World CupI really like this tournament, and I'm really excited for this one, feels way more open than previous years. Think we MIGHT see some wacky results, the short formats always lend themselves to some unpredictable results!! The format really lends itself to teams with composed players in them and the format being doubles only in rnd1 we are DEFO going to see an upset.
Running through the betting, I see a lot of potential banana skins for the seeds for this tournament.
England - Top seeds for this and it does seem like the most likely winners on paper, however I just can't bring myself to fancy them actually winning it, Rob Cross has been superb on TV so far this year and thoroughly under-whelming on the floor. Micheal Smith been pretty inconsistent all year, if the two of them turn up they'll be too much for anyone bar scotland and wales to handle and should blast through, I can see them being put in a venreable spot at least once or twice on the way through this tournament. They have an extremely lose-able game in round 1 vs the Philippines. Noel Malicdem and Laurence Ilagan are both very dangerous players who have performed well on big TV stages before, they have also played pairs games in sot-tip with each other in asia, a race to 9 match vs two players who have it in them to be inconsistent, I wouldn't wanna be betting them for that game at
on. The format round 2+ will suit these two better but they gonna run into two more tricky players in round 2 in Willie O'Connor and Steve Lennon. For me, not close to a bet even at top price 3/1.
Netherlands Seeded 4th. I saw an article which asked if MVG could win this tournament on his own, I think that's extremely unfair on Jermaine Wattimena who is capable of giving anyone a proper game if he plays well, he is unfortunately very inconsistent, and being alongside MVG will either get him going or over-whelm him. You know what you're gonna get from MVG, so Wattimena's performance is going to be paramount, if he plays really well then the dutch will very likely win the tournament, they do have a bit of a nasty draw though. Spain in the doubles is certainly losable, Poland are surefire dark horses for this in round 2, Australia with a resurgent Whitlock in round 3, England in the Semis. 11/4 a tempter when the MVG factor is there, think Jermaine Wattimena is just going to be too weak vs the big dogs if they have to play an in form England/Scotland/Wales.
Scotland Seeded 2nd here, a real head-scratcher... The big question for the Scots is going to be
GARY'S BACK barely played a competitive game since being turned over by MVG in the world semis (8 games, won 3, averaged ~95, he was filled in 6-0 by PW last time he played) however it's just a matter of fitness for Gary, he's never going to lack confidence or be rusty on the big stage. Peter Wright has been pretty poor this year really however he does have a knack of grafting results out and so much experience, the changing darts nonsense keeps popping back up and you cant massively trust his mental game. They have a pretty safe passage to the 1/4s and if Gary is fit then I would probably make them favourites, if Gary struggles then I cant see how they get past the Welsh or an in form England. Best price 7/2 with perhaps the best draw, I would just be so concerned about Gary's fitness, he has barely played and that despite Gary's lowish volume in general is not a good sign and therefore I'd be steering clear.
Wales Seeded 3rd and I would say serious contenders for this one, I would say over the course of this year these two are probs the most consistent team between them, they are mates and to me feel like the strongest team in this competition, Gerwyn Price has turned himself into a legit rockstar and Johny Clayton is making a big charge for the top 10. I think they're almost guaranteed to play well and have the firey spirit that defo suits team play, but unfortunately for the Welsh lads they seem to have gotten themselves the worst draw going. Singapore filled Scotland in round 1 two years ago and with Paul Lim at the helm they are guarenteed to be a tough game, Japan are another dark horse with Siego Asada and Haruki Muramatsu who have both played well on TV before (you'll remember Siego from the "I did it for my country" shenangians with Wadey at the worlds) he's beaten lots of top pros, and again these two are friends who will be comfortable playing together. Northern Ireland in the quarters, scotland (probs) in the semi's its a tough route for these two but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them winAt best price 7/1 I would fancy this team.
