2016 World Matchplay 1st round: Sunday sessions star Anderson, Wade, Wright

The Gentle looked anything but in 2015 as he reached the quarters of the World Matchplay, ousting world champ Anderson along the way, and the crowd favourite is odds-on at 10/11 to now beat Bunting – who he sank convincingly at the beginning of July on the PDC Pro Tour.

Fairly local Liverpool-born lad The Bullet belied huge expectations last year in Blackpool and fell at the first round hurdle. Having dropped off the televised darts map a little since then, previously lauded Bunting is the same price for victory at 10/11, but a close contest for Suljovic to prevail 10-7 is a more enticing 8/1.

Kim Huybrechts v Gerwyn Price

In three previous tussles, The Hurricane has come out on top twice and is 8/13 to do so in this Lancashire liason. Yet, The Ice Man is improving at an impressive rate, having only gone full-time in the sport in 2014.

Customers can therefore opt for the former hooker at a tasty 13/10 to triumph as, despite his fairly recent conversion to the sport he reached the quarters last year and is capable of blowing away Huybrechts – who has never made it past the World Matchplay last 32.

Terry Jenkins v Justin Pipe

Crowd pleaser The Bull will not be able to charge to victory without showing patience in battle against renowned slow thrower Pipe, who has pipped him to match spoils seven times out of 12.

A former boxer, The Force is 13/10 to deliver a knockout blow to older Jenkins, who has been a runner-up at this event twice between 2007-09 and can be backed at 8/13 to edge through to the second round.

Ian White v Daryl Gurney

Derry-born Gurney has never defeated Diamond in five attempts, but punters can pick up a price of 6/5 for SuperChin to claim his first win against the 2015 quarter finalist in Blackpool.

White, though, is 7/1 to progress by a slight scoreline of 10-8 and squeeze into the second round, continuing his hoodoo over the younger man.

James Wade v Mervyn King

The past four fixtures between the darts duo have resulted in two wins apiece, but The Machine is in top gear at the moment and previously knocked The King off his perch on his way to winning the World Matchplay in 2007.

In form after making the final of the Shanghai Masters and the semis of the Tokyo Masters in the same World Series tour, Wade is reasonable at 2/7 to win his Winter Gardens opener, but a better value 11/4 to be crowned King of the Oche (player to win match, most 180s & highest checkout, if any of the markets are tied, bets will be settled as losers).

Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster

Wales hope Webster, a former BDO World Championship winner, can be a prickly customer in the big matches, however, and stunned Lewis in their last battle with a victory at the World Grand Prix in 2015.

A second shock in succession (3/1) does not look to be on the cards, with Jackpot well priced at 1/4 to catch The Spider in his own web. A tricky but triumphant 10-6 result for Lewis is 13/2.

Gary Anderson v Alan Norris

Somerset-born star Chuck is making inroads and, though the Flying Scotsman should still steam past having won two out of three recent World Series events, Norris should at least prove a potent opponent.

Anderson has emerged victorious from three of their four frays and is 1/7 to give the elbow to his English foe again, with Chuck an outsider for the spoils at 9/2.

Coral are offering several special weekend wagers for the Winter Gardens event, however, and The Flying Scotsman is a fantastic value flutter at 12/5 to be the player with most 180s on the night.

Peter Wright v Joe Cullen

Wright (1/3 for the win) has won all of his last three and seven of nine previous matches against Bradford-born 27-year-old Cullen (9/4) and should again have too much quality in the Empress Ballroom. The Scot is 7/1 to crush Yorkshireman The Rockstar by a handsome 10-5 scoreline.

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See our darts section for more arrow action and all the latest on the 2016 World Matchplay.

Coral’s top tip: World champion Anderson is tasty at 12/5 for most 180s on Sunday evening.