The FA Cup of Darts is back on our screens this weekend as the pick of the darting superstars descend on Butlins in Minehead once again to do battle in the Coral UK Open. A decent prize pool and a spot in the Grand Slam of Darts are available for the elite while for the many pub qualifiers a shot at a big boy is the dream in what is always an entertaining three darts of arrers.
Recent Winners
2016 – Michael van Gerwen
2015 – Michael van Gerwen
2014 – Adrian Lewis
2013 – Phil Taylor
2012 – Robert Thornton
2011 – James Wade
2010 – Phil Taylor
2009 – Phil Taylor
2008 – James Wade
2007 – Raymond Barneveld
The Format
In the first two rounds pub qualifiers meet the lower ranked qualifiers over the best of 11 legs for the right to make it into the third round where the big guns come in. The third through to the semis the best of 19 legs before the title will be decided over semi-finals and a final over the best of 21 legs.
At the end of the second round there is a random draw and each round thereafter also contains a random draw so anyone can face anyone much like in the football FA Cup equivalent.
Market Leaders
There is a lot of uncertainty around the involvement of Michael van Gerwen this weekend after he missed the Premier League on Thursday night so most bookmakers have priced up the tournament without him.
Gary Anderson is therefore left as the 7/2 favourite to win the tournament. He hasn’t got the greatest record in the event but there is little doubt he is the second best player in the world so he would be the player to beat in MVGs absence.
Peter Wright has shown exceptional form over the last month or so and he is a worthy 5/1 second favourite. The man who lost to van Gerwen in each of the last two years has a TV tournament in him for sure and with the Dutchman potential absent or hampered this could be Wright’s week.
Adrian Lewis and Raymond Barneveld have both shown good form and are previous winners of this tournament who both have the pedigree to go all the way. They are 14/1 to win the tournament with it being 16/1 bar those four.
Main Bet
In the potential absence of Michael van Gerwen and the definite one of Phil Taylor there is an open door for someone this weekend. Adrian Lewis could well be the man to come through and take advantage. He looks in good form at the minute. Since the turn of the year Lewis has made the semi-final of The Masters, the final of a UK Open qualifier, the semi-final of another and nailed a nine dart finish. He has also drawn with van Gerwen in the Premier League.
That is decent form regardless of who you are and with him coming in at the third round stage he won’t need to worry about any best of 11 matches. I’m expecting a good week from the former champion here.
Outsiders
This is always a tournament to throw a few darts at if you would forgive the pun. We’ve seen many surprise finalists in this tournament in the past from Shayne Burgess to Barrie Bates as well as Gary Mawson and Mark Walsh so it can pay to hit the big prices.
Alan Norris falls into the outsider category but only just. He is in great form himself. He won the opening Players Championship tournament last weekend and they take some winning at the best of times. Prior to that win last week Norris had already made a semi-final and a quarter final in the UK Open qualifiers. He won a European Tour event last year so he can win at this level and the last time he was in Minehead he hit a nine dart finish so everything is set for a big week for him here.
Chris Dobey has already begun to make an impression on the PDC Tour and I expect that to continue in 2017. He is definitely capable of winning at this level and if the draw stays kind for long enough this weekend it could be here. Dobey has already made a TV quarter final and the next step isn’t far away. I’ll chance him here.
Darren Webster will have good memories of Minehead. The last time he was here he was quite amazing and took off into a 6-0 lead in the semi-final of the Players Championship Finals against Michael van Gerwen. Ultimately he couldn’t hang on but he won’t be facing the Green Machine this weekend. Since then he’s looked good at the World Championship and hit a nine dart finish. I’m expecting a good run from him here.
The last time Cristo Reyes was on our screens he was giving Michael van Gerwen the mother of all scares in the World Championship. The Spaniard has been in good form this season with a couple of quarter finals and a last 16 on the tour and generally whenever we see him on TV he brings his best game with him. The long format should suit him lovely and I fancy we’ll see him in the very latter stages.
Tips
Back A.Lewis to win UK Open w/o MVG (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 15.00 with Bet365 (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
Back A.Norris to win UK Open w/o MVG (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Ladbrokes (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
Back C.Dobey to win UK Open w/o MVG (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Coral (1/2 1-2)
Back C.Reyes to win UK Open w/o MVG (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Coral (1/2 1-2)
Back them here:
Back D.Webster to win UK Open w/o MVG (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Boylesports (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
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