Basement Boys Playing for Pride

Mark Webster takes on James Wade and Terry Jenkins is up against Raymond van Barneveld in week 11 of the Premier League darts from Birmingham this Thursday.

Despite recording the highest three-dart average of the tournament in week four when he beat Adrian Lewis 8-2, Webster has recorded just two wins in his debut season and currently props up the Premier League table. His chances of qualifying for the semi-finals hang by a thread and the Welshman will need to win each of his remaining four matches to stand any chance of progressing.

That quest begins with a tough fixture this Thursday against a resurgent James Wade. After a disappointing start to the campaign Wade has won his last two fixtures to move within two points of the top four and looks to have rediscovered some of the form that saw him rise to number two in the world towards the back end of last season.

The bookmakers have Wade as the 8/11 favourite to continue his sequence of victories with another win here. Webster is 5/2 to restore some pride with a win and it is 4/1 that we see a 7-7 draw.

Premier League veteran Terry ‘The Bull’ Jenkins also finds himself with little more than pride to play for as he has just one more point than bottom-of-the-table Webster.

Jenkins defeated van Barneveld 8-6 on the opening night of the Premier League battling back from 6-4 down to take maximum points. But Barney has gone from strength to strength since then and looks primed for a place in the semi-finals should he continue his recent level of form.

This time around the bookmakers have the Dutchman as the strong betting favourite at odds of 8/13. Jenkins is 11/4 to complete the double over Barney and odds of 9/2 can be backed on the match ending level.

Although the players toward the bottom of the table have little to play for every match is now a big one for those aiming for a top four finish.