Darts - Stan James World Matchplay Odds and Betting Preview

BLACKPOOL, UK - The World Matchplay gets underway this weekend at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and reaches its conclusion on Sunday July 25. Darts fans regard the World Matchplay at the second biggest PDC tournament and are all eagerly anticipating Phil Taylor`s reappearance on Tuesday evening as he faces Barrie Bates.

Unsurprisingly for a televised tournament, Taylor has been installed as the red-hot 4/9 (bet £90 to win £40 profit) favourite by the sponsors Stan James to continue his domination of the PDC circuit. The world champion has won the Matchplay a remarkable 10 times in its 15-year existence and will take all the beating in Blackpool this year. Bookmakers always run scared of the The Power, and are only inclined to quote him at odds-on to win tournaments.

Paddy Power are even shorter about another Taylor triumph at 1/3 - after all, it was only two months ago that Taylor hit two 9 dart finishes in the Premier League final. He is an absolute certainty to see off Bates on Tuesday at 1/20 with William Hill.

It is almost impossible to look past Taylor in the outright betting, but the next option is James Wade, who is 12/1 with Stan James. Wade won the Matchplay in 2007, beating Terry Jenkins in the final.

Colin Lloyd is another former Matchplay champion in the line-up, but Sky Bet`s odds of 100/1 accurately reflect his chances of another win this year. Simon Whitlock is a more plausible punt at 14/1, just ahead of Raymond Van Barneveld at 16/1.

Others in with outside chances are Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis, who are 20/1 and 28/1 respectively with Ladbrokes.

Taylor`s ominous presence in the Matchplay field means that Sky Bet only offer 1/7 that the winning nationality is England. The same bookmaker offers 6/1 about him being eliminated in the semi-final, and 8/1 that he finishes runner-up. Taylor is 5/1 to throw a 9-darter and his fans also have the chance to back him to throw over thirty 180s at 5/6.

Five different bookmakers are taking bets on who will score the highest check-out, for which Phil Taylor is the 5/1 market leader. Simon Whitlock is next at 6/1, whilst James Wade is slightly bigger at 7/1 with Sporting Bet.

One of the most exhilarating darts bets to have is bet on how many 9 dart finishes there will be throughout the tournament. `None` is the 8/13 favourite with Victor Chandler, whilst `one` is 11/8 with Betfred. `Three or more` is on offer at whopping odds of 66/1 with the same bookie.

World Matchplay Winner Odds

World Matchplay Winner w/o Taylor Odds

World Matchplay To Reach The Final Odds

World Matchplay 1st Quarter Winner Odds

World Matchplay 2nd Quarter Winner Odds

World Matchplay 3rd Quarter Winner Odds

World Matchplay 4th Quarter Winner Odds