Coral pick 5 first round shocks for 2016 World Darts Championship

Daryl Gurney to beat Jamie Lewis

Northern Ireland’s Gurney made a surprise semi-final showing at the recent Players Championship Finals, and will no doubt still be on a high, so can use that momentum to good effect when he faces young Welshman Lewis.

At 11/10, Dude, who had to knock out the likes of Kim Huybrechts and current world champ Gary Anderson in Minehead, represents great value, as he’s beaten Rasta twice from their three meetings.

Max Hopp to beat Benito van de Pas

In this battle between two young stars, signs do point towards 6/4 shout and German teenager Hopp to come out on top. The 18-year-old recently claimed the prestigious PDC World Youth Championship, so will be in great confidence.

On top of that, the last two champions of that event, now-established stars Michael Smith and Brown, went onto win their first round matches at least at the following senior World Darts Championship.

Van de Pas did well at the Players Championship Finals to reach the quarters, but he’ll certainly be disappointed to have gone out to lesser-ranked Gurney.

Ronny Huybrechts to beat Dean Winstanley

On his day, older Huybrechts brother Ronny can beat almost anyone in the world. And he certainly seems to play his best darts on the bigger stage, having reached the Grand Slam of Darts last 16, European Championship semis and World Cup of Darts final in the last couple of years.

Winstanley, meanwhile, has failed to really push up the rankings much after initially showing promise when he moved to the PDC in 2012, so back the brother of Kim to triumph at 11/10.

Alan Norris to beat Robert Thornton

A more recent crossover to the PDC (earlier this year), Norris was the BDO World Championship runner-up in 2014, and is certainly making his way up the rankings.

Chuck (6/4 for victory) has already beaten veteran Thornton this year, and also bettered the Scotsman’s showing at the Players Championship Finals, with The Thorn going out at the first hurdle.

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