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Welcome back to your free darts betting tips, this time focusing on the Grand Slam of Darts, which for the first time in its short history is on Sky Sports. The unique group format pits the top PDC players against a select group from the BDO.
To wrap up the World Grand Prix, after two winning tips in the final, we ended up 16-8 which is a 66.67% strike rate, and we had a profit of +27.17 units. So not a bad tournament at all. I’m actually off for a week in Vegas after the PDC World Championships at the start of January with what I collected at the end of the tournament, so I can only hope you were as successful and followed my tips.
So, with day one of the Grand Slam of Darts getting underway shortly, let’s get onto our free darts tips.
The markets at Betfair’s have been great during the World Grand Prix. Betfair is traditionally the best value around and the ability to trade your position during a match is great. And add in the free bet promotions, you’re onto a winner.
Brendan Dolan versus Wayne Jones.
The World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan takes to the stage first against Wolverhampton’s very own Wayne Jones. Let’s hope we can get a “At Home With The Joneses” feature now that the Grand Slam of Darts is on Sky Sports. It wouldn’t be the same without it.
While Jones’ form hasn’t been sparkling this year, he loves this tournament, reaching the semi-finals last year, beating Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals before losing out to James Wade.
This is Dolan’s first time here, and he needs to prove his run in Dublin wasn’t a fluke. Personally, I think home advantage is huge in tournaments like this and the World Grand Prix, so it should play in Jones’ hands.
Jones not being favourite is strange, given his experience and the home crowd, so we have to take the decent price on offer.
Wayne Jones to beat Brendan Dolan: 5/6 @ 888.com
Recommend: 1.5 units.
Mark Walsh versus Tony O’Shea.
Grand Slam of Darts AND Darts Betting tips favourite Tony O’Shea takes to the stage second in Wolverhampton and he’s got a big task in front of him in the form of Mark Walsh.
O’Shea isn’t coming into the Grand Slam in bad form, and he’s been picking up the odd tournament here and there.
Walsh has been his usual steady self, without setting the televised tournaments alight. It seems Walsh just loves to fall apart in front of the cameras and I’m hoping he does it again against The Silverback.
O’Shea is the outsider, but I can’t see why. He seems to thrive in Wolverhampton and he’s one of the most consistent scorers in the game. He’s a huge price, in my opinion, so we’ll back him accordingly.
Tony O’Shea to beat Mark Walsh: 6/5 @ Betfair.
Recommend: 2.5 units.
Dean Winstanley versus Ted Hankey.
A huge BDO clash, with the 2011 BDO World Championship finalist Dean Winstanley hoping to prove it wasn’t a fluke. And judging by his final appearance at the World Masters (where he lost to Scott Waites), Winstanley is certainly no fluke. He’s coming into the tournament in good form.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of The Count. Hankey just hasn’t been lighting up the stage quite like his opponent has. The crowd will be against Hankey, but he loves that, so this might be a close one. However, in-and-out for, coupled with the crowd getting on his back doesn’t bode well for him.
Winstanley looks good here to pick up a debut win at the Grand Slam of Darts, and the price is right for a little nibble.
Dean Winstanley to beat Ted Hankey: 4/5 @ Betfair.
Recommend: 2 units.
Raymond van Barneveld versus Ian White.
Ian White, the first reserve for this tournament got his place thanks to Simon Whitlock’s unfortunate ankle injury in Spain a couple of weeks ago. He won’t have it easy against a resurgent Barney and I can’t see past a Barney win. While not in sparkling form, he’s playing well enough to take care of an opponent quite a bit below him in terms of overall ability.
The price isn’t there for a win for the Dutchman, so grab a beer during this game!
Recommend: No bet.
James Wade versus Dave Chisnall.
The wonderfully inconsistent James Wade plays the fantastically hot and cold Dave Chisnall. When both men are on form, they’re a joy to watch. When Wade’s scoring goes and Chisnall’s doubling goes, the’re horrific.
The thing here is that Chisnall is in form, claiming his maiden PDC tournament victory last weekend and he’s bringing that form right to Wolverhampton, while Wade didn’t have a great weekend in Crawley, after a great couple of weeks in Germany and Spain.
The short format will be interesting, as I feel Wade is a player who takes a few legs to warm up, so if Chisnall can steal a march on him, the match might just be over.
Chisnall’s price for this type of match and the form he’s in is too good to turn our nose up at.
Dave Chisnall to beat James Wade: 7/4 @ Betfair.
Recommend: 1 unit.
Scott Waites versus Michael van Gerwen.
The 2010 Grand Slam of Darts champion takes on the recently confirmed PDC Under-21 World Championship finalist. Waites is in great form, having won the World Masters and he’s going to have too much for Van Gerwen, who is now finding a level where he can win consistently in the Under-21 tournaments.
Waites should open his account here with ease.
Recommend: No bet.
Gary Anderson versus Nigel Heydon.
I don’t know what to say here. Even though it’s a short format, Anderson should be far too strong for the PDC Wildcard qualifier. He’s no price at all, though, so just watch an awesome scorer do the job here.
Recommend: No bet.
Terry Jenkins versus Justin Pipe.
The match I’ve been waiting for. Finally Justin Pipe is starting to earn some decent money on the PDC Tour, winning floor tournaments for fun, beating Phil Taylor on the way and climbing the PDC rankings.
While Pipe’s form is on the up-and-up, Terry Jenkins’ seems to be floundering. Jenkins hasn’t been able to string more than a couple of decent results together.
Pipe is getting more and more TV time, which can only benefit him, and the fact is he didn’t show anything like his true level at the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts, but I think this year could be slightly different. Pipe, to me, is bringing some unbelievable form into this tournament and could spring a few so-called “surprises” on his way to a decent run in Wolverhampton.
Let’s just hope the bookies keep underestimating him, as we’ll get a nice return at the prices.
Justin Pipe to beat Terry Jenkins: 11/10 @ Betfair.
Recommend: 4 units.
And that’s it for the first day of the Grand Slam of Darts. Remember that Sunday’s action will start at 2:00pm, so be prepared for an earlier start.
Remember to check out our friends at Betfair for some great free bet promotions, as well as some of the best prices around.
