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Michael Van Gerwen set to wear Phil Taylor's crown - Darts World Matchplay preview
The PDC World Matchplay Darts competition at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the calendar.
The second biggest major in the sport comprises 32 players in a knockout format and takes place from July 21-29. The action will be on Sky Sports and Genting Bet darts odds sees Michael van Gerwen as the even-money favourite.
The first ever winner was Larry Butler, who beat Dennis Priestley 16-12, and the current holder is Phil Taylor, who has won this event 16 times. Now retired, the trophy for this event will now be known as the Phil Taylor Trophy. Quite right, too.
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We take a look at a quartet set to challenge for the title…
At the tender age of 29, he has taken over Taylor’s mantle as the greatest darts player around, as he two World championships, two World Matchplay championships and four Premier League titles attest.
In total, he has 109 titles but it still hurts that he was thrashed 16-6 by Taylor in last year’s final.
The quest for a third World Matchplay title will not be an easy path. He has a tough opening round clash against Jeffrey de Zwaan, who defeated him at the UK Open and he is in the same side of the draw as Adrian Lewis, Michael Smith, Daryl Gurney, Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld.
The Darts World Matchplay odds make him a clear favourite and it is hard to argue against his chance.
‘Snakebite’ has been unfortunate to come up against two titans of the game and Scotland’s finest has been a runner-up on too many occasions.
While he won the UK Open last year and took 10 PDC tournaments in 2017, he was also Premier League runner-up and World Matchplay runner-up – tournaments that really matter.
However, he has not had a great start to 2018, winning just one Pro Tour event and failed to make the Premier League playoffs.
However, he is reaching the latter stages of tournaments and he is in the easier half of the draw. It is possible he could meet Rob Cross in the semi-finals and his sole Pro Tour event win was against Cross.
One of the most affable players on the circuit, The Austrian is seeded sixth but given he is in the easier side of the draw and is currently a 50/1 shot with Genting Bet, he may well tempt some to reach the final, and the each-way terms are half the odds for the first two places.
Suljovic was the Champions League of Darts winner last year and he has also won five non-televised PDC titles. He took the German Masters and the inaugural Danish Darts Open in front of big crowds, and is starting to believe in his talent.
Though he could well meet Rob Cross in the quarter-finals, his price seems inviting and on his day, he is a match for anyone.
‘Voltage’, a former electrician, went out to Adrian Lewis in the second round of the World Matchplay last year, but went on to become World Champion and he has also won five non-televised PDC events.
He reached the play-offs in the Premier League and that gave him some valuable experience in front of big crowds and a regular TV audience.
There is no doubt he has embraced the pressure, and he has reached back-to-back US Darts Masters and Shanghai Masters finals, so comes here in from.
He is in the easier half of the draw and may well make the semi-finals at least.
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