The PDC World Championship is upon us once again and starts on Thursday 13th December right through to New Years Day where 96 competitors will whittle down to just two as we name the first major winner of 2019.
Michael Van Gerwen earlier in the year was around evens to lift the crown. However a below par autumn season did not see his name on titles such as the Grand Slam or Players Championships.
MVG has eased out to 13/8 to lift the crown but has a less than straightforward route towards the finals. MVG has a potential round three against Max Hopp then a possible fourth round against Barney or Adrian Lewis. James Wade or Simon Whitlock on seed would be MVG’s quarter final opponent.
Gary Anderson is in the same pathway as MVG and is 7/2 to lift the crown. Ando has been quoted by critics as the best darts player in the world at the present time and find it difficult to argue with this.
Having won the Matchplay back in July Anderson was in superb form winning the Champions League in September as well as making the Grand Slam Final last month.
Defending Champion Rob Cross has not had a great season. Despite a good World Series over the summer as well as the Premier League semi final, Cross suffered a string of early exits, not expected from a top four player.
Rob Cross will be defending money on tour next year so his ranking will begin to suffer if form continues and is as BIG as 25/1 to
reignite last years form!
The 4th quarter is one targeted with Peter Wright to show his class and win his quarter. He is 13/8 with Skybet and has Joe Cullen and Gerwyn Price as main rivals to him. Ian White is in there also however White has not produced his floor form on the big stage and at 10/1 to win his quarter is understandable.
Wright will be ready for this and the deeper he goes in the event the more it will favour him.
The 170 market is as good as a shoe in according to odds compilers are as short as 1/100 for the feat to occur. There has been a maximum finish every year since 2002. It is 20/1 with BetVictor that there is no 170, which may attract some interest.
The 9 dart finish is short at 1/2 with the NO price at 6/4, which has to appeal seeing as we have not seen one since the 2016 event. We have not seen many perfect finishes, but had one at the Grand Slam as well as the Matchplay. The 6/4 is pretty big and with the sheer task versus the necessity for rhythm required and number of potential legs does favour the opportunity for it to happen.
With such a huge field there are tough calls and cases to be made and feel the request a bet markets will add some spice to possible bets.
Possible trades
Schindler 3-0 versus Cody Harris – The German unlikely to have the game all his own way and think the Kiwi certainly. Harris has the pedigree to win a set or more and at 11/10 to win the first set is worth consideration.
Josh Payne Vs Jeff Smith – The Canadian returns and is a fighter on the oche. Will be interesting to see the exchange price for Payne, whether he is worth a lay/back trade! He is roughly 8/13 – 4/6 with layers, so suspect the exchange price around 1.7-1.75 mark.
As the event is scattered between first and second round ties, I will be looking at getting into the action towards the end of the weekend into early next week, especially once first round games start to paint a better picture.
Recommendations
- P Wright to win Q4 – 13/8 Skybet 3pts
- NO 9 dart finish – 6/4 Betfair 1.5 pts
Good luck and keep following @lockuptipster
