World Matchplay final: Taylor vs Wright

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Record breaking world champ aiming for 16

Past it, over the hill, not as good as he used to be. Don’t believe it for a second. Despite going off at a bumper price to win the 2017 World Matchplay Darts, Phil Taylor starts Sunday’s final as an odds-on favourite to lift a 16th title.

The Power meets Peter Wright at Winter Gardens, Blackpool, and our traders believe Taylor will bow out of the tournament with a winner’s cheque. Sky Sports bring us the decider live from 7.20pm, and Coral are betting on over 30 markets, meaning you can mark the occasion with a winning bet. Click here to have your say.

Traders expect another dominant display

Taylor has claimed this title 15 times before, making him the World Matchplay’s most successful player – and by some distance too, MVG his nearest rival on two. That serves as another example of just how talented the 56-year-old was, and still is. It is worth noting that the darting legend hasn’t tasted glory here since 2014, van Gerwen winning the two finals since, but with Taylor hammering the Dutchman earlier this week, it’s little surprise to see our boys price him up as a 1/2 jolly to win tonight.

Phil beat old friend Adrian Lewis last night in the semis, claiming a 17-9 victory, bringing a sell-out crowd to their feet. Speaking to fans shortly after booking his place in the final, the victor reminded everyone that Sunday will be his last night at the Matchplay, and he’s going out with a bang. Fancy the favourite to make light work of opponent Peter Wright? We’ll give you 11/10 he wins -3.5 on the handicap, or 4/5 -2.5.

Our boys are also offering a special bet that’ll be of real interest to Taylor followers. The great man to hit over nine 180s, checkout 131 and win the match – a big ask, but there’s a cracking 10/3 going. On a special night, who could write him off with any confidence?

Peter to upset the party

Peter Wright has the unenviable task of trying to ruin the party. Just about everyone inside Winter Gardens will be there to see Taylor finish up in style, and they will be cheering his name from the start. It’s no fluke Snakebite is in the final though and, having never won this prize, he’ll be eager to block out the pressure and get over the line.

The flamboyant 47-year-old Scottish showman was born to be on the big stage. Playing in major finals comes easy to him, and although he hasn’t been quite as convincing as Taylor this week, he’ll rise to the occasion and serve up a real challenge. Taylor wants to win a competition he has made his own one last time, but Wright has been amongst the most consistent players on the circuit this year, and booking his place in Sunday’s spectacle was no surprise.

If you were to take the emotion of it away and concentrate on form, Wright would be a solid favourite. With that in mind, it’s difficult to ignore Coral’s 13/8 on the Scotsman. Give him a +2.5 head start and you’ll get 10/11. We wouldn’t put anyone off a play on that, but our bet of the evening is Wright to hit most 180s at 6/5.

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