Darts PDC World Championship 19th Dec

A while ago I tweeted that Justin Pipe might be best served giving Louie Spence a call to get some advice on darts. My theory was that no man loves a camera like Spence while no man seemed to go to pieces under the camera like Pipe.This year though (and thankfully without the help of Spence) Pipe has started to find a way to repeat his talent in the bigger events. He made the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. It seems that the large stage and bright lights are no longer an issue. His opponent Andy Jenkins is at the other end of his career and this will be his first televised tournament since 2010 (also in this event). Jenkins was a 2007 semi-finalist here though since then has slid down the rankings. In my outright piece I already stated my views that Pipe is great value in the each-way market and I can not see him losing here. Pipe is 4/6 (boylesports) to cover the handicap mark of -1.5 and this looks the way to play it as this will pay out on a 3-1 or a 3-0 Pipe win which are the two most likely scores.

Haruki Muramatsu and Dave Harrington meet in the battle of the qualifiers and it is Muramatsu who is expected to go through here. Bookmakers have him as a 4/6 (ladbrokes) chance while Harrington is 6/4 (Skybet/boylesports/Coral). The winner of this game will go on to face Simon Whitlock later in the evening.

The third game of the evening has something of a retro feel to it as Ronnie Baxter takes on Dennis Priestley. 51-year-old Baxter is the 8/13 (ladbrokes) favourite to see off 62-year-old Priestley who is a 6/4 (general) chance. Baxter leads the head-to-head record seven to four and has won three of the last four. Priestley though did win the last time these two met in November in the Players Championship and has been in decent form at the back end of the season. I think this could be a close encounter between two players of similar talents and could see this one going all five sets. The best bet though on this game is Priestley in the handicap market. The Menace, as Pristley is known, is given +1.5 sets and can be taken at 8/11 (boylesports). This mean that if he can avoid losing 3-1 or 3-0 to Baxter then this bet is a winner and I like the chances at those prices.

Colin Lloyd and Darin Young do battle in the First Round for the second year in a row and it was Lloyd who emerged victorious last year winning the battle between these two 3-1. Bookmakers expect Lloyd to come through again here and he is 1/2(Boylesports) for victory while Young is 7/4 (general). I would expect Jaws to avance though the odds do little to excite me. Those looking at the correct score markets should consider a 3-0, 3-1 cover.

The final game of the evening pitches the winner of the earlier qualifying match between Haruki Muramatsu and Dave Harrington up against Simon Whitlock. Whitlock is my ouright prediction for the title as he has had a good year and is the most consistent of the players on the tour. Bookmakers are yet to offer prices on the correct score market though be sure to look when they do as Whitlock should coast to a 3-0 victory here.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Whitlock to beat Muramatsu/Harrington 3-0 at best available price
SILVER: Priestley +1.5 on handicap v Baxter, 8/11 (Boylesports)
BRONZE: Pipe -1.5 on handicap v A Jenkins, 4/6 (Boylesports)

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07/01/2013     © Frixo 2024