The UK Open this year will be without Phil Taylor and we best get used to it. Casting your eyes back to a previous column regarding Peter Wright my opinion has not changed and Wright ratified this by topping the UK Open order of merit over six qualifiers. Alex Roy, only one of the six originals since 2003 to have played in all UK Open events qualified via the Riley's qualifier last month. Until last year the last thirteen runner ups saw different stars lose out.
The format is as follows
MVG is short at 4/6 to retain his title, with Gary Anderson 7/1 and Peter Wright 14/1. With the rest 25's or bigger the open draw with some luck on our side could reap dividends. With a completely open draw throughout this event could see some lower ranked players ride their luck over the weekend. Last year Rob Cross gave MVG a scare with his brilliant performances over the weekend.
Taylor has achieved the perfect nine-dart finish four times (2004, 2005, 2007 & 2008). Mervyn King (2010) and Gary Anderson (2012), Wes Newton (2013) and Michael van Gerwen (2016) have also achieved a nine-dart leg (although Newton's was the only one of the eight to not be televised).
Tasty ties dominate round's one and two including Stephen Bunting versus Mark Webster. With both narrowly missing out on a bye to the third round, Webby has Bunting’s number in the head to head winning all four meetings. I am tempted on Bunting to turn this around at evens is about right. With some really short prices on the coupon. Veteran Mark Frost faces Jamie Bain, where the odds compilers narrowly see Bain as the favourite with Frost at evens.
Of notoriety Bain's 2016 saw a challenge tour final, whereas Frost made a pro tour semi final and the World Championships losing out in the last 64. I would have to edge Frost at 21/20 for a small bet with Marathonbet with most firms at even money.
Hong Kong soft tip player Royden Lam, who wears the stylish glasses as seen at the World Cup is BIG at 15/8 to upset Ron Meulenkamp who is reputably 8/15 with some firms. Apart from a last 16 run at the pro-tour finals in November an inconsistent 2016 does not justify his price other than playing on the tour as a regular with Lam playing the soft tip circuit. I think the pricing should be more on Lam at 13/8-17/10 so the 15/8 may be worth a small bet with Lam evens on a +1.5 leg start and the same price for ten or eleven legs in the game.
Other games worth keeping tabs on is Alex Roy to maintain his status as one of the only six players to play in every event, William O'Connor, who enjoys this event and also Jeffrey De Graff to see off Barrie Bates, the former 2006 finalist. Anyone interested in that treble can get a shade under 3/1 with Paddy Power.
Lastly we look at Paul Hogan AKA Crocodile Dundee to take out Keegan Brown on the oche. Hogan had eventual winner Glen Durrant on the rocks in their Lakeside match up but has plenty of reputation outside the Hampshire leagues of Darts. at 42/41 and the format will suit Hogan as many of the BDO events employ a short format. Brown, the former Youth Champion has not done much over the last year or so heading into the development tour as well as playing the pro tour. Brown has never made it past the last 64 thus never survived the opening day. Bar a good run at the Grand Slam in 2014 Keegan is without a win on the major's in a long time and with the UK Open on and off stage may help. Nevertheless Hogan for me at 42/41 with Bwin
Recommendations
Bunting to beat Webster - 1/1 general 1pt
Royden Lam to beat Meulenkamp - 15/8 BetVictor 0.5 pt
Frost to beat Bain - 21/20 Marathonbet and 1/1 general 1pt
Roy/Connor and De Graff - 3.83 Paddy Power 1pt
Longshot ACCA -.
Wins for
Tabern, Baxter, Newell, Clayton, Gurney and Dave Prins pays 8.06 with Bwin and 7/1 with Betfair 0.25 pts
The format is as follows
- First round (Friday afternoon): The 32 Rileys qualifiers and players ranked 65-96 in the UK Open Order of Merit start the tournament. Best of 11 legs.
- Second round (Friday afternoon): Players ranked 33-64 in the UK Open Order of Merit join the 32 winners of the first round. Best of 11 legs.
- Third round (Friday night): The top 32 in the UK Open Order of Merit join the 32 survivors from the afternoon. Best of 17 legs.
- Fourth round (Saturday afternoon): Best of 17 legs.
- Fifth round (Saturday night): Best of 17 legs.
- Quarter-finals (Sunday afternoon): Best of 19 legs.
- Semi-finals (Sunday night): Best of 19 legs.
- Final (Sunday night): Best of 21 legs.
MVG is short at 4/6 to retain his title, with Gary Anderson 7/1 and Peter Wright 14/1. With the rest 25's or bigger the open draw with some luck on our side could reap dividends. With a completely open draw throughout this event could see some lower ranked players ride their luck over the weekend. Last year Rob Cross gave MVG a scare with his brilliant performances over the weekend.
Taylor has achieved the perfect nine-dart finish four times (2004, 2005, 2007 & 2008). Mervyn King (2010) and Gary Anderson (2012), Wes Newton (2013) and Michael van Gerwen (2016) have also achieved a nine-dart leg (although Newton's was the only one of the eight to not be televised).
Tasty ties dominate round's one and two including Stephen Bunting versus Mark Webster. With both narrowly missing out on a bye to the third round, Webby has Bunting’s number in the head to head winning all four meetings. I am tempted on Bunting to turn this around at evens is about right. With some really short prices on the coupon. Veteran Mark Frost faces Jamie Bain, where the odds compilers narrowly see Bain as the favourite with Frost at evens.
Of notoriety Bain's 2016 saw a challenge tour final, whereas Frost made a pro tour semi final and the World Championships losing out in the last 64. I would have to edge Frost at 21/20 for a small bet with Marathonbet with most firms at even money.
Hong Kong soft tip player Royden Lam, who wears the stylish glasses as seen at the World Cup is BIG at 15/8 to upset Ron Meulenkamp who is reputably 8/15 with some firms. Apart from a last 16 run at the pro-tour finals in November an inconsistent 2016 does not justify his price other than playing on the tour as a regular with Lam playing the soft tip circuit. I think the pricing should be more on Lam at 13/8-17/10 so the 15/8 may be worth a small bet with Lam evens on a +1.5 leg start and the same price for ten or eleven legs in the game.
Other games worth keeping tabs on is Alex Roy to maintain his status as one of the only six players to play in every event, William O'Connor, who enjoys this event and also Jeffrey De Graff to see off Barrie Bates, the former 2006 finalist. Anyone interested in that treble can get a shade under 3/1 with Paddy Power.
Lastly we look at Paul Hogan AKA Crocodile Dundee to take out Keegan Brown on the oche. Hogan had eventual winner Glen Durrant on the rocks in their Lakeside match up but has plenty of reputation outside the Hampshire leagues of Darts. at 42/41 and the format will suit Hogan as many of the BDO events employ a short format. Brown, the former Youth Champion has not done much over the last year or so heading into the development tour as well as playing the pro tour. Brown has never made it past the last 64 thus never survived the opening day. Bar a good run at the Grand Slam in 2014 Keegan is without a win on the major's in a long time and with the UK Open on and off stage may help. Nevertheless Hogan for me at 42/41 with Bwin
Recommendations
Bunting to beat Webster - 1/1 general 1pt
Royden Lam to beat Meulenkamp - 15/8 BetVictor 0.5 pt
Frost to beat Bain - 21/20 Marathonbet and 1/1 general 1pt
Roy/Connor and De Graff - 3.83 Paddy Power 1pt
Longshot ACCA -.
Wins for
Tabern, Baxter, Newell, Clayton, Gurney and Dave Prins pays 8.06 with Bwin and 7/1 with Betfair 0.25 pts