The Skybet World Grand Pix starts tonight in Dublin with Phil Taylor as Champion Phil Taylor looks to retain his title and take his record in 2009 to five majors out of five. Taylor has won this event eight of the last eleven times it has been held, and the world’s greatest ever darts player is 4/6 (bet $60 to win $40 profit) to do it again.
Looking past Taylor, difficult though it is, James Wade is priced at 7/1 and is next favourite. The Aldershot-born Englishman has four majors to his name and is considered the biggest threat the Taylor.However, last year Wade went out at round one and this year has been affected by a finger injury.
Raymond van Barneveld is priced at 10/1. The Dutchman is a five-time world champion and made the final last year, losing to Taylor. He plays his first game Alan Tabern, which will be a good test of the form he has brought with him to Ireland.
Mervyn King, who beat Taylor last month in the Championship League and last weekend enjoyed a televised nine-darter, is priced at 35/1. This is probably due to the difficulty of his draw, and he opens against Colin Osborne. Other notable contenders include Gary Anderson at 16/1 and Terry Jenkins at 33/1.
