Lakeside 2015

Posted: 01.01.15 in Tournament Analysis Blog category

Who is going to win Lakeside 2015? It's a tough one to call this year!

The 2015 BDO Lakeside World Championships are looming on the horizon. The World Championship will be played at The Lakeside County Club in Frimley Green in Surrey, its home since 1986. £100,000 is on offer to The Men’s Champion but who will be going home with the cheque?

Stephen Bunting won it last year at a canter but then promptly eloped to the “noisy neighbours” at the PDC leaving the Lakeside competition wide open this year. Alan Norris was the beaten finalist last year and he recently did well at The Grand Slam in Wolverhampton, reaching the last 16 and getting a taste for life at The PDC-Will he do a “Bunty” after Lakeside and move, hmm, watch this space.

Photo courtesy of DG Media

On paper Norris looks every part of the 6/1 joint favourite to win Lakeside. He has 6 BDO titles in the bag this year already as well as 2 semi-final spots. In the Majors, Alan has achieved a best of the ¼ finals in both the World Trophy and the Winmau World Masters.

The other joint favourite is James Wilson. The Jammie Dodger won the first BDO World Trophy in February but has had nothing but crumbs since then. He made the final of the Isle of Man and German Open in the spring but nothing much since then to inspire backing him ahead of Norris.

Wolfie is available at 8/1 and has enjoyed some good times again this year. But at 58 can he sustain a challenge all the way through to the final? Perhaps he can, age didn’t hamper Martin Phillips, he cleaned up at The Winmau World Masters this year at age 54. Phillips is a best price 11/1.

Photo courtesy of DG Media

Question marks are also hovering over Scott Waites.The 2013 Champion has drifted in and out of form and talk of a lingering injury casts doubt in my mind of a Scotty “Too Hotty” victory to take back his Lakeside crown and he’s 8/1 if you disagree.

There are still plenty more genuine contenders! Robbie Green showed the PDC what he can do at Wolverhampton and he is another player who is not so much linked with a move away to the PDC but definitely going if his recent tweets are anything to go by. He made the semi-final last year and has 3 BDO titles this year already. Kong can be backed at 16/1.

Next please… Scotty Dog, what a season the man from the village of Bransgore (just down the road from our darts shop and office so excuse any hint of favouritism) has had, sensational! 5 BDO titles won and a final shows the form he is in. But, Lakeside, Scotty struggled for 3 years to get through the first round but won his openers in 2013 and 2014 but getting no further after that. After these first round wins Scott shed some tears of joy! What if he wins the title? Pack some sandbags if you are at Lakeside on Finals night is my advice! Mitchell 16/1.

Photo courtesy of DG Media

Also at 16/1 are Wesley Harms, Glen Durrant and Jamie Hughes. Hughes achieved what a lot of BDO fans already knew by reaching the final of the Winmau World Masters and recently came through a quality field to win the Zuidurduin Masters. Along with Scotty these are four outsiders worth considering.

We are moving into big money territory now and two Lakeside stalwarts and BDO legends Tony O’Shea and Darryl Fitton-both available if you shop around at 40/1. O’Shea has looked “out of sorts” in recent times but has sprung back into form at the right time. A good showing at The Grand Slam and victory at The Jersey Classic, against The Dazzler, has put The Silverback on the radar again.

Jan Dekker needs a mention, he has added some “steel” to his game and is also available at 40/1. Pip Blackwell at 50/1 is a big price for a talented dart player. Sam Hewson and debutant Rhys Hayden are worth keeping your eye on too, at 100/1.

We haven’t had time to mention Remco van Eijden or Rick Hofstra in any detail, they are both capable of beating anyone on their day.This really is going to be one of the most difficult to predict Lakeside World Championships for years. Bring it on!

I am going for Alan Norris, as on his day he is the best player but I do have nagging doubts about whether he can hold his game together throughout the whole tournament.For my each way “outsider” I am going to flag up Jamie Hughes as the man to back.

Scotty has a tough opener V O’Shea, Harms is not in the form he was 18 months ago and not plumping for Durrant instead of Jamie Hughes was also a tough decision. 

Enjoy!

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