World Matchplay Darts Betting: The Power can light up Blackpool at a big price

"Wes Newton is now a firmly established top eight player and has recently moved above Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld to number five in the rankings."

Back Wes Newton to win @ 36.035/1

Phil Taylor is aiming for a record-equalling fifth successive World Matchplay title at the Betfair-sponsored event. Jaymes Monte assesses the betting ahead of the Blackpool action...

The Obvious Choice
It doesn't take a darts aficionado to pick Phil Taylor out as a potential winner of the World Matchplay. The Power has 11 Matchplay trophies in his cabinet and has won the last four in succession.

Those bare statistics alone suggest that the 2.71/1 available on Taylor winning the 2012 World Matchplay are fairly generous. And the draw handed to the world number one backs up that idea.

Taylor can be vulnerable in the early stages of tournaments, but an opening round match against old foe Mervyn King will only serve to focus his attentions. Should he beat King then Vincent van der Voort or Ian White would not be expected to pose much of a threat in the second round while the same could be said for potential quarter-final opponents Andy Hamilton, Brendan Dolan, Mark Webster and Colin Lloyd.

Gary Anderson is the next highest seed in the top half of the draw but the Scot hasn't played competitive darts for over a month due to an eye problem, and so his form is something of a mystery.

Come next Sunday evening that 2.71/1 on Taylor could look like a gift from the darting gods.

One to Trade
The best options for trading in the outright winner markets of a darts tournament usually come from players in the opposite half of the draw to Taylor. However, this week, the bottom half of the draw is a potential minefield and so I am plumping for an in-form player in The Power's half but in the opposite quarter.

Wes Newton is now a firmly established top-eight player and has recently moved above Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld to number five in the rankings.

Young James Hubbard will provide a stern examination in the opening round, but The Warrior's experience on the main stage should see him progress with some comfort. Justin Pipe or Joe Cullen await in the second round, and Newton would go into a match against either as a deserved short-price favourite. Then, given Anderson's injury problems, Dave Chisnall is probably the most likely quarter-final opponent.

Although Chizzy has had a fantastic year, Newton has a considerable 6-1 head-to-head advantage over the St Helens flinger, and would again go into the match as strong favourite. Taylor is a potential semi-final opponent but by that point Newton will be trading considerably lower than the 36.035/1 that is currently available and we can bag a tidy profit.

An Outsider to Keep Onside
As mentioned above, the bottom half of the draw is a real minefield. But it does offer up a couple of bigger priced options as a result.

Richie Burnett showed that he can still mix it with the best by reaching the semi-finals of last season's World Grand Prix and subsequently beating Mark Webster at the World Championships. He then teamed up with Webster to guide Wales to the semis of the PDC World Cup of Darts, before a rather inconspicuous UK Open.

The Prince of Wales appeared to have slipped back into the 'also-ran' status that he had become accustomed with, before bursting back to life in Dusseldorf a fortnight ago. There he beat Andy Jenkins 6-2 in the opening round with an astonishing 121 average before defeating Scott Rand, Michael van Gerwen and James Hubbard to reach the semi-finals. The 1995 Lakeside Champion couldn't go all the way as Raymond van Barneveld beat him in the semis, but he did enough to warrant backing him this week, for small stakes at 140.0139/1.

The action kicks off this Saturday evening with the final taking place the following Sunday. I'll be here all week with daily previews of individual matches so be sure to check these pages before placing your individual match bets.

Recommended Bets:
5 points - Back Phil Taylor to win @ 2.71/1
3 points - Back Wes Newton to win @ 36.035/1
1 point - Back Richie Burnett to win @ 140.0139/1

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Sports Center

Premier League Darts Betting: Barney is on a roll

Barney won both the Saturday and Sunday tournaments at the weekend and even hit a nine-darter against Michael Barnard on Saturday.

The Premier League arrives on the south coast this Thursday with Bournemouth International Centre playing host for the evening. Jaymes Monte picks out his best bet...

Playing well in the weekend's floor tournaments doesn't necessarily translate to performing well in front of the cameras on the big stage. Some players are unable to reproduce their very best in major tournaments. Mark Walsh and Justin Pipe, to name just two obvious examples.

But for players well accustomed to the glare of the cameras floor form can be the nudge we need to pick out a bet in the major events.

