Value in quarters away from Taylor in the World Darts Championship

On the eve of the sporting highlight of the festive season – the PDC World Darts Championship, of course – we at Coral have sounded out the best bets to win each of the tournament’s four quarters.

Phil Taylor is obviously the stand out selection to claim a 17th world title this winter, but The Power’s odds for outright success of 10/11 don’t offer much value given the amount of obstacles the sport’s finest must overcome to take home the trophy.

Instead, a punt on the quarter winners offers punters a wider safety net, though there’re no prizes for picking the man to be still standing once the first division of the draw is concluded.

The old adage dictates that although the brave may not live forever, the cautious never live at all. Thoughtful words, sure, but any backer brave enough to oppose 1/5 quarter-one favourite Taylor have themselves a bet that won’t live to see the new year.

The pick of the second quarter bets is another native of darting Mecca, Stoke, with Andy Hamilton’s odds of 7/2 an appealing prospect.

This is arguably the most evenly-matched section of the draw, but the Hammer’s record against market leader Simon Whitlock is what gives him the edge. The Aussie thrower has only advanced beyond one quarter final in his five-year PDC career and he’s only got the better of Hamilton in two of their nine televised tussles.

Quarter three is where the biggest upset is forecast.

Dave ‘Chizzy’ Chisnall’s odds stand at 13/2 to reach the semi final and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he stops Michael van Gerwen.

A supremely talented arrowsmith, Chisnall knocked out Taylor in the 2012 tournament and showed good form to reach the Grand Slam final earlier in the year.

James Wade’s odds of 10/3 to win quarter four are too tempting to resist, even if he is most likely to be up against two-time Ally Pally king Adrian Lewis.

Jackpot is 4/6 favourite to claim the bragging rights in this quarter, which is also a very tempting price, but it’s important to note that he’s lost seven of his last nine televised dust ups with the Machine, which could give the second favourite the edge.