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The BDO World Championships start here, with England Captain Martin Adams looking to defend the title he won at the Lakeside last year, when he beat Dave Chisnall.
This isn’t as exciting a betting proposition, as some bookies tend not to price up as many markets, but there tends to be more money to be won, as the bookies don’t know as much as they do about the PDC, so we have that edge.
I’ll be giving you the complete first round betting tips just now, then we’ll pick up at the start of round two.
Here are all the free bets on offer during the BDO World Championships
Free £25 bet @ Betfair.
Free £25 bet @ Stan James.
Free £25 bet @ Victor Chandler.
Free £10 bet @ Paddy Power.
Free £10 bet @ Blue Square.
Saturday
John Walton vs Dave Prins.
The 2001 World Champion John Walton goes up against Dave Prins, who claims this will be his final World Championships. Walton hasn’t had a great year, but neither has Prins. Walton is a marginal favourite and going by the fact Prins has never got past the last 32 in the world championships, we have to back Walton at a generous price.
John Walton to beat Dave Prins 10/11 @ Stan James.
Recommend: 2 units @ 10/11
Martin Adams vs Tony West.
Heeeeeere’s Wolfie! England Captain Martin Adams opens up his defence with a tricky match against Tony West, who’s had a decent enough year. The fact is, Adams should have enough and is expected to go well again this year. He’s 1/6, so we’ll leave the England Captain to get on with things.
Recommend: No bet.
Willy van de Wiel vs Alan Soutar.
Van de Wiel hasn’t been running to great really and the fact he’s quite a short price isn’t that tempting. While he has the pedigree, Soutar won’t be too much of a mug and is worth a dabble at a tempting price. Van de Wiel hasn’t goe well at the Lakeside, so let’s hope it continues.
Alan Soutar to beat Willy van de Wiel 13/8 @ Stan James.
Recommend: 1 unit.
Tony O’Shea vs Ross Smith.
A second trip to the World Championships for Ross Smith and he faces a tough match against Tony O’Shea, who will be wanting to get himself into the frame for the title. O’Shea is 1/4, he should win and I think there’s no value to be had.
Recommend: No bet.
Martin Phillips vs Mark Barilli.
A great year in 2010 for Martin Phillips, impressing at the Lakeside this time last year and then really impressing at the Grand Slam of Darts. He should have far too much in his locker for Mark Barilli. Phillips is a huge scorer. Barilli has never made it past the first round and I can’t see hmi getting through again. I’d love to be on the right side of Phillips, but sadly he’s of no price at 4/11.
Recommend: No bet.
Joey ten Berge vs Shaun Griffiths.
Joey ten Berge, while climbing through the BDO rankings, has struggled at the Lakeside, losing in the first round the past two years. He’s facing a bright up-and-coming talent in Shaun Griffiths and the prices are quite tight considering the experience level of both players. That being said, I like the look of Griffiths and he has a bright future in the game. The price is tempting, so we’ll have a dabble.
Shaun Griffiths to beat Joey ten Berge 11/8 @ Stan James.
Recommend: 1 unit.
Sunday
Gary Robson vs Steve Douglas.
Quite a quiet year for Gary Robson, with some uninspiring results, but there’s no denying he has the talent. He’s playing Steve Douglas, who has had an even quieter year and althuogh he’s climbing up the rankings, Robson should have the game to beat him. That being said, Robson isn’t the type of player I want to be backing at odds-on.
Recommend: No bet.
Dave Chisnall vs Steve West.
Dave Chisnall will be hoping to go one better this year and after a quiet year, he came into some great form in the Grand Slam of Darts and that will put him in a good frame of mind for this tournament. Steve West hasn’t had a bad year and this might be a close match. That being said, Chisnall’s power scoring should see him through, but the bookies know this and have him 4/9 at best. Again, we have to steer clar, because in a race to 3, 4/9 really isn’t worth it, as it’s still a relatively short format.
Recommend: No bet.
Scott Mitchell vs Jan Dekker.
