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Well, an inauspicious start to the Grand Slam of darts. We got our Tony O’Shea bet bang on the money, but we got unlucky on our leg betting, with Thornton playing the best darts he’s played for a long time and Mark Webster capitulating after 4 legs on his match. One leg each and we’re living the high life. John Henderson, well, what can you say? It looked like he was close to passing out on the stage and he just couldn’t get into a rhythm.
-2 units after the first day, which I think is an extremely unlucky situation to be in.
Still, we’ve got a lot of matches to get our teeth into today and I’m hopeful we’re going to get right back on track and none of this unlucky nonsense!
Now, I have to say that as of the time of writing, the bookies don’t have prices up for the evening session, simply because the matches aren’t set until all the winners and losers are known from the first night and even thought we know who they are, the bookies don’t want to know on a Saturday night/Sunday morning! So, check back tomorrow afternoon for the evening session picks. I can only apologise, but let’s get some winners.
I want to mention the bookmakers that will give you some free money for depositing there. Is there anything better than free money? Well, more free money. So, use my tips along with these free sign-up offers and we’ll keep the great run going!
First off, Betfair. If you’ve not got an account with Betfair, why not? More often than not, they have the best prices and, thanks to the ability to back or lay a selection, you can bet in-play with ease and also lay your bet back should you think the tide is about to turn for your player. It’s where serious bettors bet and if you’re serious about darts betting, you NEED an account here. Plus you get a free bet up to £25, which is always nice.
I want to introduce our friends at Paddy Power They’re big supporters of darts and they’ll give you a £10 bet when you sign up through Darts Betting Tips. They have great money-back specials on all sorts of markets and are perhaps the most fun bookmaker out there.
Victor Chandler as a well established name in sports betting and they really get behind the great sport of darts. They’ll give you up to a £100 free sports bet, as well as casino chips is you sign up there. There’s not a better offer available and I’ve taken advantage of this for tonight’s tips, and I think you should too. Hey, if the tips win, great, but if, for some strange reason, they don’t, you’ve lost nothing!
Boylesportsare another great bookmaker for darts. They have a huge variety of markets and they have a nice £20 deposit bonus. You deposit and bet £20, they match it. Simples!
are big supporters of darts. We find their markets to be amongst the best when it comes to darts betting, which is why we proudly support them. Plus, their £25 match bet is a fantastic offer, probably the best out there at the moment. So, why not sign up, deposit and have a nibble on our first tip of the night and Stan James will match it:
Seriously, if you don’t have accounts at any of these bookmakers, sign up, deposit and use your free bet to have a dabble on tonight’s tips. Now that that’s out of the way and you’ve got your free bets, let’s get the tips going.
Scott Waites vs Co Stompe
The 2009 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up takes on Darts Betting Tip’s favourite. Scott Waites has had a quiet 2010 and the same can really be said of Co Stompe. Both men can score heavily and this should be a close run match. The bookies can’t split them and neither can I. This could be the first match to go all the way and since the line is 7.5, we’ll take advantage of that.
Scott Waites vs Co Stompe over 7.5 legs: 4/6 @ Blue Square
Recommend: 1.5 units @ 4/6
Colin Lloyd vs Darryl Fitton
Colin Lloyd has had a bit of resurgence in the back end of 2010. He’s been playing some good darts, picking up some wins in the floor tournaments and getting a bit of form together. Darryl Fitton hasn’t been up to much, sadly and has gone off the boil a bit. That isn’t to say he’s a top player, but Lloyd might just have a bit too much for him.
Colin Lloyd to beat Darryl Fitton: 33/50 @ Betfair.
Recommend: 2.5 units @ 33/50
Paul Nicholson vs Arron Monk
Paul Nicholson returns to the home of his breakthrough tournament in the PDC. He was booed out of the building in his debut at the Grand Slam of Darts, but broke onto the scene at the start of this year by winning the Players Championship in January, beating Phil Taylor along the way. However, aside from that, he’s not been up to much, with some shocking form in the televised tournaments since then. Arron Monk is a player on the up and he’s got the tools to beat Nicholson, especially if Nicholson shows the form he’s shown on TV as of late. Monk’s price is too good to pass up, so we’ll have a nibble on him.
Arron Monk to beat Paul Nicholson: 7/4 @
Recommend: 2 units @ 7/4.
Wes Newton vs Ted Hankey:
Oh, the highlight of the afternoon by far. Ted Hankey coming back to the Grand Slam of Darts and no doubt the crowd will be on his side, as usual. Wes Newton capped off a great week last week by winning a wildcard into the tournament and will hope to continue his rich vein of form against The Count. The thing is, Newton is Mr Inconsistency and even though he’s been playing well in the past week, it doesn’t mean he’ll reproduce it on the stage. Hankey has been there and done that while Newton has been around for a while and hasn’t done too much considering. Hankey being the underdog means the price is right!
Ted Hankey to beat Wes Newton: 6/4 @
Paddy Power
Recommend: 1 unit @ 6/4
Ronnie Baxter vs Steve Beaton:
Two darting stalwarts and, funnily enough, I’m excited about this game. I like watching Beaton play, he’s got a solid game, but so does Ronnie Baxter. It’s going to be nip and tuck and will probably come down to the finish of both men. Beaton and Baxter are both solid on their doubling, so it could be another long match, perhaps going all the way. The bookies give Baxter the edge, but I don’t know. It’s probably closer than the bookies think, but there’s no real value to be had here. Just enjoy this match, as I think there’s going to be a few twists and turns over the 9 legs.
Recommend: No bet.
Adrian Lewis vs Martin Phillips:
Adrian Lewis comes here off the back off a wonderful World Matchplay to play Martin Phillips, who had a great World Masters, losing in the semi-finals. Both men are in good form, but the bookies make Lewis a huge favourite. Now, I personally think Phillips has the game to challenge Lewis and if Lewis can’t get out of the stalls quickly, the match might be over before he can get started. Phillips’ price makes him a must back, because over this format, it’s ridiculous that he could be this price.
Martin Phillips to beat Adrian Lewis: 9/4 @
Boylesports
Recommend: 1 unit @ 9/4
Raymond van Barneveld vs Tricia Wright:
Another match with a huge gulf in the opposition. Mervyn King came through against Stacy Bromberg losing the one leg and Barney does have a history with women at the Grand Slam of Darts, beating Francis Hooenselaar 5-1 last year. However, Tricia Wright is not even in the class of Francis and Barney is going to want to make his mark straight away. He shouldn’t break a sweat and I think the 5-0 is a possibility, unlike Mervyn King last night.
Raymond van Barneveld to beat Tricia Wright 5-0: 11/8 @ Blue Square
Recommend: 2 units @ 11/8
Phil Taylor vs Michael van Gerwen:
The 2011 Celebrity Specs Wearer of the Year takes on Michael van Gerwen in the last match of the afternoon. MVG is here thanks to being a finalist in the Under-21 World Championship, while Phil Taylor is here on the back of many, many victories, including being the defending champion of the Grand Slam of Darts.
Basically, Taylor should win this and, like most Phil Taylor matches, there’s very little value to be had. MVG might take a leg or two, but Taylor should prove far too good, especially with the eyewear. Just sit back and watch darting royalty.
Recommend: No bet.
Remember to come back to the website for the second lot of picks for day two of the Grand Slam of Darts. Until then, head on over to , Betfair for the best value out there.
And remember, happy betting!
