Wayne Mardle on the World Matchplay: The pick of the first round wagers

Price and Cullen set for a humdinger

Gerwen Price v Joe Cullen
Sunday, 15:00

Two massively inconsistent types, both struggle to annihilate their opponents, even when dominating performance wise. And that should - we hope - ensure that this game is kept tight.

The last two meetings between Gerwen and Joe have gone to the deciding leg, I'm not suggesting it will go that long but I am thinking that an over the legs bet is the one here. The Over 16.5 Legs option is 8/11, I like it.

Heat is on the King

Rob Cross v Mervyn King
Sunday, 22:15

I'm taking a little gamble here, not on how the players play, but the heat. Mervyn is a known sufferer in the heat, and if Rob gets away early doors The King may wilt a little.

The heat on the Winter Gardens stage can be torturous.

I'm just hoping that Mervyn stays with Rob long enough for the Over 16.5 Legs bet at evens to cash in. If this game was to be played anywhere else I'd fancy it massively.

Webster looks a maximum bet

Darren Webster v Steve Lennon
Sunday, 13:15

Maximums. Neither are prolific in the 180s column but Webster's ratio far outweighs Lennon's. At 11/10, I think this is a super bet.

Using a smallish sample of the last 100 legs played on tour, Darren has hit 25 maximums to Steve's 16.

A little treble for you

I really fancy Michael Smith to beat Johnny Clayton at 2/5, Ian White to beat Max Hopp at 4/9, and Simon Whitlock to beat Richard North at 1/3.

Michael Smith is a man in form and has a 4-0 head to head record against the likeable Welshman.

Ian White is playing some of the best darts of his life right now. His head to head record against Max isn't good but the format should be a massive help to the ultra consistent White.

Max Hopp won the German open in April, however, in singles play since then he has only registered two last 16 results in 19 events. He did play some tidy stuff in the World Cup of darts.

Simon beat Richard 3-0 in the Grand Prix, their only big stage meeting.