This is one of those funny matches that I think the bookies have got competely wrong. Jan Dekker is being tipped as the future of darts and he put up a great performance at the World Masters, before going out at the last 16 stage. He didn’t disgrace himself in defeat against Martin Adams, losing 3-2 and I really fancy him to beat Scott Mitchell, who isn’t setting the world alight. The prices are entirely wrong, in my opinion and we’ll take advantage of this.
Jan Dekker to beat Scott Mitchell 11/8 @ Stan James.
Recommend: 2 units.
Stuart Kellett vs Darrly Fitton.
The BDO number 2 starts off his 2011 championship campaign with a tricky task aganist Darrly Fitton. Kellett has had a magnificent year and will be looking to continue that at the Lakeside. Fitton has had a very quiet year and didn’t impress that much at the Grand Slam of Darts. I can see Kellett taking this and going on a decent run and the price is very tempting.
Stuart Kellett to beat Darrly Fitton 4/5 @ Betfair.
Recommend: 2 units.
Garry Thompson vs Arno Merk.
The experienced Garry Thompson takes on the young German Arno Merk. Basically, Thompson should take this at a canter and at 4/11, we’ll take a watching brief.
Recommend: No bet.
Ross Montgomery vs Alan Norris.
Ross Montgomery, the Zuideruin Masters winner takes on in what could be a classic encoutner. While Montgomery is definitely the man in form, Norris is no mug and should push Montgomery all the way. I think we have to take the recent form into account and say Montgomery should win, but it’s an entertaining way to end the session, but we can’t have a bet at the prices, as 4/9 is just not good enough for us to go wading in.
Monday
Stephen Bunting vs Brian Woods.
Both men are players I struggle to get right. Bunting, to me, is a complete enigma, as one minute he can score with the best of them, the next he’s firing in 26. But it’s the same with Brian Woods when it comes to his doubling. I think this match will be close, with both men capable of a big game, or big mistakes, so it’s best to side with the player at better odds, which in this case is Brian Woods. Plus, I last saw Bunting at the Zuideruin Masters and he truly was shocking.
Brian Woods to beat Stephen Bunting 6/5 @ Stan James.
Recommend: 1 unit.
Scott Waites vs Ted Hankey.
Grand Slam of Darts champion and tournament joint favourite takes on crowd “favourite” Ted Hankey in what surely must be the pick of the first round matches. Both men looked handy enough in Holland at the Zuideruin, but the momentum must be with Waites after the biggest win of his career at the Grand Slam of Darts. Waites’ high scoring is much more consistent than Hankey’s and both men struggle on the doubles, so it would make sense to side with Waites. However, conspiracy theorists have been in my ear claiming Waites is off to the PDC, so he won’t be fully committed to the Lakeside this year. Personally, I think it’s a lot of old rubbish, but against a player like Ted Hankey, any doubts at all and you will probably lose.
So, just sit back and watch the best match of the first round.
Recommend: No bet.
Robbie Green vs Andy Boulton.
Robbie Green made the final in the Zuideruin Masters, so he’s another player in form. I watched him throughout the tournament and was impressed by him more than I ever have been before. I think Andy Boulton could be in for a hiding if he’s not careful. Although Boulton has picked up some decent wins in Scotland and the North of England through the year, it doesn’t compare to the form Green is in. Green is a short order to win and rightly so. Just enjoy the power scoring of Green and relax.
Recommend: No bet.
Dean Winstanley vs Martin Atkins.
A huge year for Dean Winstanley, after winning three big wins in the circuit since June. He qualified for the quarter-finals of the Zuideruin Masters at his first attempt, so he’s playing well. His opponent, Martin Atkins, while hugely experienced, hasn’t had a brilliant year, just simply an average one.
I honestly believe the bookies have got this one wrong, as Winstanley is someone who I fancy to run well at the BDO World Championships and he’s only a slight favourite. A great way to end the first round of matches if Winstanley can transfer his form throughout the year onto the biggest stage of them all.
Dean Winstanley to beat Martin Atkins 4/5 @ Stan James.
Recommend: 2.5 units.
And that concludes the tips for the first round of the BDO World Championships. If you’re watching on the BBC, enjoy the interesting coverage and if you’re watchign from elsewhere, enjoy it too. Happy betting!
