World Matchplay Darts: Who are the favourites?

We look at the four players who stand every chance of winning.

The World Matchplay Darts heads to Milton Keynes on Saturday – away from the usual Winter Gardens venue in Blackpool – for a behind-closed doors tournament with a £700,000 prize pool.

Could the lack of fans present help ease the pressure on players? Will the usual suspects rise to the top? We take a look at the four favourites going into the tournament.

Michael van Gerwen – 13/8

The world No. 1 has struggled in the World Matchplay in recent years but ‘The Green Machine’ remains a two-time winner and impressed in the recent PDC Summer Series, taking two of the five titles.

Despite declining to take part in the PDC Home Tour, Van Gerwen looks no worse for the break and in his second Summer Series victory he was posting consistent 100+ averages, as he beat World Champion Peter Wright in the final.

However, in the three days where Van Gerwen didn’t win he fell early on, failing to make it past the last 16 on three of the five days, coming second overall in the Order of Merit.

He’ll hope to find a more consistent level of excellence when he faces Brendan Dolan in the opening day of the World Matchplay.

Peter Wright 5/1

‘Snakebite’ is arguably in the best form of any player going into the tournament, despite being seeded sixth, after topping the Order of Merit in the PDC Summer Series last week.

He won the fifth title, beating Gerwyn Price in the final, having been beaten at the same stage by Van Gerwen on the opening day.