The darting season continues as the 138-man field head to Bolton’s Reebok Stadium for the UK Open – the ‘FA Cup of Darts’. Entitled as such due to the sporadic nature of the random draw at the end of every round, the play is simultaneously spread around eight boards within the arena with pub players rubbing shoulders with the sport’s leading names.
Fresh from his Premier League victory and double nine darter, Phil Taylor is as ever the tournament jolly at 8/15 (Skybet/Blue Square/William Hill). Whilst many big hitters may view this as a sure thing, it’s worth remembering that ‘The Power’ has taken this title on just three occasions out of seven and was eliminated by Raymond van Barneveld in three successive quarter finals in 2006, 2007 & 2008. He is however the defending champion after defeating Derby’s Colin Osborne 11-6 in last year’s final. There will be no quartet of quarter final exits to the same man with Barney having not played in enough qualifiers to make the final cut. Predictably, Taylor’s main Premier League rivals, Simon Whitlock & James Wade (a former winner here) are next in the market at 12/1 & 14/1 respectively.
If ever the punters are to have an edge over the layers in professional darts, then the UK Open is our best chance. With numerous unknown quantities lurking in the draw, tasty match prices are often dangled (our daily match previews will direct you to the best of these). In fact, bookmakers waited until just yesterday before any sort of offering on betting on tonight’s matches. Outright backers have also enjoyed considerable success over the years with Mark Walsh (100/1), Barrie Bates (100/1), Vincent van der Voort (100/1), Gary Mawson (150/1) & Colin Osborne (40/1) all coming through the weekend to take their place in the final. A 138-man field should command each way terms of at least four places, so it’s worth shopping about today to see if any are decent enough to budge from the first two places.
With the eight-board scenario and players having to play numerous games throughout the weekend in a floor-type tournament scenario, it’s worth noting the players who revel in such surroundings when looking for alternatives to Taylor. Besides Taylor & Whitlock, nobody has earned more on the PDC Pro Tour in 2010 than Colin Lloyd. ‘Jaws’ already has two tournament wins to his name this year along with another six runs to at least the quarter final stage. We last seen Lloyd on the box back at the Players Championship in January where he was averaging over 100 in beating Kevin Painter and defeat to Phil Taylor. Should Lloyd, the former world number one, be able to re-produce his 2010 form, then he may well be able to go one better than his 2007 semi final placing here.
Another man who reigns supreme on the floor is Londoner Mark Walsh. The world number eight has also notched two floor titles this year to add to the four he scooped in 2009. It’s fair to say that Walshie does not quite transfer this form onto the TV screens. He has only progressed past the last 16 of any tournament on the UK TV screens on one occasion in his eight-year PDC career – this being his 2005 runner-up placing at this very tournament. At 50/1 however, he represents excellent each way value and a favourable draw and a run on the outside boards away from the cameras may just see Walshie fans cheer their man up on the rails with a run that could put him within touching distance of next year’s Premier League.
Andy Hamilton endured a tough couple of years after his initial breakthrough into the world’s top ten but he again finds himself inside the periphery of that elite group after a fine 2010 on the circuit. ‘The Hammer’ has reached two tour finals (defeats to Simon Whitlock & Mervyn King) as well as a further five tour semi finals. The 43-year old is incredibly consistent around the lipstick and could be hard to stop if he gets on a roll at the Reebok. He has recently uprooted his family to the Midlands to practice with good friend Colin Osborne and it appears to be paying dividends. It has taken Adrian Lewis, James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld & Gary Anderson to halt his progress in TV tournaments over the previous twelve months and again, if ‘The Hammer’ can avoid the likes of these, the 55/1 (Boylesports) certainly looks attainable.
Elsewhere, the likes of Gary Anderson (20/1), Mervyn King (33/1) & Adrian Lewis (35/1) will have their backers although it’s questionable as to whether the trio possess the focus and temperament to win an event of this makeup. Totesport go a standout 75/1 on another floor form pairing of Wes Newton & Jamie Caven with TV’s forgotten men Wayne Mardle (200/1) & Peter Manley (500/1) having to mix it with the pub qualifiers on Thursday night before the introduction of the big boys on Friday. Joining the big boys at the last 64 stage will be Nigel ‘The Butcher’ Heydon. The former Warwickshire county player (unbeaten at county level for over two years) enjoyed a decent run at the BDO’s second major the World Masters in September before taking the plunge and joining the PDC in February this year. The 39-year old has taken some notable scalps in his short time on tour including wins over Paul Nicholson, James Wade, John Part, Colin Lloyd & Colin Osborne. The 1000/1 at Skybet and Stan James did not last long though the latter still offer 750/1 whilst as low as 250/1 elsewhere.
Each Way Verdict
Colin Lloyd 55/1 (Boylesports)
Mark Walsh 50/1 (Various)
Andy Hamilton 55/1 (Boylesports)
