Manley and Andy Smith could be good bets to crash out early doors

Darts / Stuart Pyke / 18 December 2007 / Leave a Comment

Darts commentator Stuart Pyke talks us through the potential upsets of the first round of the PDC World Championships

At last year's World Championship, 11 of the seeded players (the top 32) fell at the first hurdle, so who will be the casualties this time?

I like the look of Jason Barry in the all-Irish affair against Mick McGowan, who has been woefully out of form all year. Barry made his TV debut at the World Grand Prix, he is a former Ireland Champion and he was very impressive in the qualifiers. McGowan to lay at around (1.6) looks worth a shot.

And if you are searching for a real flyer, how about youngster Kirk Shepherd to take the bull by the horns and upset Terry Jenkins? I watched Shepherd at the qualifiers in Wolverhampton and under real pressure, with so much at stake, he won five matches to reach the Alexandra Palace.

For me, Shepherd to back at (9) are ridiculously generous odds, so it may be worth laying Jenkins (1.06) for the gamble of the 1st Round.....it's surely worth a fiver!

If you are looking for potential shocks, here is a brief guide to where they may happen:

● Peter Manley is under enormous pressure and hasn't performed in the big tournaments. He is defending £50,000 in the PDC Order of Merit, after reaching the final two years ago and he could be out of the world's top 16 if he has a bad tournament. Dutch youngster Toon Greebe will fancy his chances

● The erratic Chris Mason certainly won't have it all his own way in the all-Bristol battle against the promising Steve Brown. You can back Brown at around (3)

● German No.1 Mensur Suljovic looks a threat to 'The Pie Man' - Andy Smith is around (1.3) to lay

● Former BDO star Tony Eccles looks good odds to take out former World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Jones

● Which game will Mark Dudbridge bring to the stage? There is no grey area and is he isn't at his best. Steve Hine, who averaged 103 during the qualifiers, will be a threat.