World Grand Prix Darts: Predictions, tips & odds as MVG & Gary Anderson head the betting in Dublin

The double-start format of the World Grand Prix has thrown up its fair share of shocks and drama down the years, not least 12 months ago when odds-on favourite and defending champion Michael van Gerwen was sensationally sent crashing out by big John Henderson on opening night!

The Highlander was 500/1 pre-tournament but went on to reach the last four, where he finally bowed out to Daryl Gurney, who landed his maiden TV title by defeating Simon Whitlock in the final.

Few would have backed the Northern Irishman at the start either given he's a player known more for his heavy scoring than clinical doubling - as you may have noticed during this season's Premier League - while you wouldn't say his demeanour is ice cool enough to deal with the potential frustrations of doubling in.

The same could be said of Robert Thornton two years earlier as he somehow stunned MVG in an epic final to be another recent surprise champion.

Although the historical roll of honour is dominated by Phil Taylor's 11 titles and more recently by van Gerwen's haul of three crowns in five years, these two recent examples are more relevant, especially in the current climate of darts which is seeing so many different winners of tournaments and first-time finalists this year.

Granted, MVG has managed to get his hands on 16 titles in 2018 and Gary Anderson has picked up three of the big TV majors (UK Open, World Matchplay & Champions League of Darts) but apart from that we've seen youngsters like Max Hopp, Jeffrey de Zwaan and Josh Payne pick up breakthrough titles while veterans such as Ian White and Micky Mansell have also got in the act.

Of course de Zwaan shocked MVG at two big majors this season - the UK Open and World Matchplay - while the world number one has recently been stunned on tour by world number 50 William O'Connor (6-1 at the Dutch Darts Championship) and Latvia's world number 88 Madars Razma (6-5 at Players Championship 19).

He's shown too many signs of vulnerability to consider backing at such short prices in majors and the way he blew an 8-5 lead to lose 11-9 to Peter Wright in the Champions League of Darts semi-finals will give his rivals further confidence.

I'm not saying he's lost his aura or any of his talents - just that there's more reasons than ever to look for value. We'll do that now by taking the draw quarter at a time.

First Quarter

• Michael van Gerwen (1) v Steve Lennon
• Darren Webster v Stephen Bunting
• Dave Chisnall (8) v Max Hopp
• Ricky Evans v Raymond van Barneveld

And the first big price that catches the eye is Hopp at a whopping 18/1 to win the first quarter.

Earlier this year, the rising star so memorably won his first senior PDC title on home soil at the German Darts Open, holding his nerve to beat Michael Smith 8-7 in the final having earlier defeated both Peter Wright and Rob Cross, while on Friday he picked up his second at Players Championship 19.

Admittedly he is inconsistent and blow hot and cold on tour, which you've got to put down to age, but he'll come out all guns blazing on his World Grand Prix debut and I see no reason why he can't an out of form Dave Chisnall in the first round to set up a clash with Ricky Evans or Raymond van Barneveld. That's winnable too, leaving him with potentially a clash with MVG...but as we've just established, anything can happen.

Second quarter

• Daryl Gurney (5) v John Henderson
• Ron Meulenkamp v Joe Cullen
• Gary Anderson (4) v Jonny Clayton
• Jeffrey de Zwaan v Kim Huybrechts

Gary Anderson will of course attract a lot of punters in the outright market at 7/1 to maintain his sparkling season that has seen him add those three big tournaments to his CV having not won any of them before.

His unforgettable Matchplay triumph in Blackpool this summer saw him become just the third player after Taylor and van Gerwen to complete the triple crown, which also consists of the World Championship and Premier League, while his nine-dart finish further cemented his status as one of the game's most popular players.

As much as I'd love to see the Flying Scotsman lift the World Grand Prix for the first time, he's got a very tough draw and is also in MVG's half.

If he gets past Jonny Clayton and either Jeffrey de Zwaan or Kim Huybrechts in round two, he could very well meet Joe Cullen in the quarter-finals - the man he hit that aforementioned nine-darter against in Blackpool.

