Use a machine or raw power, the cream will rise to the top in Blackpool

The Power v The Hammer

Two completely contrasting quarter-finals for these two, but there are plenty of ways to skin various felines in the Professional Darts Corporation and both these men now have equally well peeled moggies as they find themselves in the final four.

But it won’t be a foul-mouthed former Spurs chairmen whittling down this final four, but the deadly arrows of the gladiators on the oche, and I’m afraid there’s only one man that’s going to come out on top in this fight; the pugilist from the Potteries.

Phil Taylor has looked somewhere near his very, very best so far this week in his second home by the Seaside and I shouldn’t think that he is about to take mercy on his latest foe tonight.

Hamilton has impressed in ways that I for one didn’t think he was capable of and by my maths even a defeat here will put him up to eleventh in the order of merit, which he will be delighted with. 

However, as far as this tournament goes I would say he has met his match and if P”TP”P can average three figures again, which I expect he will, then it’ll be curtains for the hammer.

Priestley's Pick: Taylor 17 - 10 Hamilton

Jackpot v The Machine 

My tip for glory in Blackpool has lived up to his mechanical moniker this week by ruthlessly dispatching every challenger that has dared to stand in his way, be it the fairly tame challenge of Jabba on night one or the stern inquisition of Barney just last night.

What he must face tonight though is the mercurial brilliance of the champion of the world who has ranged from purple patches to barren spells and everywhere in between so far this week, often within the same match.

What Jackpot won’t be able to do against the UK Open champ is languish in one of these troughs for any length of time at all or else he will find himself furlongs behind before the first fence and with no way back into the race.

I think  Adie will have upped his game tonight but it seems that James always saves something special for when he faces the world number two, and I’m not about to back down on my tip for the trophy yet, Wade to win.


Priestlley's Pick: Lewis 19-21 Wade
Message from The Menace: Bet on Lewis v Wade to go past the distance either way