Raymond van Barneveld has already shown in this year's Premier League that he is edging back to his best. But for a string of missed doubles in the eighth leg of his match against Phil Taylor last week the Dutchman could have taken at least a point from The Power. And he looks to be on course for a top-four finish and semi-final berth in the Premier League.

That alone would be enough to suggest backing Barney at odds of 2.362/1 to beat Simon Whitlock this Thursday. Despite the Australian's own good form. However, it was Van Barneveld's performances at the weekend in the UK Open qualifiers that make him the standout bet this week.

Barney won both the Saturday and Sunday tournaments at the weekend and even hit a nine-darter against Michael Barnard on Saturday. Beating Whitlock, Terry Jenkins, Wes Newton and Dennis Priestley in a run of 15 straight victories. Suffice to say that he is on top of his game.

Although Whitlock is two points better off in the Premier League group stages I feel that we need to back Barney while he is hot. The Aussie's doubling can crack under pressure in the latter part of matches, and that aspect of his game will certainly be put under the microscope in this match.

Recommended Bet:
Back Van Barneveld to beat Whitlock @ 2.362/1

This entry is tagged with:
premier league, raymond van barneveld, simon whitlock, darts

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Sports Center

Grand Prix Darts Tips: Big boys can handle hot atmosphere

Darts / Alex Lee / 08 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Big Phil knows what to do at the business end

"Handling the atmosphere will be of vital importance this evening with the noise at the New City West Convention Centre in Dublin having increased in decibels night-on-night since the tournament started on Monday."

Alex Lee gets his betting boots on again for two days of tips at the World Grand Prix

The oft-used phrase 'trebles for show, doubles for dough' has never been more appropriate than during the last few days of darts in Dublin. Unlike all other darts majors, each and every leg in the World Grand Prix relies on starting on a double as well as finishing on one. And oh how this has separated the William Tells from the Blind Pews.

The four semi-finalists are Brendan Dolan, James Wade, Phil Taylor and Richie Burnett. All have held their nerve to hit their doubles at the beginning and the end of enough legs to progress this far.

The biggest surprise for me has been Burnett, who despite showing some great form to reach his first televised semi for ten years, hasn't smiled all tournament. At least when Taylor sends him packing tonight he won't have to alter any of his facial muscles.

Dolan, meanwhile, has no big tournament pedigree to speak of (his best performance to date coming in the 2008 Ulster Open) and will find the semi-final atmosphere just that little bit too hot when he faces Wade. He may, however, hold it together enough to edge it on the most 180s market as he has hit 11 so far this week against Wade's six, and this provides the value bet of the round.

Handling the atmosphere will be of vital importance this evening with the noise at the New City West Convention Centre in Dublin having increased in decibels night-on-night since the tournament started on Monday. This is one of the factors I've taken into consideration for selecting my two semi-final winners - Wade and Taylor - as they tend to save their best darts for the biggest, noisiest crowds and tonight's capacity audience won't be composed of mute librarians.

Recommended Bets
Back a Wade/Taylor double @ [1.75]
Back Taylor -3.5 @ [1.6]
Back Dolan to score most 180s @ [3.0]

Following a month's hiatus PDC darts returns to our television screens this week as the game's elite congregate in Dublin for the World Grand Prix. Jaymes Monte picks the best bets....

The stats will all be on Phil Taylor's side when he takes to the oche against James Wade tonight. The Power should win yet again but there are some value bets to be had away from the winner market, says...

Alex Lee looks back at last night's action and ahead to tonight's two semi-finals, where the very evenly matched pair of James Wade and Adrian Lewis resume hostilities in their ongoing rivalry....

Betfair website

Darts World Matchplay 2011 Tips: Lewis and Wade to go the distance

Darts / Alex Lee / 23 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

James Wade is set for a long night ahead of him against Adrian Lewis

"The only sure-fire bet in this fixture is a back of ‘overs’ in the total legs market. Wait until there’s sufficient liquidity and bet with confidence. This one will go the distance, mark my words."

Alex Lee looks back at last night's action and ahead to tonight's two semi-finals, where the very evenly matched pair of James Wade and Adrian Lewis resume hostilities in their ongoing rivalry.

Too much sports journalism is ruined by hyperbole these days, with writers getting all hot under the collar to misguidedly celebrate minor achievements. Two of last night's quarter-finals, however, were worthy of every superlative going. Andy Hamilton's turnaround against Simon Whitlock from 8-15 down to 17-15 was, in the words of Sid Waddell, the biggest comeback since Lazarus, while Phil Taylor's unbelievable dismantling of Newton from 1-4 down to 16-5, was borderline miraculous.