The Rockstar came of age on the televised stage that night in a thrilling battle and he so nearly defied Anderson's perfect leg only to miss two match darts at 15-14 up.

Cullen, who I'd backed to win the quarter at big odds, had previously thrashed Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney 10-3 and 11-3 respectively to prove he can unlock his undoubted talents when it really matters.

Since then he's twice gone close to winning his first PDC title of the season when reaching the semi-finals at the German Darts Championship while he also reached his seventh quarter-final of 2018 at the Dutch Darts Championship.

He's 6/1 to win the second quarter and I'm also going to place a small outsider bet on him at 50/1 each-way to lift the title.

Third quarter

• Peter Wright (2) v Steve West
• Jermaine Wattimena v Mervyn King
• Simon Whitlock (7) v James Wilson
• Michael Smith v Adrian Lewis

It's no surprise to see Peter Wright priced up as favourite to win this quarter at 13/8 and he certainly looked in fine form last weekend when reaching the Champions League of Darts final.

His miracle finishing against van Gerwen in the semi-finals was the highlight but he ultimately ran out of steam when up against Anderson in the final.

Michael Smith is going to be my pick at 7/2, even though he has a tricky opener against Adrian Lewis, is gradually climbing his way back towards the levels we know he can reach.

Since reaching the Premier League final, Bully Boy enjoyed a fine summer on the World Series of Darts tour, landing the title in Shanghai thanks to wins over MVG and Cross before also reaching a final in Melbourne, where he lost narrowly to Snakebite.

Smith's results this year have backed up his belief he can beat anyone and at 22/1 to lift his first major TV title in Dublin, I think he's more than capable of emulating Gurney.

Fourth quarter

• Mensur Suljovic (6) v James Wade
• Josh Payne v Ian White
• Rob Cross (3) v Steve Beaton
• Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price

This is a tough quarter to call. After last week's disappointment in Brighton, it's hard to side with Rob Cross at 6/4 while Mensur Suljovic has a bad first-round draw against former two-time champion James Wade.

I am tempted to back the Machine as the format does suit him when he's on his game and 7/1 does seem a big price, even if he does come up against the world champion in the quarter-finals.

After dropping out of the Premier League following a poor 2017, Wade has produced some fine results and impressive averages against the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson. He thrashed MVG 8-3 in Las Vegas back in the summer, albeit falling short against eventual champion Anderson in the semis despite averaging 101 and leading 6-2 at one point.

The 35-year-old hasn't won a tournament this year but he's reached three finals and six semi-finals, including one earlier this month so he's not to be underestimated.

Recommended bets: World Grand Prix

1pt Max Hopp to win the first quarter at 28/1

1pt Joe Cullen to win the second quarter at 6/1

1pt Michael Smith to win the third quarter at 4/1

1pt James Wade to win the fourth quarter at 7/1

0.5pts Joe Cullen to win the World Grand Prix at 80/1

0.5pts Michael Smith to win the World Grand Prix at 33/1

Click here for Sky Bet odds

World Grand Prix: Draw & tournament bracket

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DAILY SCHEDULE & FORMAT

QUARTER ONE

• Michael van Gerwen (1) v Steve Lennon
• Darren Webster v Stephen Bunting
• Dave Chisnall (8) v Max Hopp
• Ricky Evans v Raymond van Barneveld

QUARTER TWO

• Daryl Gurney (5) v John Henderson
• Ron Meulenkamp v Joe Cullen
• Gary Anderson (4) v Jonny Clayton
• Jeffrey de Zwaan v Kim Huybrechts

QUARTER THREE

• Peter Wright (2) v Steve West
• Jermaine Wattimena v Mervyn King
• Simon Whitlock (7) v James Wilson
• Michael Smith v Adrian Lewis

QUARTER FOUR

• Mensur Suljovic (6) v James Wade
• Josh Payne v Ian White
• Rob Cross (3) v Steve Beaton
• Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price

Related Darts Content

• World Grand Prix: Draw, schedule & format guide
• 2018 PDC event calendar & results
• 2019 Premier League darts fixtures
• 2018 Premier League darts results
• Sky Bet's darts odds
• 2019 PDC season results