2019-20 PDC World Darts Championship – Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness taking place? Friday 13th December, 2019 – evening
Where is Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness taking place? Alexandra Palace, London
What channel is Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness on? Sky Sports Darts
Where can I stream Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for Jelle Klaasen vs Kevin Burness? https://www.pdc.tv/william-hill-world-darts-championship-tickets
What was the outcome in the last meeting? Jelle Klaasen beat Kevin Burness 6-0
THE PLAYERS
JELLE KLAASEN
- Jelle Klaasen has over a decade of World Championship experience and won the BDO title on his tournament debut in 2006. Since he switched to the PDC in 2007, his best showing at a World Championship came when he reached the semi-finals four years ago – a run which included a victory against Phil Taylor.
- Twice a former Premier League player, Klaasen’s career has taken a downward turn in the last couple of years with his ranking slipping from inside the top ten right down to his current placing of 48 in the PDC Order of Merit.
- Such has been Klaasen’s poor form, he has lost each of his last nine matches in PDC televised major ranking tournaments with no matches won on the big stage in just over two years.
KEVIN BURNESS
- Kevin Burness made his World Championship debut last year when he defeated Paul Nicholson 3-0 in the opening round before losing 3-1 to two-time PDC world champion Gary Anderson in the second round.
- He pushed Anderson hard in that second-round defeat and was averaging 98 going into the third set with the match tied. From that point though, Anderson managed to pull away and win the match by claiming six legs in a row to see off the tough challenge posed by Burness.
- Burness earned his spot at the 2019-20 World Championship by claiming one of the three places available at the PDPA Tour Card Holder Qualifier. He had an average of at least 95 in each of his five matches he needed to win to qualify.
THE PREDICTION
Klaasen has been struggling to stop a slide down the rankings in the last couple of years and is far from the player who was selected to play in the Premier League in 2017. The Dutchman will surely be feeling the pressure as he tries to win his first TV match in over two years. Burness competed very well on his World Championship debut last year and although he has had a poor year in terms of results, if he can carry his level of performance in the qualifying tournament at the end of November into this match, he is capable of defeating the former BDO world champion.
