Van Gerwen strong favourite to win 11th tournament of year in UK Open Darts

The King is Dead long live the King. Phil Taylor step aside as Michael Van Gerwen is now the best Darts player on the planet. The Dutchman made it ten PDC tournament victories in 2013 with victory in the Austrian Open at the weekend (including five in a row) and he looks the man to beat this weekend as the players line up for the UK Open in Bolton.

Bookmakers have Van Gerwen as the 15/8 (william hill) favourite and it would take a brave or foolish man to take him on. As stated before Van Gerwen has won five events in a row and is now 24 games unbeaten. In addition no player won more than three legs off him in the Austrian Open. True the format of the UK Open (which has been dubbed the FA Cup of Darts) lends itself to shocks with short legs in the early rounds and the open draw format. That being said when Taylor dominated the game you never would have been able to back him at such a big price and this is the level of domination that the Dutchman has shown in the last few months. Take the price while you can as he should be odds on.

The most likely competition will come from Phil Taylor who is a 7/2 (GENERAL) chance and was a beaten finalist in 2011 and won this event four times previously (2010,2009,2005,2003). It is not that Taylor is playing bad at the moment just that Van Gerwen has raised his game and I can not see the Englishman being able to see off the Dutchman. Also Taylor is only ranked 44th and will have to start in the First Round.

Others expected to go well are Raymond Van Barneveld at 13/1 (YOU WIN). Barney is playing some of the best stuff of his career though still seems to have that mental block when faced with Taylor. The Dutchman is the second most successful player of this event and will be one to watch. The other usual suspets will likely be in the mix with Simon Whitlock 16/1 (SKYBET/sportingbet), James Wade 20/1 (TOTESPORT/betfred), defending champion Robert Thornton 25/1 (GENERAL), Adrian Lewis 25/1 (GENERAL) and Gary Anderson 25/1 (GENERAL) all capable of winning this on their day. As are Kim Hubreychts and Dave Chisnall both of whom are 33/1 (GENERAL) while Wes Newton will aim to bounce back from a poor Premier League campaign at 40/1 (GENERAL).

The cup nature of the tournament means that a kind draw could see a player progress without having to beat anyone of note so consider some each-way players at bigger prices. I think Mervyn King looks value at 50/1 (GENERAL) after playing well to reach the Austrian Open final at the weekend, the second final he has reached in the last few months. True King had no answer for Van Gerwen but then who has at the moment. Mervyn has the game to raise it with the best and the shorter format will suit him as stamina is often a worry with him. Also worth a little interest is Steve Beaton at 250/1 (sportingbet) as he is another who made the top 32 players and does not have to play in the first few rounds of the event. The Bronzed Adonis pushed King all the way in the semi-finals of the Austrain Open at the weekend and has reached the last four here before.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Michael Van Gerwen to win the UK Open, 15/8 (william hill)
SILVER: Mervyn King EW to win the UK Open, 50/1 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Steve Beaton EW to win the UK Open, 250/1 (sportingbet)

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03/06/2013     © Frixo 2026