2016 PDC World Match Play Betting: Odds and Preview
As is custom, the 2016 BetVictor World Matchplay will make its home at the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens complex in Blackpool. The tournament kicks off on 16 July 2016 and will run through 24 July 2016. As one of the bigger darts tournaments on the calendar, darts betting sites will be hosting a wide range of markets related to the event.
Best Betting Sites for the PDC World Matchplay:
Michael Van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor leads the way as outright favourites and as the world number one, two and three darts players today. If you plan to bet on darts this week, those are the men to watch most closely. Form counts for a lot in the subtle sport of darts, so make sure to keep an eye on the Tokyo Masters and other recent tournaments.
One other thing to note is that not all bookmakers cover the PDC World Matchplay to the same extent. The best darts bookmakers are also offering other markets such as who will reach the final, the winner’s nationality, over/under wagers on total legs in specific matches, total 9-dart finishes and much more. In any event in which only a few competitors stand as the dominant favourites, you may actually find more value in alternative markets.
Outright Betting Odds
The oddsmakers have installed reigning World Matchplay champion Michael Van Gerwen (world no. 1) as the betting favourite this year. His odds are hovering right around even money from one betting site to the next. After checking in with the main darts bookmakers, William Hill and BetVictor are tied for offering the best odds on Van Gerwen at 6/5.
Van Gerwen is coming fresh off a win at the Shanghai Masters and looks competitive so far at the Tokyo Masters as well (that one is ongoing right now). He opened 2016 with a win at the 2016 Masters and followed that up by winning the UK Open and 2016 Premier League.
Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor will also be strong contenders with betting odds of around 5/1 and 11/2 respectively.
Gary Anderson (world no. 2) is in top form with recent wins at the 2016 PDC World Darts Championship, 2016 Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters and 2016 Auckland Darts Masters. He’s scheduled to face Alan Norris in the first round on 16 July. William Hill will also be taking bets on the outcome of that first meeting. Anderson is priced at 1/5 over Alan Norris at 7/2.
Phil Taylor (world no. 3) is arguably the greatest of all time even if his world ranking has slipped a bit of late. This week he will attempt to claim his 16th career World Matchplay title. His history at this event is nothing short of remarkable having won the title 15 times in its 21-year history. That run includes a stretch of seven consecutive titles from 2008 through 2014.
As I write this post, most of the big names being discussed are currently playing at the Tokyo Masters. That particular tournament is a little bit under the radar among the casual punters and could give you additional insights that others will miss. For example, Michael Van Gerwen had a brief scare in the first round at the Tokyo Masters just yesterday.
Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, Peter Wright, James Wade, Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith, Raymond van Barneveld and practically everyone else even remotely competitive in darts can be seen in action right now at the Tokyo Masters just a week before the World Matchplay. That tournament will be a good one to watch if you plan on betting on the 2016 World Matchplay event.
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher, and analyst in the legal online betting industry and is co-founder of OnlineBettingSites.com. Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.
