World Championship. Who's Involved?

It's approaching that time again, on December 18th the World Championship will commence and it will showcase the best the PDC has to offer and will surely be the hardest to predict in recent times.

Phil Taylor has dominated this event for the best part of a quarter of a century but this years edition will not be as easy as some years have previously been. 

Even though 'The Power' is fresh off the back of an impressive Grand Slam which saw him being crowned champion for the 6th time and averaged over 100 in every game, he still faces stiff competition with many players in scintillating form, no more so than World Number 1 Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman has had an impressive 2014 winning the World Grand Prix, The European Championship and of course The World Championship in January. He will no doubt feature in the latter stages and fans will be drooling at the prospect of a Van Gerwen and Taylor final.

James Wade is for me one of the best players never to be crowned World Champion, but he does have strong claims this time round after a fine 2014, most notably his triumph in the Masters where he showed great character coming from 9-2 down to win the match with a 135 checkout 11-10 against a stunned Mervyn King. Bookmakers make him a fair 10/1 third favourite to go all the way, not many would argue against that possibility.

Current BDO World Champion Stephen Bunting is also in the frame on his debut after quickly adapting to life in the PDC rocketing to number 23 in the Order of Merit despite only joining in February. Phil Taylor speaks highly of the man from St Helens saying that he has a lot of time for Bunting and that he's 'One to watch'.
'The Bullet' has produced some great performances recently averaging 100+ multiple times and his devastating success rate on double 16 is an incredible trait to have, every time he steps up to hit the green bit, I have no doubt that he will close out the leg accordingly.

Mervyn King may be a dark horse for the World Title but he is the most consistent players in the PDC at this current time. He is in the form of his life recently making the Quarter Final in the World Grand Prix (losing to eventual winner van Gerwen), Semi Final in the Grand Slam (losing to eventual winner Phil Taylor) and came second in the European Championship. 50/1 shows that he may have slipped under the radar yet again and could be a bit of value.

Kim Huybrechts had a great Grand Slam, but it was something i didn't see coming, he had failed to get past the last 16 stage in any televised tournament since November 2013, but if he can reproduce the form we seen last week then he will make an impact. He deafeated Michael van Gerwen in the Quarter Final averaging 104 and even hit a 9-dart-finish. He was unlucky to lose in the Semi Final to Dave Chisnall in a sudden death leg and it will be interesting to see if this form continues.

Phil 'The Power' Taylor is 7/4 favourite and its justifiable, but the amount of players on form is nothing short of incredible. If he wins his 17th World Title, it will probably be his best one to date. 

Masters Preview

The Top 16 will battle it out on Saturday and Sunday in the Unibet Masters. I will preview all of the first round matches and give my predictions. The first round is best of 19 legs.

Peter Wright vs Justin Pipe

These two have met 6 times in the past and Wright has came out on top in 4 of those encounters, 3 of the wins have been in 2014. 

Wright was Quarter Finalist in the European Championship last week losing  to the eventual winner Michael van Gerwen and showed that he is in good form. 

Both players were eliminated in the first round in last years and will both be lookin to improve on that, but Wright has shown he is one of the best in televised tournaments and I think he will come out as the eventual winner.

Prediction - Peter Wright

Dave Chisnall vs Robert Thornton

Nothing can split this pair in the Head To Heads as both have won 8 against eachother, although Thornton has won the only 2 televised meetings.

The Scotsman is playing well having got to the last 16 in both the Grand Prix and European Championship this month and hit a 9-dart finish along the way.

Chisnall made the Quarter Final of the European Championship last week and played some decent darts but he has been unable to progress far in any tournament recently, failing to reach a semi-final in 12 attempts.

It's a close match to call and could go either way in the short format but if I had to choose I would go the way of 'The Thorn'.

Prediction - Robert Thornton

Simon Whitlock vs Mervin King 

These 2 have faced off 25 times in the past, Whitlock winning 13 times and King winning 12, not much between them.

Whitlock has made 3 finals this year but hasn't got past the Quarter Final stage in his last 9 tournaments.

King was a Semi-Finalist in last weeks European Championship and made the Quarter Finals of the Grand Prix at the start of October. He won a tournament in November and could go far this week again.

The bookmakers have made King the outsider at 6/4, but I think he will come out on top against 'The Wizard'

Prediction - Merven King

Adrian Lewis vs Kim Huybrechts

The two have never met in a major tournament but have met 11 times before  with Lewis winning 6. 

'Jackpot' has had a poor October failing to get past the 2nd round in 3 tournaments. He'll be looking to turn around this form against Huybrechts who has reached a final and a Semi final this month. 

Huybrechts can blow hot and cold, he will either average 100+ or under 90, but if he's playing at his best he will be able to defeat last years finalist Lewis.

Prediction - Kim Huybrechts

James Wade vs Brendan Dolan

Wade has been sensational in recent months reaching 2 finals and winning a tournament. His last 5 tv tournaments have resulted in him reaching at least the Quarter Final. Wade is a big points scorer and loves the short format, everything seems to be pointing towards him to go far this weekend.

Dolan isn't a big 180 hitter, he hasn't hit more than 2 in a match chance March. 

His average has been consistently around 95 in TV tournaments but I think he will be out scored by Wade and that would be the cause of him going home early. 

Prediction - Wade

Phil Taylor vs Wes Newton

In the last 32 meetings, Taylor has won an amazing 30! 

Newton has not been throwing well and hasn't got past the last 16 in any tournament in his last 9 attempts. 

I can't see past 'The Power' winning comfortably, but a few missed doubles and you never know.

Prediction - Phil Taylor

Michael van Gerwen vs Raymond van Barneveld

MVG has defeated Barney twice this month and is in the form of his life. It will take something special to put him out in the first round of a competition. If he continues this form he will lift another trophy on Sunday.

Prediction - Michael van Gerwen

Gary Anderson vs Andy Hamilton

Anderson has been in 6 Semi Finals since July and enjoys playing in TV events. His fans in Scotland will roar him on in this weekend and he is one of my picks to win the tournament.

He is up against Hamilton who has played in 6 tournaments this month and failed to get past the last 16 in all of them. I can't see him turning over the Scotsman on Saturday.

Prediction - Gary Anderson 

Tournament Winner Predictions- James Wade and Gary Anderson.