any significance that impacts his chances of success.
RON MEULENKAMP
2020 PDC HOME TOUR
Previous results
(93.60) Ron Meulenkamp 5-4 Kai Fan Leung (91.23)
(97.09) Chris Dobey 5-1 Ron Meulenkamp (89.35)
(100.93) Ron Meulenkamp 5-1 Ciaran Teehan (88.07)
Stats
Average – 94.54
180s – 8
H2H
vs Steve Beaton
W2, L1
Last meeting: Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Steve Beaton (June 2019 – Euro Tour)
vs Ross Smith
W2, L1
Last meeting: Ron Meulenkamp 6-4 Ross Smith (Mar 2019 – Players Championship)
vs Scott Waites
W0, L3
Last meeting: Scott Waites 4-2 Ron Meulenkamp (Oct 2012 – (BDO) Top of Ghent)
PROSPECTS
Ron Meulenkamp played well when he featured in Group 14. The Dutchman lost to Chris Dobey but won both of his other matches and he finished the evening with a tournament average of 94.54. He has to be under serious consideration when looking at the options of who will top the table.
SCOTT WAITES
2020 PDC HOME TOUR
Previous results
(102.76) Dave Chisnall 5-2 Scott Waites (95.91)
(96.84) Scott Waites 5-1 Jonathan Worsley (83.56)
(77.16) Jan Dekker 1-5 Scott Waites (87.06)
Stats
Average – 93.13
180s – 3
H2H
vs Steve Beaton
W1, L0
Last meeting: Scott Waites 16-9 Steve Beaton (Nov 2010 – Grand Slam of Darts)
vs Ross Smith
W2, L1
Last meeting: Ross Smith 6-1 Scott Waites (Feb 2020 – Players Championship)
vs Ron Meulenkamp
W3, L0
Last meeting: Scott Waites 4-2 Ron Meulenkamp (Oct 2012 – (BDO) Top of Ghent)
PROSPECT
Scott Waites is the lowest ranked player in this group but only due to the fact he only switched to the PDC earlier this year. The Yorkshireman was perhaps unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a very good performance from Dave Chisnall in his opening game in Group 3, but despite that setback he won his next two matches 5-1 and will be aiming to continue that kind of form in this group.
THREE PICKS FROM 3 DART ANALYST
Ron Meulenkamp to beat Steve Beaton
Meulenkamp has won two out of his three previous matches against Beaton and his level of performance earlier in the PDC Home Tour suggests he is good value to come out on top in this encounter.
Over 7.5 legs – Scott Waites vs Ron Meulenkamp
This could well be the crucial fixture in deciding who tops the group and I think it has the potential to be a close contest that might go the distance. Rather than go for over 8.5 legs though, it could be worth playing safer and opting for over 7.5.
Scott Waites to win the group
It’s a competitive looking group and picking a winner is not easy. As mentioned above, I think Waites and Meulenkamp are worth looking at when considering an outright bet, and I’ve opted to pick Waites to prevail.
