Van Gerwen odds-on for Ladbrokes World Darts Championship glory
Published:
It may not be the final everyone wanted but while reigning champ Phil Taylor crashed out early on, Michael van Gerwen has kept up his end of the bargain.
The Dutchman has not only made the championship match but done it in style after dispatching two-time champion Adrian Lewis 6-0 in the semi-final.
Mighty Mike’s impressive win sees him priced as the 1/5 favourite to lift the trophy on New Year’s Day, while another whitewash – against Peter Wright this time – is available at 10/1.
Wright had never been past the third round coming into this year’s event but his impressive displays saw him priced as the jolly to beat Simon Whitlock in the Battle of the Beards.
And the Scotsman lived up to that billing with an impressive performance – beating the Aussie thrower 6-2 in front of a packed Alexandra Palace.
The strikingly-coiffured Snakebite averaged 100.24 in that match and has had some success against Mighty Mike in the recent past, but is still seen as the rank outsider here at 7/2.
The prices come as a result of Van Gerwen’s 18-6 lead in the head-to-head record, his winning of four of the last five meetings between the two and the accuracy with which he is currently throwing.
In beating Lewis he averaged 103.02 and hit 58 per cent of his doubles, including a 146 finish in the second set.
The Dutch ace is also favourite to the land the highest checkout of the night at 4/7, while Wright can be backed at 11/8 to achieve the feat.
A nine-dart finish from either player is available at 6/1 but the bet of the match looks like taking Van Gerwen -3.5 at 8/11.
No matter what, those packed into Ally Pally, and the army of TV fans tuning in are set for a night of drama and high entertainment.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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