World Darts Championship: Day one predictions, odds, betting tips, accas, order of play & TV times

It's finally here!

Defending champion Rob Cross headlines the opening night at Alexandra Palace but he could be upstaged if Lisa Ashton can become the first female to win a match on this stage when she faces Jan Dekker.

Read also

• World Darts Championship draw & schedule
• Chris Hammer's tournament best bets & preview
• John Part's predictions & best bets
• Listen to the Sporting Life Darts Podcast

Here, I'll run through all four games and attempt to make some winning predictions on what many feel could be a tough night for Cross.

World Darts Championship: Thursday December 13

Click on the odds for more Sky Bet match markets

• TV Coverage: Sky Sports (7pm GMT)
• First/Second Round: Best of five sets

Jeffrey de Zwaan (1/66) v Nitin Kumar (16/1)

Head-to-head: N/A
2018 Meetings: 0-0
PDC Titles in 2018: 1-0
Career PDC Titles: 1-0

It's not a question of 'if' Jeffrey de Zwaan wins this tournament opener but of 'how quickly' he manages it to give him the best possible chance of dethroning Rob Cross later in the night.

Generally I feel it's a disadvantage to be playing two best-of-five set matches in one night - the preliminary games used to only be best of three - although John Part disagreed with me during our Podcast (click here to listen to that) and he's probably just a bit better qualified than me on things like this!

Even a whitewash win he'll have played a minimum of nine legs and should he later be involved in a bruising match with Cross later in the night, may he just run out of steam? Part's alternative argument is that he'll be in full flow compared to a relatively rusty Voltage.

Anyway, back to this match, I can't see anything other than a 3-0 victory for a player who has stunned Michael van Gerwen twice in televised majors this season.

Prediction: 3-0

Martin Schindler (4/7) v Cody Harris (11/8)

Head-to-head: NA
2018 Meetings: NA
PDC Titles in 2018: 0-0
Career PDC Titles: 0-0

Cody Harris is far from a household name but he won't be short of backers to cause a minor upset against World Youth runner-up Martin Schindler.

The New Zealander is making his second appearance on this stage having lost 3-1 to Ian White 12 months ago but since then he has picked up wins over Peter Wright, Simon Whitlock and Darren Webster in the few PDC events he's managed to play in this year.

However, Schindler is a rising star of German darts and while he hasn't yet shone on the TV or European Tour stages like his compatriot Max Hopp has, he's managed to reach a couple of Players Championship semi-finals on the floor this season.

Prediction: 3-1

Jan Dekker (3/10) v Lisa Ashton (23/10)

Head-to-head: N/A
2018 Meetings: N/A
PDC Titles in 2018: 0-0
Career PDC Titles: 0-0

The tie of the night if you ask me, and a historic one too!

Only twice previously has a woman been able to grace the PDC World Championship stage - Canada's Gayl King in 2001 and Russia's Anastasia Dobromyslova in 2009 both via invite - but this will be the first time an English lady has featured, and she'll get an unbelievable reception when she walks out to the oche.

Ashton is here by right along with Dobromyslova after they both won women's qualifying events in Milton Keynes and Dusseldorf respectively, while the pair also contested the BDO World Championship final at the top of the year, with the Lancashire Rose lifting the trophy for the fourth time.

I actually watched Ashton play James Wilson in a big exhibition event at Elland Road last week and she gave him a real run for his money, losing out 4-3 having missed a match dart.

The crowd were all on Ashton's side that night even against a popular guy like Wilson and it made for quite an atmosphere - but it'll be nothing compared to Thursday night against young Dutchman Dekker.

In the aforementioned podcast, both Paul Nicholson and John Part voiced their admiration of the women's game and we all agreed Ashton could spring a surprise here, while Joe Cullen feels the first few legs will be crucial.

She's not actually the biggest of prices, such is the belief she can push Dekker close but I'm going to throw her into my acca to win and for my best bet I'll go with her on the handicap at +1.5 sets.

Prediction: 2-3

Rob Cross (1/3) v de Zwaan/Kumar (5/2)

Head-to-head: N/A
2018 Meetings: N/A
PDC Titles in 2018: 2-1 (if de Zwaan)
Career PDC Titles: 7-1

Anyone who's read by outright preview of the event will know I'm taking a risk on Rob Cross to bounce back from what many have described as a difficult season and retain his title.

My logic is based predominantly on the price being an overreaction to his year and that once he's back in an arena he felt so formidable, his form could all come rushing back.

That said, I'm aware tonight's probable challenge of de Zwaan is one of the toughest he could have got but he'll be rested and ready.

Let's just hope the Voltage is turned up.

Prediction: 3-1

Thursday night's suggested darts bets

• Lisa Ashton (+1.5 sets) to beat Jan Dekker at 11/10
• Click here to place your bets

Thursday night's darts accas

• De Zwaan to beat Kumar 3-0, Schindler to win, Ashton to win & Cross to win at 8.22/1
• Click here to build your acca

Schedule for Friday December 14

Afternoon Session
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Michael Barnard v Jose De Sousa (R1)
• Alan Tabern v Raymond Smith (R1)
• Paul Nicholson v Kevin Burness (R1)
• Jamie Lewis v Schindler/Harris (R2)

Evening Session
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Danny Noppert v Royden Lam (R1)
• Simon Stevenson v Ted Evetts (R1)
• Chris Dobey v Boris Koltsov (R1)
• Gary Anderson v Nicholson/Burness (R2)

Full World Championship draw and schedule

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