Jaymes Monte / 21 May 2010 Free Bet View Market

"The [1.7] on Taylor to hit the most 180’s looks like a gift. In the last three weeks of the Premier League, he has scored 10 maximums compared to King’s three."

Three of last year's semi-finalists make up the final four in this year's Premier League of Darts and although there have been plenty of ups and downs along the way, the best quartet have made it to finals day.

Phil Taylor just for being his irrepressible self throughout, Mervyn King because of his early season form, and both James Wade and Simon Whitlock for the way that they have played in the second half of the season.

We should note that the draw is no longer a runner, the semi-finals will be the best of 15 legs and the final decided by the first to reach 10 legs. There will also be no tie-break, if the scores reach 7-7 in the semis or 9-9 in the final then the winner of the match will be decided by the next leg.

King and Taylor face each other in the semi-finals in a repeat of last year's fixture when The King ran out as the 10-6 victor. However, King won just one of his last six Premier League group games and is throwing like a player desperately out of form. Taylor likes to avenge his past blemishes at the earliest opportunity and I don't foresee anything other than a win for The Power.

At [1.1] in the match odds there is little to get excited about over backing Taylor. However, the [1.7] on him to hit the most 180's looks like a gift. In the last three weeks of the Premier League Taylor has scored 10 maximums compared to King's three.

The match that most will be looking forward to is Wade against Whitlock in a repeat of this year's epic World Championship quarter-final match-up. Whitlock won that match with a superb 105.37 average and five 100+ checkouts including a brilliant 170. There were a staggering 24 180's hit in that match, 15 of them from The Wizard, and it has gone down as one of the greatest matches ever played at Alexandra Palace.

There has been little to separate them in this tournament so far with each player winning one of the head-to-heads by 8-4 and just two points dividing them in the final league table. Whitlock looks to be returning to form at just the right time and is the justifiable favourite. But at [2.42] I feel that the defending champion is being underestimated and could prove to be a shrewd back to lay option.

Whoever wins that match will have it all to do if they are to beat Taylor in the final. Although I hope I am wrong, I cannot see anything other than the Power regaining his Premier League crown.

Recommended Bets;
Taylor to hit more 180's than King @ [1.7]
Wade to beat Whitlock @ [2.42] (back to lay)