Phil not up to full power
Published:PHIL ‘THE POWER’ TAYLOR is now 5/6 for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championships. The 15-time World Champion struggled past American rank outsider Gary Mawson and as such drifts in the betting to 5/6. making it 5/6 Taylor, 5/6 the field.
In the first round of matches, it was Welshman Mark Webster who caught the eye with a polished performance, resulting in his outright odds being slashed from 40/1 to 16/1.
The first winner of the tournament Paul Nicholson also moves further up the betting as he is cut from 100/1 to 40/1.
In Saturday’s matches, all attention will be on Simon Whitlock as the former finalist’s odds (1/16) suggest a victory over Steve Evans will be a formality.
Japanese champion Morihiro Hashimoto will be looking to cause an upset and earns a 2/1 quote to beat Mark Padgett (4/11) suggesting it could be a close game.
Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “Punters who took the early price about the field are now licking their lips as Taylor put in a lacklustre opening performance. The huge Palace crowd will be behind Hashimoto as he appears to have a chance of causing an upset on Saturday night.”
Ladbrokes latest betting
2011 Ladbrokes.com World Championship
P Taylor 5/6
J Wade 7/1
R van Barneveld 9/1
S Whitlock 9/1
G Anderson 10/1
M Webster 16/1
A Lewis 25/1
M King 40/1
P Nicholson 40/1
Saturday’s Matches
A Hamilton 1/3 vs Dennis Smith 9/4
M Padgett 4/11 vs M Hashimoto 2/1
M Dudbridge 4/7 vs A Roy 5/4
S Whitlock 1/16 vs S Evans 7/1
