The inaugural World Cup of Darts gets underway on Friday at Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton, Tyne and Wear. The tournament involves 24 nations and each country has entered a team of two players, with the final taking place on Saturday. Without a doubt England go into the tournament as odds on favourites as they boast current world number one Phil Taylor and world number two James Wade. Totesport currently offer an England win as short as 4/11.
The top eight nations enter the fray at the second round stage on Friday night, as the other 16 countries take part in the first round on Friday day. England are the number one seed and it should make for an interesting spectacle as players compete as part of a team.
The England pairing of Taylor and Wade looks formidable although neither player has been hitting top form consistently of late. Taylor is the holder of the World Championship, World Matchplay, Premier League and UK Open titles and in fact became the first player to throw two nine-darters in the final against Wade at the Premier League in May. But his win in the Players Championship in Derby last week, where he beat Mark Walsh in the final, was his first win after going four events without success. Whilst Wade lost 16-12 to Scott Waite in the Grand Slam of Darts after leading 8-0, and with England at such a short price with Totespot.com it may be worth looking elsewhere for some value.
It is the Netherlands who are the number two seeds for the tournament and they look a dangerous proposition if they can find some form. They boast the pairing of Raymond Van Barneveld and Co Stompe, and are at odds of 11/2 with Totesport. Neither player has set the 2010 season on fire. Barneveld, the world number three, has endured a poor 2010, citing personal problems, and his best performance was a runner up spot at the World Matchplay. While Stompe, the world number 17, has reached four quarter finals during 2010.
Scotland are seeded number four for the tournament and look a decent value at odds of 10/1 with Totesport. Rob Thornton is ranked number 13 in the world and is capable of big scoring, and his best career performance was a runner up place at the 2009 Players Championship. He is paired with Gary Anderson, the world number 11. Anderson was expected to challenge the world's top three this year and he could have a point to prove in this competition, and the Scots will no doubt be desperate to overcome the 'Auld Enemy' England and could thrive as underdogs.
Elsewhere, Australia are seeded third and are at odds of 6/1 to win the tournament with totesport.com. They have a potentially explosive pair of Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson. Whitlock is world number four and runner up to Phil Taylor at the World Darts Championship and is capable of mixing it with the very best, while Nicholson is regarded as the 'bad boy' of darts and on his day he is a player of real quality.
England are going to take some beating but it could come down to which country copes best with playing as a team. Scotland could be well worth a punt with totesport.com and could be the surprise package of the first ever World Cup of Darts.
4/11 England - Taylor/Wade
11/2 Netherlands - Barneveld/Stompe
6/1 Australia - Whitlock/Nicholson
10/1 Scotland - Anderson/Thornton
20/1 Wales - Webster/Bates
100/1 Canada - Part/MacNeil
100/1 Northern Ireland - Dolan/MaGowan
100/1 Germany - Artut/Welge
125/1 Spain - Rodriguez/Alcinas
125/1 USA - Young/Davis
150/1 Rep. of Ireland - McGowan/O'Connor
Odds supplied by Totesport.com bookmakers, who provide individual match odds throughout the tournament.
Posted: Thursday, 2nd December 2010
Author: Chris James
Tags: world cup of darts, phil taylor, james wade, totesport,
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