The opening night of the World Grand Prix is the time when the big names in the game are most nervous as they look to book their spot in the second round of the tournament.
There are some big names on the card at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on Sunday night and the brutal nature of the draw this year ensures some of them will exit the tournament at the earliest opportunity.
With matches in the opening round being the best of three sets and each leg requiring a double to start as well as to finish nobody will be comfortable until they cross the finish line.
The first session of play sees no fewer than six world champions in action and plenty more Premier League players as the stars come out to play on Sunday.
The headline matches on the first night are the ones between Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall as well as Adrian Lewis vs Raymond Barneveld while Mark Webster and Stephen Bunting battle in a matchup of former Lakeside champions.
The night begins with Jamie Lewis taking on the first Irish qualifier William O’Connor. Jamie Lewis goes into the match with a 2-0 head to head lead over the Irishman and buoyed by his nine dart finish in a tour event on Friday, a run that had him beating his namesake Adrian, I think the Welshman will win this one.
Webster and Bunting are up next. Webster will need to be at his best to win this one but his doubling strength could keep him in the match. In truth I don’t see any value in that one. I was considering Kim Huybrechts, fresh from his run to the final of an event on Saturday, but in three previous visits here he hasn’t won a match so that is a concern.
Michael Smith takes on Gerwyn Price for the second major tournament in a row in match four of the night. Price surprisingly beat Smith in the World Matchplay but this is his debut in this tournament which is a concern. Smith is anything but flawless on his doubles though so an upset is possible here but I don’t see it as a game to bet on.
The big matches come thick and fast from here on in beginning with the Chisnall vs Wright battle. These two have met twice on the tour in the last couple of weeks with each having a win. You’d think Wright would have the edge on the doubles here but Chisnall is a former runner up in this tournament and without doubt has the scoring edge.
I’m not going to bet on the match outcome but it is hard not to see this one going three sets given the quality of both players.
Michael van Gerwen takes on Keegan Brown in a battle of the former World Youth champions. Brown makes his debut in this tournament and has shown a number of times in his career already that he can upset the big names on the big stage.
Brown beat van Gerwen in a tour event earlier in the year so he won’t lack confidence and this won’t be a walk in the park for van Gerwen but even so it would be a major surprise if he lost.
The match of the first round sees Adrian Lewis taking on Raymond Barneveld and this should be a classic. Lewis has won four of their last five matches but they have all been tight and this one should be similar.
Both players score well and hit their doubles well so I’m expecting this one to go the distance. Barneveld always gets good support here while Lewis has had success here in the past too so with nothing to split them it makes sense to take this to go over 2.5 sets.
Irish eyes will hope to be smiling in the final match of the night where Jelle Klaasen takes on the former runner up Brendan Dolan. Dolan will get plenty of support in this match but he might not need it.
Klaasen is a very erratic player at the best of times and it has been a while since we’ve seen him play his best stuff on TV. Dolan is a solid player who always raises his game in this tournament. He already leads the head to head between these two 5-2 and at odds against he looks good value to extend that record here all things considered.
Back J.Lewis to beat W.O’Connor for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Coral
Back P.Wright vs D.Chisnall – Over 2.5 sets for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
Back A.Lewis vs R.Barneveld – Over 2.5 sets for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
Back B.Dolan to beat J.Klaasen for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Boylesports
Blog darts YTD: +25.75pts
