Darts Betting: Players Championship puts favourites on their guard

Darts / David Croft / 26 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

It doesn't seem long since Phil Taylor and Ted Hankey were winning their respective World Championships but, as January draws to a close, Darts is back this weekend as ITV 4 hosts the PDC Players Championship at the Circus Tavern. David Croft picks the best bets....

I'm not sure about the claim made by the broadcaster that 'Darts is coming home'. As cosy as the Tavern is, it's not a patch on 'The Lakeside' which I believe is the best venue for top class darts, with Blackpool's Winter Gardens coming a close second.

Incidentally, Ted Hankey tells me that he's after a head to head against The Power sometime this year and wants to play it on the famous Lakeside stage. It's been a few years since we've had a one off champion against champion match and it's high time we had a return. Two Stoke boys currently rule the world, both have contrasting styles, both are hugely entertaining, both top quality crowd pleasers, what a night it would be. I'll keep you updated if there's any more news.

Anyway, back to the Players Championship, which all Betfair backers should note, is leg play not set play, the same format as the Grand Slam and World Matchplay. Which means that the chance of an upset is a little higher than normal and that the favourites need to be on the guard, especially in the best of 11 legs first and second rounds. I note that Phil Taylor comes face to face with Michael Van Gerwin in round one with the young Dutchman offered at a massive [7.0] to win the match, a ridiculous price for one so talented even when you take Taylor's four sets to nil drubbing in the world championship last month.

Maybe it's been forgotten that Van Gerwen averaged 99 in that match and also was a missed double away from beating Taylor 12 months ago. Either way, I think this will be a tricky opening for Taylor which won't get much better in round two when he should face the fast throwing Vincent van der Voort. If Taylor is vulnerable, and it's not often that he is, then it's in the short format of championships like this. It may pay to oppose him at this weekend.

Meanwhile the man he beat in the final at Alexandra Palace, Raymond Van Barneveld, has a slightly easier path to the quarter-finals. Barney opens up against Andy Jenkins and is rightly a short priced [1.18] to win though when he takes on either Colin Osbourne or Dennis Smith. I take Osbourne to win that tie at [1.43].

Barney should face James Wade in the last eight if everything goes according to plan, setting up a cracker of a tie should Wade be back to something like his best. We didn't see that in the world championships but this matchplay format has suited Wade well in the past. As it is on current form, I can't see him beating Barneveld but he'll have plenty of chances throughout the next 12 months.

What's interesting is how the results from the world championship have affected punters confidence for the first big tournament of 2009. Wade, after his disappointing quarter-final defeat against Paul Nicholson, is a generous [17.4] to win the Players Championship. Terry Jenkins, who went out in the first round at Alexandra Palace is a best priced [34.00] as is Adrian Lewis, Andy Hamilton and Robert Thornton. Mervyn King can be backed at [26.00] after his run to the World Championship semi-finals.

However, only two players have a realistic chance according to Betfair customers. Barneveld who can be backed at [7.4] to win and Phil Taylor who is a [1.6] chance. That's too short in a tournament that will produce an upset because of the format. Also, because this tournament features the top 32 in the PDC Order of Merit from December 31st 2008, and only the top 32 on that day, this is a quality field with no walkovers, expect a shock and maybe look at Ray Van Barneveld, who will avoid Phil Taylor until the final, to come out on top.