Darts European Championships Preview

Some times betting can be complicated, some times it can be simple, this is one of the latter occassions. Anytime you can get Phil Taylor at better than evens in a tournament that is based on the shorter leg format of the game then it has to be taken. The 6/5 BWin and william hill are offering on the Power to land this trophy must be grabbed as soon as possible. Let us showcase the reasons why: A: Taylor is a multiple winner of this event: In the four previous runnings of the European Darts Championship only one previous winner has emerged, that winner is Phil Taylor. It is clear that this event suits him and it would be a mistake not to take heed of this.

B: Taylor loves the format of the event: Six of the last eight majors played with a short leg format have been won by the Power. Though the longer format of the game seems to be proving tougher for him (perhaps as age catches up with him) he appears to still be a master of these events.

C: The draw has been kind: This is one of the tournaments when we can work out the route of each player all the way to the final. Taylor should have no problem seeing off Magnus Caris in the opening round. After the Swede he will face one of Jerry Hendriks or Mensur Suljiovic in round two. Wes Newton, Andy Hamilton and Mark Webster look the trickiest of his future opponents in what is quite clearly the easiest side of the draw.

So who will face Taylor in the final? The answer is likely to come from one of the three usual suspects Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Simon Whitlock. It is Lewis who Taylor beat in the 2011 final of this event and he is 10/1 (general) for success here. Lewis has not been at the top of his game recently and it might be worth seeing how he is shaping up in the early rounds before getting him on side. Wade is the third favourite at 11/1 (general) though he is another one out of form. The Englishman though should have no problems seeing off Colin Lloyd in the opening round. Simon Whitlock is a 16/1 (general) chance and after a recent win in Barnsley that might appeal to some. The Australian does not have an easy draw though as first round opponent Mark Walsh is no mug and this would then be followed by potential matches with Dave Chisnall, James Wade and Adrian Lewis. A mammoth route to the final.

Bookmakers have already priced up the markets on the first round matches and I like the look of one match bet, I am taking Vincent van der Voort to beat Kim Huybrechts. The Dutchman is some 18 places higher than the Belgian in the PDC Order of Merit yet bookmakers have him as the outsider of the two. At best this contest should be evens the pair yet it is 20/11 (pinnacle) that Vincent van der Voort wins here.

The other bet to take is to side with Michael Van Gerwen in the most 180s market in his match with Andy Smith. The Dutchman is 5/4 (BlueSq/188 Sport) to come out on top and the explosive player hit a nine darter in the World Matchplay Championship. If he is on his game he is capable of hitting more 180s than Andy Smith who is a solid but unspectacular player.

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20/09/2012     © Frixo 2026