The countdown to Christmas is on and that can mean only one thing – that the PDC World Championship is about to begin! The 2017 tournament begins at Alexandra Palace on the 15th December and as is now tradition runs right through Christmas and into the New Year ahead of the next world champion being crowned on 2nd January.
Anyone who is anyone in the game of darts is in this tournament and with the draw coming out the way it has we are set for two weeks of exceptional arrers.
Recent Winners
2016 – Gary Anderson
2015 – Gary Anderson
2014 – Michael van Gerwen
2013 – Phil Taylor
2012 – Adrian Lewis
2011 – Adrian Lewis
2010 – Phil Taylor
2009 – Phil Taylor
2008 – John Part
2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
The Favourites
Michael van Gerwen heads into the tournament as the odds on favourite to win a second world title but we’ve been here before and he hasn’t delivered the goods. He wasn’t as short to win last year but many had given him the title before the off, just like they are doing this year, only for him to run into Raymond Barneveld in the last 16. His draw is better this year but the pressure is much stronger.
Gary Anderson is looking to do something only Phil Taylor has done in the past and win this title for a third successive time. I firmly believe Anderson’s strength is in set play and he goes into the tournament with a very strong chance but I’m not convinced his game is in the shape it would need to be to win this and the ongoing issues with his eyes restrict the appeal.
If anyone knows how to win this title it is Phil Taylor. He goes in search of an amazing 17th title this year but if he is going to win this thing again he is going to have to run the gauntlet on what is a very tough draw. He has started talking about retirement though so don’t be surprised if he musters up one last hurrah before calling a close on his career.
Peter Wright is plenty short enough in the betting given that he is yet to win a TV major but he is a former finalist in this tournament and is certainly playing well enough to win the event. He is in arguably the weakest quarter too which should help but to make any kind of money on him you would need him to win the event. That might just be beyond him.
Contenders
Adrian Lewis is a two time winner of this tournament and nearly won a third title 12 months ago. There are lots of issues in his game at present but the one thing nobody can dispute is that he knows how to peak for this event. He’s in that rotten second quarter though so as well as he goes here this year might be beyond him.
Raymond Barneveld amazingly hasn’t won the world title for 10 years and given that he’s in the second quarter as well it would take a brave man to see him winning this year. That said he’s another who peaks on the big stage and with set play very much being his kettle of fish writing him off could be silly but he has it very tough in terms of the draw.
James Wade has a poor record in this tournament for someone of his undoubted quality. He has won many major tournaments but he hasn’t even reached the final of this one which would be a concern for those thinking of backing him. The obvious concern is a lack of scoring power against the elite but he has made a career of overcoming that. He has every chance if you can ignore his previous record here.
Dave Chisnall is a scoring dream but he seems to run into someone at the wrong time which denies him a shot at glory. Set play isn’t really his thing because missed doubles are more costly in this format but there is no doubt he has the talent to come through and do some damage. I expect him to run into someone on a good night though and that could be the end of him.
Outsiders
Mensur Suljovic has had a dream end to 2016 and he will be looking to show he can perform on the biggest stage of them all. He goes into the tournament as the eighth seed which isn’t a good position to be in as he would run into Michael van Gerwen as early as the quarter final and that is a big problem.
Jelle Klaasen was a semi-finalist last year and he arrives in London looking to complete the World Championship double having tasted Lakeside glory a full 11 years ago now. When he is on it he can beat anyone as Phil Taylor saw when the Cobra dumped him out in the last 16 last year. Consistency is an issue though.
Michael Smith was a Premier League player at the beginning of the year but he is a broken man at the end of it. He definitely has the talent to compete with anyone in the game but the form book is certainly not on his side so a leap of faith is needed in backing him outright.
The same can be said for Robert Thornton. At his best he is a TV major winner. At his worst he’s pretty bad and it has been the latter we’ve seen far too much of this year. If he has his best game with him he could scare a few but being in van Gerwen’s quarter won’t help him.
Betting
I’ll say it. I don’t think Michael van Gerwen will win the tournament. I know it isn’t the normal and popular view but I just think the format levels everything out in that if he has a night where he misses doubles, as we saw him do recently in the Players Championship semi-final against Darren Webster, or someone has an inspired 15 minute purple patch anything can happen.
On paper he has a quarter he should come through but he’s guaranteed a game in the semi-final if he gets that far and he’s likely to have another in the final should he go that far. Some of the best players ever to play the game oppose the Dutchman in this tournament and at odds against I have to have the field on my side.
I’m going to take a value punt in the competition too and that is on Jelle Klaasen who I think could work his way through the draw and with most of the big names in the top half there is a chance the Dutchman can make the final at the very least.
We saw Klaasen in good nick in Minehead recently when he lost to Chisnall in the deciding leg of an absolute epic but his spurts in form are well suited to this format and if he can gain revenge on Chisnall for that defeat should they meet in the last 16 the longer formats could bring out a nice rhythm and he’s a tough customer to contain when he’s throwing well.
I’ve scoured the bottom half of the draw in detail and while I wouldn’t put anyone off Peter Wright his price just isn’t for me so I’ll take a chance that Klaasen can catch fire in the New Year and challenge strongly for a second world title.
Tips
Back MVG vs The Field – The Field for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
Back it here:
Back J.Klaasen to win PDC World Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 67.00 with Boylesports (1/3 1-2)
Back him here:
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Nice preview Kev. I like the call on Klaasen. Last year he caught a tartar in Anderson in the semi’s. I remember the previous year when he had Gary Anderson firmly on the ropes and 3-1 down in the second round and blew it. The Scot went on to the title and Klaasen went out. I believe he would have went a long way in 2015 as his game was on fire. I remember at 1-3 Anderson looking at Klassen who was celebrating like he had won. I think Jelle Klaasen’s premature victory dance drew Anderson’s “A” game from the depths and set him alight. Anderson was clearly ready for him last year…6 zip.
I think Jelle Klaasen will benefit from that experience and when he’s on it he is a match for anyone. His only problem is that he is a very slow thrower!!!!!. GL with your call Kev
Do you play the game?
Regards JR
Cheers mate.
Anderson and Klaasen have certainly had some battles on this stage and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they meet in the QF this year. Anderson is under plenty of pressure though. I’ve always thought set play suits Klaasen better as you have to accept he will have form dips but in set play if timed correctly they aren’t as costly as they are in match play.
I don’t play much anymore. I used to play a lot as a kid and made it to county level as a youth but then life kicked in and took over!