Our Chris Hammer previews the World Grand Prix and picks out his best bets in what could be another week of shocks in Dublin.
The double-start format of the World Grand Prix has thrown up its fair share of shocks and drama down the years, not least 12 months ago when odds-on favourite and defending champion Michael van Gerwen was sensationally sent crashing out by big John Henderson on opening night!
The Highlander was 500/1 pre-tournament but went on to reach the last four, where he finally bowed out to Daryl Gurney, who landed his maiden TV title by defeating Simon Whitlock in the final.
Few would have backed the Northern Irishman at the start either given he's a player known more for his heavy scoring than clinical doubling - as you may have noticed during this season's Premier League - while you wouldn't say his demeanour is ice cool enough to deal with the potential frustrations of doubling in.
final to be another recent surprise champion.
Although the historical roll of honour is dominated by Phil Taylor's 11 titles and more recently by van Gerwen's haul of three crowns in five years, these two recent examples are more relevant, especially in the current climate of darts which is seeing so many different winners of tournaments and first-time finalists this year.
Granted, MVG has managed to get his hands on 16 titles in 2018 and Gary Anderson has picked up three of the big TV majors (UK Open, World Matchplay & Champions League of Darts) but apart from that we've seen youngsters like Max Hopp, Jeffrey de Zwaan and Josh Payne pick up breakthrough titles while veterans such as Ian White and Micky Mansell have also got in the act.
Of course de Zwaan shocked MVG at two big majors this season - the UK Open and World Matchplay - while the world number one has recently been stunned on tour by world number 50 William O'Connor (6-1 at the Dutch Darts Championship) and Latvia's world number 88 Madars Razma (6-5 at Players Championship 19).
He's shown too many signs of vulnerability to consider backing at such short prices in majors and the way he blew an 8-5 lead to lose 11-9 to Peter Wright in the Champions League of Darts semi-finals will give his rivals further confidence.
I'm not saying he's lost his aura or any of his talents - just that there's more reasons than ever to look for value. We'll do that now by taking the draw quarter at a time.
First Quarter
- Michael van Gerwen (1) v Steve Lennon
- Darren Webster v Stephen Bunting
- Dave Chisnall (8) v Max Hopp
- Ricky Evans v Raymond van Barneveld
And the first big price that catches the eye is Hopp at a whopping 18/1 to win the first quarter.
Earlier this year, the rising star so memorably won his first senior PDC title on home soil at the German Darts Open, holding his nerve to beat Michael Smith 8-7 in the final having earlier defeated both Peter Wright and Rob Cross, while on Friday he picked up his second at Players Championship 19.
Admittedly he is inconsistent and blow hot and cold on tour, which you've got to put down to age, but he'll come out all guns blazing on his World Grand Prix debut and I see no reason why he can't an out of form Dave Chisnall in the first round to set up a clash with Ricky Evans or Raymond van Barneveld. That's winnable too, leaving him with potentially a clash with MVG...but as we've just established, anything can happen.
Second quarter
- Daryl Gurney (5) v John Henderson
- Ron Meulenkamp v Joe Cullen
- Gary Anderson (4) v Jonny Clayton
- Jeffrey de Zwaan v Kim Huybrechts
Gary Anderson will of course attract a lot of punters in the outright market at 7/1 to maintain his sparkling season that has seen him add those three big tournaments to his CV having not won any of them before.
His unforgettable Matchplay triumph in Blackpool this summer saw him become just the third player after Taylor and van Gerwen to complete the triple crown, which also consists of the World Championship and Premier League, while his nine-dart finish further cemented his status as one of the game's most popular players.
World Grand Prix: Draw & tournament bracket
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QUARTER ONE
- Michael van Gerwen (1) v Steve Lennon
- Darren Webster v Stephen Bunting
- Dave Chisnall (8) v Max Hopp
- Ricky Evans v Raymond van Barneveld
QUARTER TWO
- Daryl Gurney (5) v John Henderson
- Ron Meulenkamp v Joe Cullen
- Gary Anderson (4) v Jonny Clayton
- Jeffrey de Zwaan v Kim Huybrechts
QUARTER THREE
- Peter Wright (2) v Steve West
- Jermaine Wattimena v Mervyn King
- Simon Whitlock (7) v James Wilson
- Michael Smith v Adrian Lewis
QUARTER FOUR
- Mensur Suljovic (6) v James Wade
- Josh Payne v Ian White
- Rob Cross (3) v Steve Beaton
- Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price
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