Darts PDC World Championship

The PDC World Championship gets underway Friday night as Adrian Lewis seeks to make it three titles in a row with Phil Taylor the 2/1 (general) favourite as he seeks his 16th World Championship.

The draw has been kind to Taylor as he has a decent opening couple of matches with a first round tie against Mickey Mansell to be followed with an encounter against either Wayne Jones or Jerry Hendriks. The main dangers to Taylor in his quarter are likely to come from Andy Hamilton, Robert Thornton, Terry Jenkins and Paul Nicholson. Hamilton was runner-up here last year and is a fine player on his day however he does not have a good record against Taylor winning just one previously. Thornton is just too inconsistent to side with (at one point this year he followed up his win in the UK Open with a 10-0 first round loss in the World Matchplay)and Jenkins and Nicholson also struggle against the Power. Taylor should win his quarter and he is 4/7 (paddy Power/Coral/william hill) to do so.

Next in the betting is Michael Van Gerwen at 5/1 (sportingbet/Blue Sq/888 Sport) which will appeal to many on the undoubted form player. No doubt the Dutchman is a class act who has made the big time breakthrough this season. I have two issues with him though. Firstly his price has gone right down in the last month or so to a point where I think all the value has gone. Secondly he must face Adrian Lewis in the last eight and no matter what Lewis has done on the Tour this year (very little) he must respected in an event that he has won the last two times. It is 12/1 (general) that Lewis wins this event again this year to complete the hat-trick.

Simon Whitlock at 16/1 (boylesports) is the headline selection. The Australian has picked up a number of titles towards the end of the year including his first major when winning the European Championships. You could not ask for a more consistent player to put your money on and in a year when many are struggling with their game solid might just be enough to lift the title. Whitlock was a finalist here in 2010 and made the last four in 2012. The draw has also been kind as the other players in his quarter are the out of sorts Gary Anderson, Raymond Van Barneveld and Dave Chisnall (who has done his best work in events that tend not to be shown live on television).

As we are taking Whitlock to come out of that quarter we can ignore Anderson and Van Barneveld at 18/1 (general). James Wade is a 20/1 (general) chance though he is horribly out of form and does not have the best record in this tournament. Dave Chisnall is a 33/1 (sportingbet/paddy Power) chance and his talent will get him some backers I remain to be convinced about his work in the majors though and can not be having him. Another who has had his supporters is Wes Newton at 33/1 (Stan James/BWin/ladbrokes). Newton though does not have it easy as he faces Kim Huybrechts in round two and Justin Pipe in round three.

Pipe is our second selection at 66/1 (boylesports) as he should be able to see off Andy Jenkins in his opener and then faces either Mark Walsh or Darren Webster. Round three is where it gets tough as he faces the winner of Huybrechts or Newton. Pipe though has won the last two against Newton and has a 2-2 head to head record with Huybrechts. At double the price of those two and knowing that he is likely to be in the third round he should be taken. In addition if you are taking Pipe be sure to take the 7/1 (BetVictor) on him to win his quarter.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Simon Whitlock EW for the Tournament, 16/1 (Boylesports)
SILVER: Justin Pipe to win the fourth quarter, 7/1 (BetVictor)
BRONZE: Justin Pipe EW for the Tournament, 66/1 (Boylesports)

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07/01/2013     © Frixo 2024