Taylor’s Made For Blackpool: The Power Is A Must Bet
Last night, our outside betting tip for the week Phil Chisnall was eliminated courtesy of Michael Van Gerwen. Mighty Mike raced ahead but Chizzy threw admirably and more than once showed MVG that the game was far from over.
However, anytime the Dutchman felt threatened, he simply switched up a gear and furthered his lead. Ending up the 16-9 winner, he takes another step towards winning a second title at the Blackpool event.
Moments earlier, Adrian Lewis had seen off Peter Wright against a hostile, but jovial, crowd. Despite the boos raining down from the masses, the Stoke-born thrower won out 16-14 in a close match against Snakebite.
So the big three remain and could, by tomorrow, make up the last three quarters of the final four. Along with Lewis, these are the top four PDC ranked players in the world right now.
World Matchplay Darts 2016 betting tips: Phil Taylor to clinch 16th Blackpool title
Lewis’s and Van Gerwen’s semi-final on Saturday is a rematch of their now classic 2013 Matchplay semi-final shoot out which Lewis took before losing the final to Taylor. Before last night, Van Gerwen had dropped just five legs all week and with form like that, he is the clear favourite with the bookies at 4/7 across our betting room partners.
Only Adrian Lewis stands in his way as the pair meet in the first of tomorrow’s two semi-final matches. Jackpot is 10/1 at betway, but cannot afford to waste a dart if he is to make Sunday’s final.
In tonight’s last two remaining fixtures, old timer Steve Beaton (150/1 at bet365) has to overcome World Champion Gary “The Flying Scotsman” Anderson. As much as the crowd would love to see the “Bronzed Adonis” rewind the clock back even further, it is hard to look beyond Anderson who is a best price of 7/2 across the board for outright event winner.
Likewise, tonight’s other game pairs Mervyn King with Blackpool legend Phil “The Power” Taylor. King is also 150/1 at bet365 to take the crown but it is fifteen-time champion Taylor that looks too good to turn down, especially when such a talent is available at 5/1 at betway.
Since the tournament’s inception in 1994, Taylor has won 15 World Matchplay titles. This includes a run of seven in a row that began in 2008 and he is on track to add to his tally. It would be unwise to bet against him in what is sure to be an extremely tight climax to another great World Matchplay tournament.
This Weekend’s Matches
Friday July 22
Quarter-Finals
- Mervyn King v Taylor
- Gary Anderson v Steve Beaton
Saturday July 23
Semi-Finals
- Adrian Lewis V Michael Van Gerwen
- King/Taylor v Anderson/Beaton