Follow @SBTSportBetting [Get Exclusive Tips on our Patreon, Ad-Free]
PDC 2012 World Grand Prix Day One Premium Picks
Premium Picks are back, and I want to just thank all the subscribers, old and new, for subscribing to these tips. We’ve had great success with the last two PDC Majors and I want to continue that here.
We had success last year at the World Grand Prix, with Brendan Dolan doing us a star turn, going deep and pulling some wins out the bag that it seemed like only we were backing.
Betfair have the best prices on most markets, and darts is one of them, and they’re doing more for the sport than ever before – a lot of their markets have more liquidity than ever and no is a great time to sign up there if you haven’t done so already. Plus, what’s better than trading darts matches in-play? Sign up now, get a free £20 bet and up to £1,000 cashback:
Mark Walsh versus Robert Thornton.
In darts, form is everything and Robert Thornton comes into the tournament in outstanding form, having won Sunday’s Players Championship event and finishing runner-up to Michael van Gerwen in Saturday’s. Mark Walsh, on the other hand, had a third round exit on Sunday, which came on the back of a first round exit on Saturday.
Add that to Thornton’s great mid-2012 and you have to wonder why he’s such a big price to take out Walsh. I think it’s all wrong, and we’ll bet accordingly.
Robert Thornton to beat Mark Walsh: 8/11 @ Betfair..
Recommend: 3 units.
Dean Winstanley versus Dave Chisnall.
It’s big scorer versus big scorer. It’s poor doubler against poor doubler. It’s BDO World Championship runner-up versus BDO World Championship runner-up. In my eyes, we’ve got the ties of the round and it’s the second match of the tournament!
Winstanley is playing reasonably consistent darts since winning his Tour Card, without lighting the ProTour on fire. Chisnall has been playing great darts, but has gone a little off the boil recently. It just seems like both men are playing on a similar level at the moment, with Chisnall’s ranking helping him a bit.
I think it’s going to be close, nip and tuck, and we’re going to get quite a few legs out of it, maybe 12 or so, so the line of 10.5 looks nice to met, as I think we’ll go all the way. 3-2, 2-3, 3-1 would be a pleasing scoreline, and I think we could see it happen. But 3-0, 1-3, 3-1 would do me just fine, too.
Over 10.5 legs in Dean Winstanley versus Dave Chisnall match: Evens @ 888sport.
Recommend: 2 units.
Simon Whitlock versus Justin Pipe.
This is one that could go either way. Sure, Whitlock won the European Championship in Germany, but Pipe won his Champions League group against the best the PDC has to offer. Both men play solid darts, and only Whitlock’s experience on the stage sets them apart at this moment in time.
But what Whitlock has that Pipe doesn’t is a solid scoring game, especially on the maximums. I think Whitlock looks good to outscore Pipe on the maximums, and his price looks very generous.
Simon Whitlock to score more 180s than Justin Pipe: 6/5 @ 888sport.
Recommend: 2 units.
Mervyn King versus Terry Jenkins.
A close match on paper, with King playing better on the floor and Jenkins playing his solid style of darts. I can’t call it, but I think both men need to get the big checkouts in to win this, and they’ll be gunning for them. Also, both men are capable of a quality finish, so we’re looking here for the bet.
Highest checkout in Mervyn King versus Terry Jenkins over 109.5: 5/6 @ 888sport.
Recommend: 1.5 units.
Gary Anderson versus Brendan Dolan:
Is Gary Anderson back on form? He got to the final of the Players Championship event on Sunday, losing out to Robert Thornton. That being said, he’s not been in form all year, and this tournament format just doesn’t suit his game, as his doubling can be erratic at times. He’s got a terrible draw, as Dolan will be backed by the huge Irish crowd, and Anderson does hate the crowd going against him.
Dolan is just a bit too big considering his run here last year, and the fact Anderson hasn’t been at the races in 2012, and he’s been playing solid, consistent darts.
Brendan Dolan to beat Gary Anderson: 7/4 @ 888sport.
Recommend: 1 unit.
Phil Taylor versus Michael Smith.
Smith is going to have some future in the game, and he might have a future in this tournament if Taylor’s average form continues. That being said, Taylor can never be counted out, and I have a feeling he might just punish the youngster in the clinical Taylor fashion. As usual, no real price for a Taylor match.
Recommend: No bet.
Kevin Painter versus Kim Huybrechts.
Big chance for the young Belgian to get a big run in a PDC Major here, and I fancy him to do it. He’s played great darts all year, he’s scoring well and his finishing is consistently great. Put that in contrast with Painter, whose form is just all over the place, and he’s playing scrappy darts, grinding out wins, and you have to like the Belgian for the win. If he can get off to a start, it should be comfortable for him.
Kim Huybrechts to beat Kevin Painter: 4/5 @ Betfair..
Recommend: 2 units.
Vincent van der Voort versus William O’Connor.
Big match for O’Connor, against a veteran of the darting world. The crowd will be well and truly oiled by this point and they’re going to give the Dutchman a hard time. O’Connor isn’t exactly playing great darts, but the crowd, as we saw last year with Brendan Dolan, can play a huge part in these kind of matches. O’Connor looks like a nice bit of value to end the night and have a small dabble.
William O’Connor to beat Vincent van der Voort: 8/5 @ Betfair..
Recommend: 0.5 unit.
And that’s it for now. Hopefully the darting gods help us out a bit, on this great night of darts action. Enjoy the action and happy betting!