Northern Ireland #6 seeds, of course all about Daryl Gurney who's turned himself into a real warrior these days, alongside Brendon Dolan who himself has been playing pretty well for the past year without and real moves, he'll benefit massively from playing alongside DG who's scoring power can match anyones on it's day, Dolan's always been a real steady doubler and this partnership should work well. Reasonably nice path into the 1/4s for a probable showdown with the Welsh, which will be an enormous test for them, if scotland dont turn up for the semi's I wouldn't be overly shocked if they trundle themselves into the final, most likely for the N.I lads though is a 1/4 final send off from Price and Clayton, they just have too much to over-come and when they're gonna need the extra firepower Brendon Dolan just probably isn't going to find it. 14/1 just tooooo skinny.
Australia The 5th seeds here, not a massively positive outlook for this Ozzies here, Whitlock, having dropped off a bit towards the back end of last year has put a few good performances together later and looks to be back playing much better. What he really needs is a solid playing partner and a good draw and unfortunately he has neither. Naughty little opener vs the Fins round 1, fairly easy 2nd round vs Canada or Italy then likely Netherlands, then England before they get to the final, Kyle Anderson has just been way out of for lately, having troubles with his glasses, darts, changed his throw. Dont fancy them at all, wouldn't be surprised if the Finnish turned them over and whereas in short formats they could be a proper match for anyone, not going to be an easy game for the Netherlands, I just cant see them putting up any challenge for this and even at 22/1, not for me.
Belguim Ranked 7th, on paper Kim and Dimi shouldn't pose much threats in this, neither of them have had any real form this year and Dimitri has looked really hit and miss, with a string of 80 averages thrown in. However...they are good friends, lots of respect there, played great last year together and both absolutely love TV darts and have a habbit of bringing it for big games, tricky draw and a bit of a lack of form but at 25/1 I could be tempted in there....
Austria Seeded 8th, as good as mensur is he's going to get no help whatsover from Zoran in this and I think they are going to need help form the draw, mensur alone should get them into the 1/4s but whoever they find from this point I cant see them beating, even at 33/1 wouldn't be for me.
Outside of the seeded teams,
Poland - 66/1 - Krystof Ratajski & Tytus Kanik two players massively on the up and up, both full of confidence, they have a pretty easy opener and then a really testing 2nd round vs Netherlands, but that is a game I can just really see them winning, Ratajski is just so solid and a proven winner on the tour now, these two should make a great team. I think they're a fantastic easy way poke and unless something drastic happens I think I'll be betting them vs Holland in the second round.
Germany 33/1 - In what is undoubtedly the weakest quarter of the draw, and with big question marks over scotland, some fairly serious question marks over Belguim, looking for a serious contender for this quarter there is not really anyone else to look at bar the germans. Good friends, played together many times, both absolutely love playing for German crowds and both capable of firing in big averages.
Philippines -250/1 - As mentioned earlier, two extremely dangerous players who've performed well on TV before, they have a horrible opener vs England but after that it's not looking too bad for these two, Ireland will put up a fight but they're not top tier, Austria are half a team, Australia are out of form, we have doubts of Netherlands...as a 250/1 EW nod they look great to me, I can see the waves parting for them and they might just cause some upsets!
New Zealand 300/1 - Cody Harris is vastly improving and Haupai Puha put in a really good display in the world series events, I think they're going to find themselves falling short too often to mount a challenge for this but I wouldn't be hating taking them at a big price vs N.I
Japan - 125/1 - As I said, really like this pair and I could see them causing some upsets, the draw for them is really tough though so I wouldn't be betting them at 125/1, the sprinkling of 200/1 though could really tempt me EW/
For me, I would be looking at;
Medium Bet Wales 7/1 WIN
Small Bet Germany 33/1 WIN
Medium Bet Poland 66/1 EW
Small Bet Philippines 250/1 EW
The first round will provide a lot of options to oppose big favourites, with the unpredictable format I cant see wanting to be on any team at 1/5 there.
Patriotically though, I guess we gotta cheer for England
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