The summer darts showpiece that is the World Matchplay gets underway at the Winters Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday evening as 32 of the best darts throwers on the planet head to the iconic venue looking for a life changing week.
Phil Taylor won the title last year but he has swapped the oche for the TV studio this week so Michael van Gerwen begins the tournament as the overwhelming favourite to land another major title.
Recent Winners
2017 – Phil Taylor
2016 – Michael van Gerwen
2015 – Michael van Gerwen
2014 – Phil Taylor
2013 – Phil Taylor
2012 – Phil Taylor
2011 – Phil Taylor
2010 – Phil Taylor
2009 – Phil Taylor
2008 – Phil Taylor
The Format
This tournament is straight leg player over long distances. The first round is the best of 19 legs which increases to the best of 21 legs for the second round. The quarter finals go up to the best of 31 legs with the two semi-finals over the best of 33. The champion will be crowned in the final over the best of 35 legs.
If each match is level with one leg to play the match must be won by two clear legs. If it goes six legs beyond the scheduled distance that leg will be a sudden death decider (25th leg in the first round, 27th in the second round etc etc). The tournament is a straight knockout with the draw having already been pre-determined.
Top Quarter
Michael van Gerwen is the number one seed this week and he is in the top quarter of the draw. He is expected to come through but Michael Smith had a good week in Shanghai last week and is full of confidence. Adrian Lewis is another seed in this section and he is coming back into good form with the other seed in the quarter being Dave Chisnall. There is no easing his way through for MVG this week.
The four qualifiers in this part of the draw are decent enough as well. Jeffrey de Zwaan has impressed on TV before while James Wilson is a former BDO number one. Keegan Brown has already shown on the big stage that he can beat anyone while Jonny Clayton is one of the most improved players in the game in the last 6-9 months.
Second Quarter
This section is headed by the former world champion Gary Anderson but the Scot doesn’t have a good record in this tournament having never been past the semi-final in it. Another man who has a poor record in Blackpool is Raymond Barneveld and he’s also in this section. The other seeds in this part of the draw are Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney so this is another tough part of it.
What makes it really tough is the level of qualifier on show in it. Stephen Bunting is a former world champion who is full of quality while Kyle Anderson might well be a world champion in waiting. Steve West and Joe Cullen are having decent seasons as well so this is a tough quarter.
Third Quarter
The beaten finalist Peter Wright is the main man in the third part of the draw. He will be looking to go one better this week but doesn’t look in anything like the form he was in 12 months ago. James Wade had a good run in Vegas recently to tune him up nicely for this tournament. He’s seeded in this section. Kim Huybrechts and Simon Whitlock make up one of the weaker sets of seeds.
Jermaine Wattimena has qualified for the Blackpool stage for the first time and is a qualifier in this part of the draw, as is Richard North who will also make his debut here. John Henderson has shown his class on the big stage numerous times and will look to come through this part of the draw while Jelle Klaasen can beat anyone when he is on it.
Bottom Quarter
It is the world champion Rob Cross who headlines the bottom section of the draw. This will be his second appearance at Blackpool and he’ll be targeting the world double having won the world title. Mensur Suljovic could well give him a huge challenge in this quarter while Ian White and Darren Webster will be out to showcase their worth on the big stage.
Mervyn King has been in decent form over the last few weeks and he rates as a dangerous contender in this part of the draw while Steve Lennon, Steve Beaton and Max Hopp have all shown excellent form on the pro tour and the European Tour this season and deserve their places in the draw as qualifiers.
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Outright Betting
There is only one player I can back in this draw this week. When you look at the top half it could be a bunch of finals from the last 16 onwards, that’s without mentioned two or three blockbuster first round games in that part of the draw. With Michael van Gerwen in that half of the draw as well it is clear as day we should look down towards the bottom of the draw.
Peter Wright and Rob Cross might be the leading two players in it from the world rankings but you wouldn’t be able to say either have been consistent over the last six months or so. Mensur Suljovic is a big danger but he has a woeful record against his first round opponent so I can’t back him until he comes through there which leaves James Wade. Wade loves Blackpool and is one of very few men to have won this title since the turn of the century. We saw in Vegas when he took care of van Gerwen that he’s in good touch at the minute and with a draw which is almost sure to open up he looks standout value at 28/1.
Quarter Betting
The bottom quarter looks far too wide open for me not to have a little go at this week. Rob Cross sets a decent standard but we’ve seen recently he is not unbeatable and you can bet anything you want that Mervyn King will be out to give him a good game in the first round. Mensur Suljovic has a rubbish record against Steve Beaton so this draw could easily open up for Ian White.
Admittedly White has to come through his own bogey man in Max Hopp but the German may not be as strong as he would want to be over this distance. If White can come past the youngster it might be that he doesn’t face another seed in the section, or one that is ranked higher than him anyway. Were that to be the case he’s a massive price at 15/2 here but even if he does have to play someone good we saw a couple of years ago when he made the quarters here that he can still come through. He’s my pick in this section.
Tips
Back J.Wade to win World Matchplay (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 29.00 with William Hill (1/3 1-2)
Back him here:
Back I.White to win 4th Quarter for a 2/10 stake at 8.50 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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