World Matchplay final: MVG and Winter Gardens wonder Wade collide

Michael van Gerwen would’ve perhaps assumed that before this year’s World Matchplay, he’d probably have to beat the almost immortal 15-time champion Phil Taylor at his favourite event to claim his first Winter Gardens crown.

Instead, it is The Power’s 17-14 conqueror James Wade that takes to the oche to challenge the world number one and heavy 1/4 odds-on favourite with Coral.

However, although Van Gerwen will be more pleased with his final opponent, The Machine (3/1) happens to be the only other participant this year in Blackpool to have won the title before.

In fact, the Englishman has reached this stage five times before, second only to compatriot Taylor’s 15 (all of which he triumphed in), and he’ll be fired up to claim his second World Matchplay trophy, after his success in 2007.

This tournament is one of the most prestigious in darts, and this match will mean all the more to Van Gerwen and Wade as they are both tied on eight career PDC major titles apiece.

Mighty Mike has been by far the in-form player of the two in recent years, though, almost taking the mantle off The Machine of being the next biggest thing in the sport in the process, and it is hard to back against him.

Wade may have largely got the better of the Dutchman in their early meetings, but Van Gerwen has won each of their previous eight clashes and 13 of their last 14.

The 26-year-old, who looked fairly comfortable defeating Peter Wright 17-12 in his semi, leads their head-to-heads now 16-10, and is temptingly priced at 10/1 for an 18-12 victory.