Darts-starved fans rejoice! Your favourite PDC players are about to return to TV following a short break after a blistering 2016 PDC World Darts Championship, as January finishes with a flurry of arrow action at The Masters in Milton Keynes.
Here, Coral oche obsessives preview the afternoon and evening sessions of the opening day, as title holder and world number one Michael van Gerwen first faces Stephen Bunting amid a gaggle of duels pitching giants of the darting world against one another from the off…
It could pay dividends then, to instead plump for pro Thornton, as the Scot won their two most recent wrangles in 2015 and is tempting at 13/8 to reach the quarter-finals, with even better odds of 9/1 for a 10-9 result in his favour.
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
The Machine may have looked rusty against eventual retaining champion Gary Anderson, but he should be able to creak through the gears to take out The Bull and is 2/5 to do so. At 2/1 to win by comparison, Jenkins looks a little too short, having shocked Wade in just two of their last six dust-ups.
Instead, why not take odds of 7/1 for a 10-7 victory for Wade, with this fixture finishing with a three set difference in as many of the previous five.
Barney’s famous comeback against Bully Boy at the Ally Pally will go down in darts history, and the Dutch great is certainly worth a flutter at evens to win and 14/1 to go on and reach the final for the second time on the trot, though flashier Smith is a shout at 8/13 for the fist maximum in this match.
Evening session
Adrian Lewis v Kim Huybrechts
Instead, Lewis looks good at 11/5 to start how he means to go on and be crowned King of the Oche (player to win match, most 180s and highest checkout. If any of the markets are tied, bets will be settled as losers), with Huybrechts to fall at the first hurdle.
Phil Taylor v Jelle Klaasen
Their last meeting was a close thriller for all the wrong reasons, so The Cobra is not necessarily value at 2/1 to strike again, having been humbled by Gary Anderson when last on the oche.
Gary Anderson v Vincent van der Voort
Though, another whitewashing (40/1) in this longer format is unlikely, with the Dutch Destroyer likely to be defiant, so world champ Anderson at 6/1 in the correct score market to demolish his familiar foe 10-3 is tastier. The sublime Scot is also worth a cheeky punt at 33/1 to replicate his majestic nine-darter from the Worlds.
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
This does not bode well for The Bullet, who has had a poor year, with Mighty Mike heavy odds-on 1/9 match favourite and 12/1 for a 170 checkout, and 6/4 to eventually retain this trophy.
