If you're following along with our PDC Home Tour Darts coverage, you know what our basic strategy is for the early part of this tournament. Given the unfamiliar environment and format for this tournament– the players are at home and competing via video conference — it seems unwise to back big favorites.
After four nights of play, only one favorite — Dave Chisnall (-134) — advanced to Round 2. Peter Wright (-225), Gerwyn Price (-175) and Ross Smith (+150) were all eliminated.
That brings us to Group 5. But first, a quick refresher on the tournament format and rules:
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PDC Home Tour Darts Tournament Rules and Format
- If you're unfamiliar with the rules of darts, click here.
- The tournament will feature 32 groups of four players who will play a round robin to determine a group winner.
- One group plays per day, for 32 days in a row. Yes, 32 days in a row.
- All group-stage matches are best-of-9 legs and two points will be awarded for a win. If there is a tie at the top of standings, the first tiebreaker will be leg difference.
- After the 32-day group stage, the winners will advance to the second phase of the competition. I'm assuming that means a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament. But, the PDC website didn't go any further than that.
- The action will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) each night and stream on PDC.tv. It will be shown for free, although I am not 100% certain it will be available for users in the United States, let's hope for the best.
- The first eight groups have been announced, along with the order of play, though the PDC has yet to confirm the remaining competitors.
PDC Home Tour Night 5 Betting Picks, Preview
The schedule features six games, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. PDC is streaming the event for free, but there have been some technical difficulties, so keep an eye on their Twitter with how to watch.
Additionally, you can track the action on bet365, which is honestly an exhilarating way to watch a bet lose in soul-crushing fashion.
Let's take a look at Group 5:
Group 5 Odds
Tuesday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- No. 34 Luke Humphries (+115)
- No. 56 Devon Petersen (+200)
- No. 109 Nick Kenny (+450)
- No. 72 Joe Murnan (+700)
- Luke Humphries (-220) v Nick Kenny (+175)
- Devon Petersen (-230) v Joe Murnan (+170)
- Nick Kenny (-125) v Joe Murnan (-106)
- Luke Humphries (-150) v Devon Petersen (+115)
- Devon Petersen (-190) v Nick Kenny (+145)
- Joe Murnan (+180) v Luke Humphries (-240)
Odds as of Sunday evening and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.
If more people watched darts, chances are Devon Petersen would be a star. Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Petersen brings energy and charisma to a sport that embraces colorful characters. Although he's not one of the elite players in the world — Petersen has been bouncing between 50th and 60th in the PDC for the past five years — "The African Warrior" is right up there among the game's most beloved figures. The crowd loves him and he loves them right back.
Petersen may be the most eccentric figure in Group 5, but he isn't the betting favorite. That honor belongs to "Cool Hand" Luke Humphries, the PDC's 34th-ranked player. Not only did Humphries win the 2019 World Youth Championship, but he's tasted success in the big leagues with a pair of trips to the quarterfinals at the past two World Championships.
I bet on Humphries as a -150 favorite against Petersen in the former's Round 1 victory at the Worlds this past December, but I don't fancy him at those same odds in a shorter, more volatile match in unfamiliar conditions. Humphries can put up big numbers, but his price is just too short in this group.
I also won't be looking to bet Petersen, though he did play in a "test-run" match for the PDC last week. He may be more familiar with these conditions than his adversaries, but I don't know how Petersen will thrive without the crowd cutting a rug with him.
I'm not too keen on betting either of these players at all in this group and will instead try to beat the two favorites with Nick Kenny.
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Kenny, a 27-year-old Welshman who earned his PDC Tour Card earlier this year, sports a 91.04 average in 42 matches. That isn't too far off from Petersen, who leads the group with a 94.6 average, and Humphries, who sits at 94.1 over the past 12 months.
It's tempting to give Joe Murnan a shot at his price, and I wouldn't call anybody crazy for backing him, but I'd rather take a chance on Kenny in his two matches against the favorites. I think Kenny will take this event seriously, using it as a chance to make a name on the PDC, and he has the chops to get hot and make a run through this group.
Once again, this is more about price than anything else. A 9-leg darts match is already ripe for chaos and when you add in the fact that this is the first event of its kind, it's even more of a recipe for variance.
The listed odds imply that Kenny has a 34.6% chance to beat Humphries and a 38.4% chance to beat Petersen. I'd say both of those numbers sell his chances short in a 9-leg darts match being played over WiFi.
PDC Home Tour Night 5 Betting Picks
- Nick Kenny (+175) over Luke Humphries
- Nick Kenny (+145) over Devon Petersen
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PDC Home Tour Betting Record: 3-12, -3.95 units
PDC Home Tour Odds and Schedule
Group 6 Fixtures
Wednesday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- No. 8 James Wade (+125)
- No. 42 Ryan Searle (+180)
- No. 68 Andy Boulton (+450)
- Adrian Gray (+600)
James Wade v Adrian Gray
Ryan Searle v Andy Boulton
Adrian Gray v Andy Boulton
James Wade v Ryan Searle
Ryan Searle v Adrian Gray
Andy Boulton v James Wade
Group 7 Fixtures
Thursday, April 23
- No. 38 Gabriel Clemens (+130)
- No. 48 Jelle Klaasen (+200)
- No. 117 Ryan Meikle (+350)
- No. 74 Gavin Carlin (+650)
Gabriel Clemens v Ryan Meikle
Jelle Klaasen v Gavin Carlin
Ryan Meikle v Gavin Carlin
Gabriel Clemens v Jelle Klaasen
Jelle Klaasen v Ryan Meikle
Gavin Carlin v Gabriel Clemens
Group 8 Fixtures
Friday, April 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- No. 15 Johnny Clayton (+130)
- No. 115 Adam Hunt (+275)
- No. 87 David Pallett (+350)
- No. 55 Richard North (+400)
Jonny Clayton v Adam Hunt
Richard North v David Pallett
Adam Hunt v David Pallett
Jonny Clayton v Richard North
Richard North v Adam Hunt
David Pallett v Jonny Clayton
