Live on Skysports 1: Sat 19.00: Kevin Francis previews the World Matchplay from Winter Gardens and fancies Gary Anderson.
World Sky Bet Mobile Matchplay , Blackpool, from Saturday July 16th to Sunday, July 24th (Sky Sports 1 daily from 7.00pm)
THE World Matchplay sees Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in the unusual position of NOT being odds-on favourite for a change. The Daily Star’s KEVIN FRANCIS reports…
THE days of PHIL TAYLOR kicking off a tournament as a virtually unbackable long odds-on chance have now gone. The 15-times world champion is now looking almost human after going seven months without a major win before landing the Players Championship in February. With his aura of invincibility seemingly disappearing, he is a best-priced 7/4 with Betfred, and Corals to win the World Matchplay.
A better bet for success could well be Scot GARY ANDERSON who was defeated 13-2 by Taylor in that Players Championship final. He looks good value at 13/2 with Sportingbet, Bluesquare, Paddy Power and 888sport. He will be competing at the Winter Gardens for the third time and arrives after picking up his maiden PDC major title with a win over Adrian Lewis in the Premier League final.
He has also had back-to-back wins in Holland in the Players Championship and arrives in Blackpool full of confidence, saying: “If I play my darts well enough, I am not scared of anybody. I have always said the only person I am scared of is myself and if my head’s right and the darts are going right, then I will be fine.”
Aldershot’s JAMES WADE, who became the youngest winner of this event three years ago, could be a reasonable each-way bet at 10/1 with Unibet while RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD, a five-times world champion, may also be worth an each-way look at 16/1 with Skybet.
SUGGESTED BET: I fancy the in-form GARY ANDERSON to turn up the heat at the Winter Gardens and land the spoils at 13/2 with Sportingbet, Bluesquare, Paddy Power and 888sport.
Happy punting
Kevin
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