It's All About The Quarters!

Posted: 18.07.14 in Tournament Analysis Blog category

We take a look at who could pip Taylor and MVG for the Matchplay title.

Have you downloaded the PDC 2014 BetVictor World Matchplay wallchart yet? You should! Here’s the link. It is great for plotting the course of the player carrying your fiver each way and is great for planning where the potential pitfalls are along the way too.

Yesterday we suggested that perhaps looking for a winner beyond Taylor and MVG was the right course of action! Maybe the lovely sun we have been having has got to us. Well that’s for you to decide. But one thing is for sure, it’s all about the quarters!

A glance of your wallchart will show you this:

Quarter 1 plays the winner of Quarter 2 in the semi-finals and the winner of quarter 3 plays the winner of quarter 4 for a place in the final.

Here are the groups-and yes, like all good tournaments there is a group of death!

Quarter 1

MVG, Dave Chisnall, Andy Hamilton, Ian White, Terry Jenkins, Dean Winstanley, Steve Beaton and Wayne Jones

Quarter 2

James Wade, Barney, Simon Whitlock, Brendan Dolan, Kevin Painter, Vincent van der Voort, Richie Burnett and Andy Smith.

So, according to the bookies they say a MVG v Wade or Barney semi final is the most likely outcome.

Quarter 3

Phil Taylor, Robert Thornton, Michael Smith, Wes Newton, Justin Pipe, Ronnie Baxter, Paul Nicholson and Darren Webster.

Quarter 4 (The Group Of Death)

Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Stephen Bunting. Kim Huybrechts, Jamie Caven, Mervyn King and Andrew Gilding.

The bookies have this down as a Taylor to reach the semi final (he is odds on with The Thorn next at 7/1 to win the 3^rd quarter). What about the group of death? Am I exaggerating if I said anyone of that group could win Quarter 4? You may not know a too much about Andrew Gilding but he is a quality player, as are all of them.

Lewis and Ando are neck and neck to take this quarter (5/2 and 3/1) and it is a shame we are going to lose Snakebite or Bunty in the 1^st round but it should be a cracking game!

So if we are going to oppose MVG and Taylor how is it going to pan out? Well MGV has a much bigger battle than the bookies think when he takes on Beaton in the 1^st round. After that, there is potentially a route through to the semis to take on possibly Wade, Barney or Whitlock. Wade has been a “loose cannon” on many occasions but he seems back to his best. Wade at 14/1 appeals each way.

Taylor also has a tricky first round game against the resilient Darren Webster. The Power may then have to  take on Pipe or Michael Smith and then possibly The Thorn. No easy games there! Then it would be a semi-final, according to the bookies v Lewis or Anderson or any of Q4!

Lewis with his experience at 9/1 EW is appealing. Anderson is in form, but, well it’s Gary Anderson isn’t it! Perhaps as a bit of insurance a small investment of the winner of the Wright/Bunting game may be in order.

Tonight’s games are:

First Round
Ian White (10/11) v Terry Jenkins (11/10)
Simon Whitlock (2/5) v Kevin Painter (12/5)
Michael van Gerwen (1/8) v Steve Beaton (7/1)
James Wade (1/5) v Andy Smith (4/1)

I like the look of White at 10/11. Jenkins had one PDC tour win fairly recently but that has been it. White has ticked along for a while now showing good consistency. Both can hit 180’s. White at 7/4 to hit the most is interesting and the pair of them to hit ten or more at evens is worth considering. A lot depends on Jenkins form so do bear that in mind. I'll go with Diamond White hitting the most!

If you agree with me that Beaton will put up more of a fight than the 1/8 on for MVG have a go at the handicap. The Bronzed Adonis with a 4.5 leg start in a race to 10 is a best price 5/4.

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