World Matchplay Day 1 Tips: Smith, Van Gerwen and Lewis to win?
The 2018 World Matchplay gets underway from the Winter Gardens in Blackpool this evening with four belting encounters to open the nine-day event.
Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall and Michael Smith are all in action as the battle to claim the famous Phil Taylor Trophy begins.
We’ve previewed the whole of the tournament here. But you can check out our tips for all of tonight’s games below.
Adrian Lewis v James Wilson (7:10pm)
It’s been a difficult couple of years for Adrian Lewis. The former back-to-back world champion has struggled for form since incurring a bad back injury in early 2017.
However, his recent displays have been good. A final appearance at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy and a semi-final in the Danish Open stacks up as pretty good form.
Jackpot has only failed to get past the first round stage twice at Blackpool since 2005 and has been a semi-finalist in each of the last two years at the Winter Gardens.
He’s 2/7 to win through against the out-of-form James Wilson (5/2).
His superior scoring power could also see him finish as King of the Oche (11/4), with a -3.5 Match Handicap priced at even-money.
Dave Chisnall v Keegan Brown (8pm)
Take a look in the dictionary and underneath the term ‘banana skin’ you’ll probably find a picture of dangerous youngster Keegan Brown.
The Needle narrowly lost out to Dave Chisnall here in 2015 and can capitalise on Chizzy’s poor recent form at 2/1.
The St. Helens native has failed to get past the third round of a TV tournament in over a year and is ripe for an upset if he fails to fire on his doubles.
Brown is 11/1 to take the game the distance and edge a tiebreak 12-10.
Michael van Gerwen v Jeffrey de Zwaan (9pm)
Logic dictates that two-time Blackpool champion MVG should breeze past world no. 68 Jeffrey de Zwaan.
But that’s what we thought in the UK Open, until de Zwaan upset the applecart and dumped the double world champ out 10-8 in the third round.
He’s 10/1 to cause another shock tonight, against an unpalatable 1/25 for van Gerwen.
After sharing 18 legs in their last encounter, it’s 11/10 for Over 14.5 Legs this time around, with MVG 4/7 to hit the Most 180s.
Michael Smith v Jonny Clayton (10pm)
After winning the Shanghai Masters last week, Michael Smith looks well placed to dispose of Welshman Jonny Clayton at 4/11.
Bully Boy has shone in 2018, adding consistent finishing to his impressive power scoring to become one of the most feared players on the PDC circuit.
He’s 15/8 to weave the strands together and win as King of the Oche. After dropping just 66 legs across 16 matches in the Premier League, it’s 5/4 for Smith to win with a -3.5 Handicap.
You can also back the arrowsmith to hit a First Leg 180 at 7/4.
Click here for our latest World Matchplay odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
