THE DARTS worlds collide on Saturday when players from both the PDC and BDO combine to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton and darts expert @Lockuptipster is back with some pre-tournament tips…
Martin “Wolfie” Adams will make his debut in the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts against Ian White on Saturday, while Andy Fordham is set to meet Adrian Lewis in Wolverhampton after the tournament's draw was made.
The cross-code tournament will feature 24 players from the PDC system and eight BDO representatives, including former Lakeside Champions Adams and Fordham for the first time.
For the group stage, and the short format, using head to head data is not as relevant for this format, as it will suit a quick-fire, out-the-blocks player, which could be a danger for the likes of Phil Taylor and James Wade. Taylor, as short as 4/11 to win his group, could well be a banana skin to say the least. If you put more faith in Wade, he is 4/5 to seal his group. If you do not fancy the win group or qualify market Sportingbet are offering a ‘not to qualify' market and there are some potentially viable bets.
For Keegan Brown NOT to qualify from his group, the bookies think it is a shootout with Mark Webster in who progresses. Webster, who was in good form at the World Grand Prix, making some safety ground within the top 32, will really fancy progressing from the group and I see no reason why he cannot win the group outright especially at 4/1 with Hills.
Another potential longshot is Dave Chisnall not to qualify. Readers will think this is barmy, but it is over the short distance and Dave had some lengthy matches at last weekend’s events with top quality opposition such as Snakebite, Mervyn King and Scott Mitchell. 7/4 on Chisnall to fall short is not out the question.
Group C with Michael Smith NOT to qualify is another possible. The bookies again consider Wayne Jones (Semi-finalist in 2010) as his only real threat as they do not think Andy Fordham will be able to cast back his former glory overnight. Smith not to qualify is possible at 100/30, as Smith has really been off form.
Martin Adams at 10/11 is another to NOT qualify from the group. He will be making his first and maybe last appearance at the event this year.
We enjoyed a 7/4 winner last week on an outright NO 170 and it is only 4/1 at this event. On this occasion it is worth leaving be, as we wanted 6/1. A NO 9 darter is just 4/6, which in reality may represent a great chance of coming in. However, at the European Championships we were teased on more than one occasion on the 9. Equally I couldn’t back yes at 11/10.
Group match betting will follow, but we anticipate some feisty results and the odd upset over the short format. Taylor backers should be aware. Seasoned Taylor backers will know not to touch any Taylor win markets in the group stage.
Recommendations:
Mark Webster – Group F winner 4/1 William Hill (0.75pt stake)
Michael Smith NOT to qualify from Group C – 100/30 Sportingbet (1pt)
Martin Adams NOT to qualify from Group B – 10/11 Sportingbet (3pts)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
liking the look of adams not to qualify. in a group against 2 really good players in white and klassen and a steady player on the circuit in beaton
Beeinspired – you are spot on yes! The BDO circuit is not as regular as all the PDC events.
Regarding Philips, he is a good player and depends on the one that shows up. He is there being the World masters champion 2014, so over a year ago. Some of the qualif and not to qualify prices didn’t appeal in general. The 4/6 is a play although the bookies are stingy on some prices.
Beeinspired – you are spot on yes! The BDO circuit is not as regular as all the PDC events.
Regarding Philips, he is a good player and depends on the one that shows up. He is there being the World masters champion 2014, so over a year ago. Some of the qualify and not to qualify prices didn’t appeal in general. The 4/6 is a play although the bookies are stingy on some prices.
lockup tipsterwhats your views on martin phillips not to qualify aswell 4/6 ? starts off againts taylor and presuming he gets beat he would have to win last two games which would be a hard ask
Looking forward to this. Sticking to the 180 market.
I like the look of Klaasen most 180s – 1/1
And a safe double on MVG and Anderson most 180s – 1.96
A couple of bets that i like the look tomorow.
Morning session:
Brown vs webster over 7.5 legs
Barneveld win
Double 1.08/1
Evening session:
Chisnall most 180s
Gerwen most 180s
Wright win
Treble 2.26/1
Combined 5fold – £25 returns £170 (cant remember the exact odds)
Outright bets:
Group E winner: barneveld 2/1
Group F winner: wade 8/11
Group G winner: thornton 4/5
1st quarter winner: van gerwen 1/2 (large stake)
2nd quarter winner: wright 11/4
Outright winner: van gerwen 7/4
^^ barneveld 3/1 not 2/1 to win group E
William hill are doing a special
Van gerwen
Taylor
Anderson
All to win there groups 7/4
Is that generous or am I missing something
Money team and DK
The group stage could be a banana skin for taylor, as he doesn’t like this short initial stage.
MONEY, very generous. Is it for new customers only?
Mark Webster at 1/1 with Marathonbet is a good play versus Keegan!
The Grand Slam of Darts starts on Saturday and it will be know surprise who I am going for.
A few months ago I saw a interview with MVG, and he wasn’t asked about the GSOD, but he mentioned the fact it was a tournament he wanted to win as it was the only PDC ranking event he hadn’t won. Last Sunday he came from 10-7 down in a race to 11, to beat the World Champion Gary Anderson to retain his European title. It is the first time he as ever retained one of his titles.
I think he has targeted this one and will be on a high after winning last week. He lost in the Quarter finals last year. I’m a MVG guy, so I’m on the 15/8 at Sportingbet. He has the likes of Huybrechts in his group and in his half of the draw the likes of Lewis, Wright, Chisnall and Klaasen. When MVG gets on a roll in a tournament he is hard to stop and I think the odds of him reaching the final is a great bet. It is 1/1 at sportingbet.
In the bottom half Gary Anderson could be the one to be on here. The group stages are best of 9 legs so you want a heavy scorer who can break his opponents throw, if they are throwing second. Anderson can start slowly but the top two go through in each group, and with a match against Barney, and the likes of Taylor and Wade in the knockouts, Anderson will have to be on top of his game. He is 11/2 Betfair outright and is 9/4 at Sportingbet to reach the final.
The draw often throws up some easy groups and some tough ones, the bottom half of the draw looks a tough one but James Wade looks to have a decent chance at big odds of getting to the latter stages. In his 8 appearances he has only failed to get out of his group once. He is 20/1 Various to win it. Its a tough section of the draw with the likes of Taylor, Anderson and Barney, then a potential final against MVG, Wright or Lewis, so I am taking him at 10/1 Sporingbet to reach the final, as my value bet.
In the Group betting there isn’t a lot of value to be had. There are some short odds on favourites to win a group, and then some tough groups like Group D. It is Group G I like the look of, between Thornton, Jenkins, De Vos and Clayton. Thornton is the 1/1 favourite for this group, although last week in the Euro’s he was hobbling around and lost 6-4 to Henderson in the first round. I like the odds off Jenkins to win it at 2/1 Skybet.
Jenkins also lost in the first round to Wade 6-3, but only hit 1 maximum and 3 out of 12 doubles. Thornton and Jenkins both should win their openers and you wont get 2/1 on Jenkins to beat Thornton in the second round robin stage. Jenkins leads their H2H 9-3.
Outright
MVG 15/8
TO Reach the Final
MVG 1/1 (NAP)
ANDERSON 9/4
WADE 10/1 (LONGSHOT)
Group Betting
JENKINS TO WIN GROUP G 2/1
Good luck if your having a bet