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The first day of the 2017 BDO World Championship starts today. I personally love the BDO World Championship, and the Lakeside is steeped in history, giving the championship that special feel that the PDC just can’t recreate at the Ally Pally. If you’re in the UK, the BDO World Championship has a new home on TV, which is Channel 4, after such a long stint on the BBC . Of course, there are still going to be sessions on BT Sport, also, but the move to Channel 4 is a big one and a move that will hopefully revive the BDO’s fortunes of late. The action starts off with the BDO’s number one Glen Durrant, and we’ll also see BDO stalwart Darryl Fitton take to the stage later in the afternoon. Elsewhere, we’re going to see players from all over the world, most of whom will be unfamiliar to the watching public, which is always good getting to see some new, emerging talent.
Glen Durrant vs Nick Kenny
First up we have BDO number one Glen Durrant, who was more or less done it all in the BDO bar win the big one, taking on Nick Kenny, who’s had a big year himself, winning the International Open and the Jersey Open.
I can’t see Durrant losing in the first round, but he’s got a bit of a stinker of a first round draw. Kenny has had a little bit of success on the PDC secondary tours, and has been learning his craft well. Still, Durrant is rightly favourite, and although Kenny should pose a threat, the number one seed should win. How comfortably should he win? Well, I think Kenny could do well on his Lakeside debut, but then I think that Durrant’s just too comfortable on the stage, is capable of averaging 100-plus and Kenny’s nerves might just get the better of him. So take Glen Durrant to win 3-0.
Dennis Nilsson vs Ryan Joyce
This is an interesting one, as we have a bit of a veteran in Dennis Nilsson facing newcomer to the scene Ryan Joyce in the day’s first prelim game. Joyce is a short enough favourite, but I’m actually looking at the Swede as a bit of value. Nilsson has been playing in the SDC Tour, which has been quite hot, and Nilsson also played at the Ally Pally, although he lost in his prelim match. Nilsson ha had experience in front of the cameras and in the big time, while Joyce is still developing. So the value here is Dennis Nilsson to win
Darryl Fitton vs Wouter Vaes
This is an interesting game for one thing – youth versus experience. Wouter Vaes is one of the new breed of up and coming young Dutch darts players, while Darryl Fitton has been around longer than most people would care to remember. That being said, Fitton has never had it that easy at the Lakeside and his struggles have been well documented, so I wouldn’t be backing him at such a short price. I think Vaes might just push him here, as the young Dutchman has gone well playing in the European events, and put a few wins together at the World Masters, too. He might not win, but if he can take two sets, which I think is possible, then that will do us nicely, as I’ll be backing Wouter Vaes +1.5 sets.
Seigo Asada vs Jeff Smith
It’s crazy that Jeff Smith has to play a prelim match here, considering he was last year’s beaten finalist. He should be far too good for Asada, no doubt about it, and as he showed recently at the Gand Slam of Darts, he’s coming into this in fine form. But he’s actually got a trick tie against his Japanese opponent, who won his prelim match in some style last year, averaging 92.64 in his 3-1 win over the handy Darius Labanauskas.
I can’t find an angle for this match, as I think Smith is a good thing, but he’s far too short, and Asada could play like a dog, or he could play like he did in his prelim match last year and give Smith a real fight. So for this prelim match, it’s no bet.
Roger Janssen vs Mark McGrath
Another one of those interesting prelim matches, and the bookies are struggling to split this pair. Janssen is making his Lakeside debut, as is McGrath, although the Kiwi, McGrath, did play on the Ally Pally stage in 2015, where he lost to Scott Kirchner 4-0 and averaged 65.09. I think it’s safe to say McGrath will have come on for that performance, but there are questions about his ability. Because of what we know about McGrath, I think it’s great value taking Roger Janssen to win. You can even factor in that Janssen only had to travel from Belgium for this, while McGrath had to come from New Zealand, and although he might have acclimatised by now, it’s still not an easy trip to make.
Jim Williams vs Tony O’Shea
This is possibly the tie of the day, as we have Jim Williams,who has been climbing the rankings slowly but surely over the past couple of years, against another BDO stalwart, Tony O’Shea. O’Shea has, of course, made three BDO World Championship Finals, while Williams’ best result was the last 16 last year. O’Shea’s best result this year was the final of the International Open, while Williams’ best result I the final of the Europe Cup Singles. Both as shown relative consistency this year, while not really blowing everyone away. Both men failed to get out of their group at Zuideruin, so they’re not exactly coming into this in world-beating form, but both will see this as a winnable game.
Jim Williams won their meeting in the first round 3-0 last year, but every single set was 3-2 and their averages were around 1 point apart, so there was little between them. There’s been little between them this season, so I think that the prices should be similar. Amazingly, they’re not, with O’Shea almost a 2/1 outsider. That means only one thing, Tony O’Shea to win is amazing value, and is my value bet of the day; he should be around Evens or 11/10 at best.
I’ll be back with more free tips for day two of the 2017 BDO World Championship tomorrow, so I’ll see you then.
