The bottom half of any major darts tournament always seems to be more competitive than the other one, often because the spectre of Michael van Gerwen isn’t on the horizon until the final so there is plenty of opportunity for players to make hay. That is the case in the PDC World Darts Championship this year too.
Rob Cross is the man who heads up the third quarter but as with all the others we have a very strong 24-man market to get stuck into and with some good names on show and a competitive draw, there is plenty of value doing the rounds.
Draw
(2) Rob Cross v Kim Huybrechts/Geert Nentjes
(31) Danny Noppert v Steve Lennon/Callan Rydz
(15) Joe Cullen v James Wilson/Nico Kurz
(18) Jermaine Wattimena v Luke Humphries/Devon Petersen
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(7) Peter Wright v Rowby-John Rodriguez/Noel Malicdem
(26) Keegan Brown v Mickey Mansell/Seigo Asada
(10) Dave Chisnall v Vincent van der Voort/Keane Barry
(23) Jeffrey de Zwaan v Raymond van Barneveld/Darin Young
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Preview
If we start with the red section, even though it is the green one which will have the media attention in the early stages, then we see Rob Cross having a favourable looking draw, which might well mean that his biggest obstacle in coming through that is himself. I say that because he is defending £400,000 from his world ranking and an early loss would be significant. Without any results he effectively drops to third in the world but can drop much lower. Kim Huybrechts, Danny Noppert and Joe Cullen can all be dangerous in this open section should anything happen to Cross.
It is the green section which looks the tougher of the two though. Peter Wright is a former finalist in this tournament and is surely good enough to win it one day. Dave Chisnall is a former world finalist in the BDO and he too is good enough for a big run here. Jeffrey de Zwaan is seen as the future but it is the soon to be past that is the focus here with this tournament being the last in the career of Raymond van Barneveld. Seigo Asada could be a sleeper.
Betting
Although the names of Dave Chisnall, Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld all appeal, the fact they are in the same half of this quarter makes me think we’ve got to be looking at the 12 men in what I’ve made the red section here, especially as it is wide open were something to happen to Cross early doors, and anyone is vulnerable over the best of five sets to near enough anyone, especially someone who has already played a match, as we saw last year.
In truth there aren’t many in the red section who are offering much form so if we are seeking value we are going to need to take a leap of faith that the top form comes out. 40/1 on Kim Huybrechts tempts me, as does the 100/1 on James Wilson but I’ll settle for the 25/1 on Danny Noppert, a man who at least made a televised final just last month and who went very well at the Lakeside a couple of years ago so we know he ticks the set play box. Someone is going to make the quarter final at a big price if it isn’t Cross. I’ll back it to be the Dutchman.
Tips
Back D.Noppert to win 3rd Quarter for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with William Hill
Back him here:
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