PDC Home Tour Darts – Last 32, Group One: Live Stream, Predictions & Odds

• World champion Peter Wright seeks a Last 8 semi-final group stage place
• Cristo Reyes and Jelle Klaasen provide betting value as they bid to upset the world No2
• Edinburgh’s Ryan Murray may have to settle for the experience
  

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The second stage of the PDC Home Tour brings a slightly longer format with games now played over the best of 11 legs, rather than the first to five in the previous round. That should suit the higher-ranked players, giving them a chance to rectify a poor start in matches.

After a short break, the tournament reconvenes with Peter Wright headlining on Tuesday as he takes on Cristo Reyes, Jelle Klaasen, and Ryan Murray who all impressed in winning their respective groups.

Group One Odds

Odds taken on May 25 from bet365 NJ.

Current world champion and world No. 2, Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright is the bookies favorite to win the PDC Home Tour title. The Scot is the highest-ranked man in the field, in the absence of Michael van Gerwen, and became the 32nd man to qualify for the second stage on the final night of the first round groups.

Wright served up a lackluster shift on the first evening of the competition as Jamie Lewis beat him 5-1 to take top spot. The flamboyant player won his other two matches to confirm second place, a result that gave him a last chance saloon opportunity on 18 May. Wright progressed, despite losing his final game of the evening 5-4 to Justin Pipe.

The nature of this tournament is alien to the highest-ranked players far more used to big stages and crowds. Playing from the comfort of their own homes has given lower ranked participants a less pressurised environment. Wright thrives on the supercharged atmospheres big tournaments bring and he faces a mental challenge of getting his competitive juices flowing in his Suffolk home.

Wright has enjoyed a stellar start to 2020 with his first world title in January and a win at the Masters in February. He will take some stopping.

“I’m still in the competition,” roared a relieved Wright after booking his place in the second stage on night 32. “I’m the world champion and I think I’ll win it. You’ve seen nothing yet.”

The Competitors

Wright will have to be on his game as three other players take to their living room oches with every intention of silencing him. With the second stage drawn as per PDC rankings, Wright faces two tough opponents in Spaniard Cristo Reyes and Dutchman Jelle Klaasen. Fellow Scot Ryan Murray is the outsider of the four. Klaasen, nickname ‘Cobra’, will be hoping ‘Snakebite’ Wright is lacking some teeth.

Reyes is the world ranked 46 and the 16th highest-ranked player left in the draw. He won his group on night 29 and averaged 94.96 in beating John Henderson 5-4, Ryan Meikle 5-4 and Danny Noppert 5-2. Reyes has played Wright 10 times and only won once.

World 48th ranked Klaasen crept through on leg difference after beating Ryan Meikle 5-3, Gabriel Clemons 5-4, and losing 5-4 to Ryan Meikle on night 7. The 2006 BDO world champion has played Wright 17 times and won four times and trails Reyes 4-1 in their five meetings.

Murray is the lowest-ranked player left in the field and will have been delighted to win his group on night 20. The world No. 135 lost his opening game to Joe Cullen before hitting back to beat John Michael and Jermaine Wattimena. Murray has never played any of his three Group 1 opponents and will have to average far more than his first-round 89.61 if he is to repeat his previous heroics.

With Peter Wright a short price to claim the group win that should be in his grasp, it’s wise to seek betting value elsewhere.

The second match of the evening could become a battle for the second spot, but that doesn’t mean there is no betting value in the match-up between Cristo Reyes and Jelle Klaasen. It is a tantalizing encounter between two very useful players.

The pair have met five times previously with Reyes winning on four occasions, yet the Spaniard is priced as the outsider for this match.  Reyes has taken the last two matches between the pair and is worth backing for this one.

Klaasen averaged 90.43 when topping Group 7 on leg difference after losing one match. Reyes won all three of his matches as he took Group 29 with a 94.96 average.

There is little between the pair form-wise if you can give anyone a form rating during a pandemic-enforced absence from competitive action. Only two places separate the pair in the world rankings, with the Spaniard the highest of the two. On that basis, the betting value rests with Reyes to beat Klaasen.

Our Pick

Cristo Reyes (+115) to beat Jelle Klaasen – based on a superior world ranking, a dominant head-to-head record and a better first-round performance there is no reason Reyes should be the outsider for this second match on Tuesday evening.