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PDC Darts 2008 – 19th December
So here it is………the big one!
Phil “the Power” Taylor is gunning for his 14th crown and is brimming with confidence after a great season. He is hungry after missing out last year but is already very short at 1.66 for the whole tournament. I am tempted to take that as I really don’t believe that anyone can get near him if he plays to his normal standards. My only reservation is in the first few rounds there are normally a few upsets due to the shorter format but if that is still there in round two or three snap it up.
Once you get beyond the fancy entrances and wacky nicknames essentially darts is a simple average game. Who averages the highest and can hit the doubles. The Power does that consistently and in the longer format he is almost untouchable.
So if we are not betting on The Power, who else out there represents value?
Andy Hamilton impressed me in the recent Grand Slam of darts and pushed Phil Taylor all the way.
I am not convinced by Barney, James Wade or John Part (reigning champion) in having the form to progress into the latter rounds. Most of them should be ok for the first few rounds but often it is a high risk strategy to make any money when the odds are short.
Robert Thornton, Kevin McDine and Mervyn King should all have enough to see them into the 2nd round so take these odds whilst they are there.
This year we have the women’s champion in the men’s draw. Interesting times as none of the professionals want to be the first to lose to a member of the opposite sex…….bragging rights etc.
Results
- WIN 3.5pts - 5pts Phil Taylor to win the Tournament @ 1.7
- 3rd Round
- WIN 1.8pts - 5pts Taylor - Taylor v Stompe @ 1.36
- WIN 1.74pts - 3pts King - King v Bates @ 1.58
- WIN 1.56pts - 2pts Nicholson - Nicholson v Priestley @ 1.78
- WIN 1.92pts - 3pts King - King v Smith @ 1.64
- LOSE 3pts - 3pts Dudbridge - Dudbridge v Bates @ 1.58
- 2nd Round
- WIN 1.85pts - 5pts Wade - Wade v Eccles @ 1.37
- WIN 1.72pts - 1pt Nicholson - Nicholson v Lewis @ 2.72
- WIN 1.74pts - 3pts Priestley - Priestley v MacGowen @ 1.58
- LOSE 1pt - 1pt Osbourne - Osbourne v van der Voort @ 3.2
- WIN 3.72pts - 3pts Baxter - Baxter v Ovens @ 2.24
- WIN 2.2pts - 5pts Hamilton - Hamilton Avres @ 1.44
- WIN 1.83pts - 3pts Back Klassen v van der Rassel @ 1.61
- WIN 1.17pts - 3pts Back Wade - Wade v Eccles @ 1.39
- WIN 1.95pts - 3pts Back King - King v Walsh @ 1.65
- LOSE 2pts - 2pts SupaMc - McDine vs Smith @ 1.72
- LOSE 2pts - 2pts Tabern - Tabern vs Stompe @ 1.58
- 1st Round
- WIN 1.88pts - 2pts back The Thorn - Thornton vs. Jones@1.94
- WIN 1.28pts - 2pts back SupaMc – McDine vs. Roy@1.64
- WIN 1.26pts - 3pts back The Menace – Priestley vs. French / Nagakawa@1.44
- LOSE 3pts - 3pts back Dart Maple – Part vs. Davis@1.52
- WIN 2.52pts - 3pts Back van Gerwin - van Gerwin vs Young @ 1.84
- WIN 1.44pts - 3pts back The King – King vs. Schnier / Yongsheng@1.48
- WIN 1.83pts - 3pts back The Hammer – Hamilton vs. Barnard@1.61
- WIN 1.26pts - 3pts back The Machine – Wade vs. Dolan@1.42
- Winner without Taylor Market
- LOSE 1pt - 1pt back Andy Hamilton@16
- LOSE 1pt - 1pt back Terry Jenkins@18
Total = 26.17pts
Previous Competitions
Snooker
World Grand Prix Total = 4.96pts
Shanghai Masters Total = 10.38pts
2007 World Championship -8.4pts
2008 World Championship 21.16pts
Darts
2008 Darts Comp Total 20.58pts
2008 World Grand Prix 14.59pts
2008 League of Legends 7.34pts
PDC + BDO Championships 24.09pts
PDC + BDO Championships 2007 - 18.12pts
Rugby
2007 - Tri Nations 2.7pts