PDC World Darts Championship: 5 players to watch
Published:
Christmas must be around the corner as the PDC World Darts Championship starts at Alexandra Palace on Friday.
Two-and-a-half weeks of darts await before the champion is crowned on January 3.
Here we look at five competitors to keep an eye on during the tournament, plus the latest World Darts Championship betting odds.
Michael van Gerwen
The Dutchman has not had the best year by his impeccable standards, with the Premier League his only major title, but he must still be considered the man to beat at Alexandra Palace.
When he fires, few can keep the pace with him and Van Gerwen has the bit between his teeth as he hunts a fourth title. He has lost twice in the final since his last victory in 2019 so is due a return to the winner’s circle.
Luke Humphries
The 28-year-old will arrive at Ally Pally as favourite in the World Darts Championship betting odds after a remarkable run of form in 2023.
‘Coolhand’ has won three of the last four majors as he followed the World Grand Prix title in October with wins at the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship.
No one is playing more consistently than Humphries at the minute and if he can handle the pressure of expectation, he could go all the way.
Michael Smith
Smith is the defending champion and earned himself a place in folklore last year when he beat Van Gerwen in one of the greatest finals of all time, throwing a nine-dart finish in a memorable leg.
‘Bully Boy’ has taken a step away from the game this year, and has not really performed to his usual standard when he has played in the major tournaments.
But coming back to defend the title is sure to spur him on and if he can find his range over the coming weeks, he will be difficult to stop.
Fallon Sherrock
The ‘Queen of the Palace’ is back at the place where life changed for her in 2020 when she became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship.
The 29-year-old has not won a game in her two appearances since then, but goes into the tournament after a good year and is 19/10 to clear the first hurdle when she faces Jermaine Wattimena on Sunday night.
She became the first woman in PDC history to hit a nine-dart finish in March and then repeated the feat in front of the television cameras at August’s Modus Super Series.
Luke Littler
Few will have heard of Luke Littler but he is definitely a name for the future. Just 16, Littler is causing waves in the game and his victory in the World Youth Championship made people sit up and take notice.
Winning the tournament this year may be a stretch too far at 66/1 but he will be hoping to take a few scalps and no one will want to play him. He is just 2/5 to get past Christian Kist in the first round.
The bookies’ view
“It’s been an outstanding year for Luke Humphries so far, but he’s yet to really show his best form at the World Championship, and he could be a vulnerable favourite at 3/1 at the head of our betting,” said Coral’s Lewis Knowles.
“Humphries has been well supported, but Gerwyn Price is another player who has attracted support in recent days, and having been 11/2 only last week, the 2021 champion has now been backed into 4/1.”
PDC World Championships betting odds – Outright winner
3/1 Luke Humphries
7/2 Michael van Gerwen
4/1 Gerwyn Price
10/1 Michael Smith
14/1 Gary Anderson, Rob Cross
20/1 Peter Wright
25/1 Josh Rock
33/1 Dave Chisnall, Nathan Aspinall
40/1 Stephen Bunting
50/1 Bar
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
