MICHAEL van Gerwen is the 19/20 odds on favourite to retain the Grand Slam, which takes place from 11 Nov 2017 – 19 Nov, easing in from even money since his prolific display at the World Series of Darts.
Sponsors Bwin are match betting to 103% throughout the event, so there is bound to be a spot of value in places.
Gary Anderson is the betting at 6/1, with Snakebite at 8's and Taylor at 10's. Rob Cross leads the rest of the field at 25/1 with the rest above and beyond price-wise. Anyone betting on the outrights each-way beware that many high street firms are 1/3 odds for a place in the final.
Kyle Anderson hit a 9-dart finish last weekend, and has led layers to punt as short as 11/8 to see another over the nine-day event. Sponsors Bwin are best 17/10 for a perfect leg, whereas Betway are 4/7 drawing a blank. Two firms have chalked up the 170 checkout odds, with Betway 9/4 without a maximum finish. Bwin are 1/2 on a 170 finish, which we have seen at least one each year since 2012.
Bwin are also punting on whether any player will average over 110.50 average during the event, something which Michael van Gerwen accomplished in his semi final in a best of 31 game and punt 10/11 either way on this. You would naturally assume the best chance of achieving this is in the best of nine round robin, so that 10/11 will tempt punters.
Looking at the quarter betting seeing Peter Wright at 5/4 based on the fact he has won his first major, and several European Tours this year. The events he did lose out in Wright held his resilience. With Dave Chisnall next cloest at 4/1 this will not inspire punters on the basis his back was far from great in his last outing. With Glen Durrant in the mix with Corey Cadby. Scott Mitchell will always pose a threat.
Gary Anderson despite his encouraging return last weekend is short at 4/6 with Mensur Suljovic in the mix at 7/2 will appeal seeing their head to head recently. Whitlock's recent resurgent will see some shrewd following at 7/1.
The relative short format will be excellent for TV viewing as well as the BDO boys as a lot of events lean down the shorter format on the floor and some televised events. I do think bar Menzies and Durrant the others could find life tough here. All are capable of living with most of of the field here, as demonstrated by the likes of Ted Hanley, Glen Durrant last year and the back to back final and success of Scott Waites, which feels a long time ago now at the turn of the decade.
My bets will simply come down to this as people generally look at the bets rather than the reasoning behind it!
Recommendations
- P Wright – Win his quarter – 11/8 Paddy Power 3pts
- D Webster – To Qualify – 1/1 Skybet 2pts
- Zwann to finish Bottom of his group – 1/1 Bwin 2pts
- Ross Montgomery to finish bottom of his group – 4/5 Bwin 3pts
- Peter Machin to finish bottom – 11/10 Bwin 1pt
Group Games
- Suljovic -1.5 vs Smith – 1/1 Betfair 1pt
Keep an eye on Lockuptipster.weebly.com for the rest of the group stages.