Tonight's semis see Taylor take on Hamilton and Adrian Lewis face James Wade in gruelling best-of-33 legs matches. While Hamilton has played the board like a Stradivarius in his relentless crushing of non-English opposition, he'll meet his match in fellow 'Stokie' The Power.

The romantics willing to part with their cash to back The Hammer are doing so because of the attractive odds and his last three enthralling performances, rather than seeing the big picture - which comes in the shape of a billboard-sized animated 3D movie poster of Phil Taylor. By all means stick a few notes on The Hammer to outscore Taylor on the 180s or to get the highest checkout for decent odds-against punts. But a big back of The Power has to be in order here as last night saw him roar back to the peak of his game.

The second semi, between Lewis and Wade, will be an altogether tighter affair. Neither fellow likes to hang around at the oche, so the speed freaks will be more than satisfied. Similarly, the maximums will be flying in like wasps around jam, so take a close look at the total 180s market here and pile in. As for the winner of this match, simply lay the favourite and trade out in-running as there'll be more twists and turns than my old Scalextric.

The only sure-fire bet in this fixture is a back of 'overs' in the total legs market. Wait until there's sufficient liquidity and bet with confidence. This one will go the distance, mark my words.

Recommendations:

Back Taylor to beat Hamilton @ [1.05]
Back +25.5 legs in the Lewis v Wade match @ [2.1]

We've seen some sensational darts since Saturday, but expect the real top class stuff to start this afternoon in the quarter finals. The best of 31 legs format will test the players' stamina and concentration levels as much as their...

Alex Lee selects his best Wednesday night bets as the second round gets underway at the World Matchplay Darts......

Alex Lee returns to the oche - the betting one that is - with another batch of exciting world matchplay darts bets......

Betfair website

World Matchplay Darts Tips: Will hunger drive Chisnal to victory?

Darts / Alex Lee / 17 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will Chisnall prevail or is Alex wide of the mark?

"Chisnall has what’s known in sporting parlance as ‘the hunger’. For this reason, back him to beat Walsh tonight."

Don't expect any lightning quick play when two of the game's most careful throwers meet on Sunday night but do expect an intense battle of wits, says Alex Lee. Meanwhile, there are three ofther matches to get your betting teeth into.

Paul Nicholson and Colin Osborne possess strikingly similar throwing styles. Both have, to put it nicely, a 'considered approach'. In other words, they take forever between flinging each dart. That's where their similarity ends, however, with Nicholson the self-styled bête noire as opposed to the more laid-back Osborne.

The 'Aussie Geordie' loves nothing better than to wind the crowd up, while Osborne is more of a quiet grafter. Although Osborne is experienced enough not to let the atmosphere get to him, I fancy Nicholson to adapt to the noise quicker and more decisively. I can't see any upsets here, despite the players being more evenly-matched than the odds suggest.

Next up, Dave Chisnall is one of a number of players who have come through the ranks of the BDO and fancy their chances among the PDC fancy dans. While Walsh has been in the PDC for several years, he hasn't scaled the heights and looks like he's on the descent. Chisnall only joined up with the PDC this year and has what's known in sporting parlance as 'the hunger'. For this reason, back him to beat Walsh tonight.

Tonight's third game sees James Wade take on Jamie Caven. Although Caven is a likable sort with his cheeky chappie demeanour, Wade will view him as nothing more than a barfly to swat on his way to the second round. The Machine will take Caven apart tonight and for this reason a Dutch of 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 is where the clever money is heading.

The last match of the night pits Raymond Van Barneveld against Steve Brown. If there's one player who looks like he isn't enjoying himself on the oche, then it's Barney. Brown's capable of posting a fair few legs, but the best of 19 format should be long enough for Barney's class to show, regardless of how miserable he looks on stage. Perhaps take Brown on the +2.5 handicap market at around even money for a value punt.

Recommended Bets
Back Chisnall to beat Walsh @ [1.66] or better
Dutch Wade 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 versus Caven

Alex Lee commences a tournament-long tipping column with a look at the first day's World Matchplay action...

It has taken the best part of two decades to happen but Phil 'The Power' Taylor's stranglehold on the game of darts is finally relinquishing....

The big names have fallen by the wayside but Alex Lee can only see the market favourites going on to land the UK Open final...

Betfair website