World number one Michael van Gerwen is an odds-on favourite to retain his Grand Slam of Darts title next week, whilst Phil Taylor is an 8/1 shot to lift the title in his final competitive appearance at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
However, ‘The Green Machine’ has been installed as a 19/20 pre-tournament favourite with title sponsors bwin, as he goes in search of a third successive title in Wolverhampton.
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson has been priced as a 2/1 second favourite, just ahead of his fellow countryman and new world number two Peter Wright at 8-1. However, six-time Grand Slam winner Phil Taylor is also an 8/1 favourite, as he prepares for his Wolverhampton farewell over the next week.
Rob Cross’ incredible debut year in the PDC sees him priced as a 20/1 favourite. ‘Voltage’ has won four Players Championship titles this year and reached the European Championship final in Hasselt last month. Yet for the third successive TV tournament, Cross will face Michael van Gerwen, after being paired alongside him in Group A.
Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic is sixth favourite at 22/1, just ahead of World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney at 25/1, who is making his Grand Slam debut at this year’s event.
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld is a 40/1 outsider to lift the Grand Slam title for the second time. Barney defeated Michael van Gerwen in the 2012 final and has reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the last two years, so Wolverhampton has been a relatively happy-hunting ground for the Dutch legend.
Corey Cadby is 50/1 to lift the title on his Grand Slam debut. ‘The King’ qualified for this event by virtue of winning last year’s World-Youth Championship and he has already claimed some major scalps in World Series events hosted over the last two years.
2014 finalist Dave Chisnall is also a 50/1 shot, whilst former finalist James Wade, 2015 semi-finalist Michael Smith and Australian ace Simon Whitlock are all valued at 66/1. Elsewhere, reigning BDO world champion Glen Durrant is 80/1 to triumph next week, having reached the last 16 on his debut twelve months ago.
UK Open finalist Gerwyn Price is also an 80/1 shot, whilst a resurgent Stephen Bunting is priced at 100/1 to lift his first PDC major title. Former Lakeside finalists Alan Norris and Danny Noppert are also 100/1, with the BDO Dutch star aiming to replicate last year’s impressive debut showing, where he was edged out 10-8 in the last 16 by Gary Anderson.
Tipton ace Jamie Hughes and former BDO number one James Wilson are 150/1 to spring a surprise at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, whilst the BDO trio of Peter Machin, Scott Mitchell and current number one Mark McGeeney are all 200/1.
Mark Webster, quarter-finalist in 2015, is 250/1, alongside BDO debutant Cameron Menzies, who qualified for this event by winning this year’s Scottish Open. Robbie Green, Jeffrey de Zwaan, Joe Murnan and Steve Lennon are all 300/1 after coming through Monday’s qualifier, with the latter three set to make their Wolverhampton bows.
Finally, World-Youth finalist Berry van Peer is a mammoth 500/1 shot, as is BDO veteran Ross Montgomery- who will take on Michael van Gerwen in his Grand Slam debut on Saturday evening.
Bwin are also offering special prices on Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting to win their respective groups, Glen Durrant to qualify from his group, and Michael van Gerwen to land a 9-darter and a 170 finish during the nine-day event. All of the odds can be viewed below.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC
bwin Grand Slam of Darts
Tournament Winner Odds
19/20 Michael van Gerwen
5/1 Gary Anderson
8/1 Peter Wright, Phil Taylor
20/1 Rob Cross
22/1 Mensur Suljovic
25/1 Daryl Gurney
40/1 Raymond van Barneveld
50/1 Corey Cadby, Dave Chisnall
66/1 Michael Smith, James Wade, Simon Whitlock
80/1 Glen Durrant, Gerwyn Price
100/1 Stephen Bunting, Alan Norris, Danny Noppert
125/1 Darren Webster
150/1 Jamie Hughes, James Wilson
200/1 Peter Machin, Mark McGeeney, Scott Mitchell
250/1 Mark Webster, Cameron Menzies
300/1 Robbie Green, Jeffrey de Zwaan, Joe Murnan, Steve Lennon
500/1 Ross Montgomery, Berry van Peer
Gerwyn Price to win Group B @ 2/1
Glen Durrant to qualify from Group E @ Evens
Stephen Bunting to win Group F @ 187/100
Michael van Gerwen to win the tournament, land a 9-dart finish and hit a 170 checkout @ 25/1
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