Winstanley ready for crack at the big time as Palace doors open
Published:The 2014 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship begins with an inauspicious line-up for the first night at Alexandra Palace but that hasn’t deterred our news team from formulating a first night four-fold, paying just over 9/1.
John Part to beat Mareno Michels @ 1/3
Two-time World Champion John Part is understandably short at 1/3 to progress to the next round at the expense of Dutch dartist Mareno Michels.
The Canadian crowd-pleaser has triumphed in both of their previous meetings and with his 29-year-old opponent making his first ever appearance at Alexandra Palace it looks too much to ask for Michels to overcome the moment and Part’s vast experience on the most daunting oche in the world.
Rob Szabo to beat Ian Moss @ 5/2
Ian Moss claimed one of the final two places in the World Championship line-up at last week’s qualifier in Barnsley and will be confident of making the most of his late arrival into the draw.
He faces Rob Szabo for a place in the last 64, however, the New Zealander will not be daunted having had an excellent year on his own continent, qualifying for this event and winning the DPNZ Capital Open. At the prices Szabo makes more appeal
Peter Wright to beat Joe Cullen @ 1/4
It’s been an excellent year for the Marmite figure of the tour, Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright and he should have more than enough to deal with the unreliable Joe Cullen.
Wright reached the last 32 of the UK Open this year and captured the Players Championship in Crawley. If he reaches near the level he showed in those events Cullen will struggle.
Dean Winstanley to beat Richie Burnett @ 4/5
The match of the night sees Welsh thrower Richie Burnett take on Dean Winstanley who has shown a far better standard over the past few years and looks likely to come out on top.
Winstanley is no stranger to the bigger stages, reaching the final of the 2011 BDO World Championship and World Masters the same year.
Neither player arrives in particularly good form but preference is for Winstanley.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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