The World Matchplay

Posted: 20.12.16 in Darts Performance Centre Blog category

It's that Blackpool time of year!

The annual darting Blackpool beano kicks off on Saturday. We will be bidding a misty eyed farewell to the 15 times Matchplay Champion Phil Taylor as he arrives in the Vegas of the North for one last tilt at the title. However, the Taylor rollercoaster is very much on the way down these days and the not so misty eyes bookies have him as a 25/1 shot to pull off the impossible.

Phil is using the opportunity to bulk up his pension pot. The champion darting entrepreneurs aka Target Sports have brought out a commemorative set of Taylor Matchplay darts in celebration of The Power’s immense achievements at Blackpool over the years. If you fancy a set you can get them here!

OK, that’s the commercial break sorted now down to who is going to be runner up this year! I know we have used this line before but for the odd hiccup along the way can anyone stop MVG from making it 4 finals on the bounce and a hat trick of wins? Probably not. He starts the tournament as a “Tayloresque” odds on favourite before a lump of tungsten has been tossed. The Dutch star is a best price 4/5 and 8/11 with the rest.

Next up are Anderson and Wright at around 5’s. They are both in the other side of the draw to MVG so the final line up of MVG v Anderson or Wright is around 2/1! Who do you want out of those two? Anderson is becoming like Barney in as much as he is a tad unreliable when it comes to winning games that he should be winning easily. You can argue he does turn it on, most of the time for the Majors but on the whole Snakebite is just a shade more reliable.

Anyway enough of MVG and Anderson and the rest of the elite group we get saturated with. These tournaments are great for seeing the players we don’t get to see too often. Rob Cross for example has been getting rave reviews so I am looking forward to seeing how he copes with the stage in Blackpool.

Another player on the rise is Darryl Gurney and Darren Webster looks good to cause an upset against The Machine. Christian Kist too is in the draw, along with another Lakeside Champion of recent years Stephen Bunting. Talking of upsets what about Gerwyn Price to KO the Power?

Hey why not, Blackpool is a crazy place where anything can happen!

The action starts at 7pm on Sky Sports.

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The Darts Performance Centre is a resource to assist dart players of all standards play better darts. The site is arranged as an online coaching manual. There is advice on technique, nerves, psychology, goal setting, practice games, an area to log your statistics and an interactive area where your darting questions are answered by two sports scientists, one with 30 years dart playing experience. You also get an invite to our free but exclusive members only events and access to our members only darts coaching app! Membership is £25 per year!