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Well, aren’t you glad we’re back and as good as ever? If it wasn’t for Justin Pipe, we’d have had the perfect start to the World Grand Prix. Still, we went 3-1 and we have a profit of +5.75 units after the first day of the PDC World Grand Prix. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
The biggest guns in darts come out to play tonight, with Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson taking the stage for their first round matches. A big night and hopefully one with some big wins for us, too.
Again, for our free tips for the PDC World Grand Prix, we’ll be turning to Betfair’s prices, as they tend to be the best out there for the World Grand Prix and with our free darts tips, we want to give the best prices possible. Add to that their free bet promotion and it’s one of the best combinations out there!
Denis Ovens versus Jamie Caven.
What a way to start day two of the World Grand Prix; two total enigmas when it comes to TV tournaments. Neither man can be trusted with my money, as I’ve learnt in the past. The bookies view this as a coin flip, as do I.
No value to be had here, as both players have the ability to mess things up.
Recommend: No bet.
Mark Walsh versus Mark Hylton.
Now this is a match that could be interesting. Mark Hylton has had a storming year in the PDC, eclipsing what was expected of him. Mark Walsh is as steady as ever, without setting the darting world alight. Hylton’s been finding a bit of form on the floor and he’s only the narrow outsider in this match. However, I would have him maybe as a slight favourite thanks to his escapes in floor tournaments throughout the year. He doesn’t seem to be phased by the TV cameras either, which is a huge plus for a newcomer.
Mark Hylton to beat Mark Walsh: 5/4 @ Betfair
Recommend: 2 units.
Dave Chisnall versus Alan Tabern.
Let it be said that I love watching Dave Chisnall. Chizzy is fun to watch, although sometimes not for the right reasons. He’s playing some good darts in his maiden PDC season, but the main problem of his game has always been his doubling. Doubling problems are a major hindrance at the World Grand Prix.
The thing here is that Tabern hasn’t had much luck recently and the World Grand Prix isn’t exactly his favourite tournament. So, while an upset might have been expected thanks to Chizzy’s doubling, I can’t see Tabern troubling him on recent form. Chisnall’s price of 4/7 doesn’t scream value, so let’s just leave this well alone.
Recommend: No bet.
Mark Webster versus Andy Hamilton.
A question for you: Does Andy Hamilton like leaving his best for the TV cameras? Well, not all the time, but his run to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay have been followed by a shocking run of results in floor tournaments. Mark Webster, on the other hand, had a run to the quarters in Blackpool, then had a nice run on the floor, especially in Holland.
However, one statistic is there to favour The Hammer and that is the 4-1 head-to-head score in his favour. Sure, the last time they met was last month on the floor, where Webster won 6-2, but there are signs that Hamilton can pressure Webster. Both men will double well and it could be down to the scoring. If Hamilton can get the scoring going like he did in Blackpool, he’ll make this tighter than the bookies believe.
Andy Hamilton to beat Mark Webster: 6/4 @ Betfair
Recommend: 1 unit.
Gary Anderson versus Richie Burnett.
Well, if PDC floor tournaments are anything to go by, these two are near the top of the form rankings. Burnett scraped into the World Grand Prix by winning the last Players Championship event in Nuland, in what was his last throw of the dice. Anderson just keeps on picking up wins, and his win on the Saturday in Nuland emphasised he’s a player in form.
While Anderson’s doubling is iffy at best, he should have too much for the in-form Welshman. It might be a fascinating encounter, but Anderson should prevail. The typical Anderson price of around 2/9, however, doesn’t appeal for someone who loves to miss his doubles.
Recommend: No bet.
Phil Taylor versus Peter Wright.
I would love to write something giving Wright a chance, but I can’t see it. Bask in the glory of The Power. Or get a sandwich. Whatever.
Recommend: No bet.
Simon Whitlock versus Terry Jenkins.
Two-time finalist Terry Jenkins is seen as a bit of an underdog here against Simon Whitlock, but I don’t think you should let the prices fool you; Jenkins is capable of a strong run here if he can get his doubles going, especially against Whitlock, who has been throwing in some shocking performances over the last 18 months or so.
While Whitlock leads the head-to-head, Jenkins won the last encounter, and I can see it happening again. While not a certainty, a player of Jenkins’ calibre should be a bit shorter than the 15/8 on offer.
Terry Jenkins to beat Simon Whitlock: 15/8 @ Betfair
Recommend: 1 unit.
Paul Nicholson versus Ronnie Baxter.
Last match on the stage and you can’t blame them. Both men are crowd pleasers and will push each other to the limit. Nicholson is having another “one of those years”, while Baxter has got a nice bit of form going over the last 12 months. Both men can hit the lipstick for fun and both men like a big checkout.
This match will have its ups and downs for both men and you wouldn’t want to try and split them. Which is why, for me, the 15/8 on Baxter is just a tad generous. There’s no denying Nicholson is playing well, but this format does strange things to players and I think Baxter might just thrive, like he has done in the past, reaching the final in 2004. Nicholson, on the other hand, hasn’t made it past the first round in his two attempts in Dublin. Baxter is worth a dabble at the price.
Ronnie Baxter to beat Paul Nicholson: 2/1 @ Betfair
And that’s all for day two of the World Grand Prix in Dublin. It’s going to be a fun one with a few close matches, hopefully a few upsets. Enjoy the darts and happy betting!
