Ladbrokes PDC Darts World Championship 2010 betting preview
The world’s best darts players will descend on Alexandra Palace over the Christmas period, with the World Championship easily the sport’s most popular betting contest (thus the Ladbrokes sponsorship). According to the Magic Sign and all the other bookies, there’s one man who’s got the power – both as a name and a force in the competition. Phil Taylor has won this title an incredible fourteen times and it’s little surprise to see the Stoke-on-Trent arrow smith installed as 2/5 favourite (Stan James) on the outright market. Taylor may have missed out in 2007 and 2008, although there was no stopping him at the start of 2009 when he slaughtered Raymond Van Barneveld 7-1 in the final.
The Dutchman will therefore be hungry for revenge and Barney did beat the Power in 2007 in a nail-biting finale. The four-time BDO Championship winner is 14/1 (Sky Bet) to land his second PDC title, although the bookies make James Wade (9/1 bet365) a likelier opponent for Taylor in the final. The 26-year-old is known as ‘The Machine’ and, although he lacks charisma, he did win the 2009 Premier League by beating Mervyn King in the final. He made the semi-finals of this competition last time out and should at least reach this stage again.
The only other player in recent history to win this tournament is John Part, with Darth Maple (yes that’s really his nickname) triumphing in 2003 and 2008. Despite the Canadian’s vast experience, the bookies are happy to lay him at 100/1 (Blue Square), although Holland’s Toon Greebe shouldn’t pose too many problems in the first round. Due to the Premier League on Sky, there are several other household names featuring in the outright market, including Gary Anderson (16/1 Bet Fred), Mervyn King (40/1 Sporting Bet), Terry Jenkins (50/1 Sky Bet) and Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis (50/1 Paddy Power).
The latter has never quite lived up to expectations and potentially faces the Power in the quarter finals. Bet Fred offer 11/1 that he wins the 1st Quarter (with his fellow Stoke player just 1/8 with the same firm). Quarter 2 is a great deal more competitive, with King (2/1 bet365), Part (6/1 bet365) and Mark Walsh (9/2 Bet Fred) likely to be battling it out for a place in the semis. Barney (13/8 bet365) and Anderson (15/8 Bet Fred) are likely to play each other in the 3rd Quarter, while Andy ‘The Hammer’ Hamilton (15/2 Bet Fred) will be looking to nail the opposition in Q4.
Over a million pounds in prize money has been made available by Ladbrokes, who offer an extensive range of markets on the tournament. It’s 2/1 that there is a 9-dart finish in the tournament (always a possibility with the Power), while you can get 6/5 with Laddies that there are two or more 170 checkouts at Ally Pally. Phil Taylor is 25/1 not to lose a set, something which is surely beyond the favourite, although you can get 20/1 that he beats Barney 7-1 in the final again.