World Grand Prix darts: Day one predictions, odds, betting tips, accas, order of play & TV times
The 25th staging of the Boylesports World Grand Prix gets under way in Leicester on Monday night so here's our match-by-match preview and best bets.
Defending champion Jonny Clayton takes to the oche at the Morningside Arena while Michael van Gerwen also begins his quest to win the prestigious double-start major for the sixth time.
Here, we look ahead to all eight matches with seasonal statistics, predictions, best bets and an acca...
Darts betting tips: World Grand Prix day one
1pt Chris Dobey to beat Luke Humphries at 2/1 (bet365)
1pt Van Duijvenbode to beat Clayton and hit most 180s at 23/10 (Paddy Power)
1pt Wright to beat Huybrechts and hit most 180s at evens (Sky Bet)
SL Acca: Ratajski, van Duijvenbode, Wright & MVG at 11/2 with Sky Bet
World Grand Prix: Monday October 3
- TV Coverage: Sky Sports (1900 GMT)
- First-Round Format: Best of 3 sets. All sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set. All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.
Callan Rydz (5/4) v Krzysztof Ratajski (4/7)
- Overall H2H: 0-1 (TV: 0-1)
2022: 0-0 (TV: 0-0) - Seasonal Average
Rydz: 95.21
Ratajski: 94.60 - 180s per leg in 2022
Rydz: 0.22
Ratajski: 0.28 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Rydz: 39.47%
Ratajski: 33.93% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Rydz: 14.02%
Ratajski: 11.89% - Match Treble % in all comps (Win, most 180s, highest checkout)
Rydz: 22.37%
Ratajski: 22.73%
Not exactly a blockbusting match to get the World Grand Prix under way based on their respective mediocre seasons and it's hard to make a prediction with much conviction.
Krzysztof Ratajski reached his only final of the season back in August while Callan Rydz's only appearance since being crushed 10-2 by Dimitri Van den Bergh at the World Matchplay back in July was a 6-0 thumping at the hands of Stephen Bunting in the opening round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy at the start of September.
Overall, he has a better season average than Ratajski and a superior checkout percentage in stage events but the lack of activity is a concern so I'll take the pole to come through.
Scoreline prediction: 0-2
Brendan Dolan (1/1) v Stephen Bunting (8/11)
- Overall H2H: 2-3 (TV: 0-0)
2022: 0-0 (TV: 0-0) - Seasonal Average
Dolan: 92.93
Bunting: 94.78 - 180s per leg in 2022
Dolan: 0.13
Bunting: 0.29 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Dolan: 33.14%
Bunting: 33.64% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Dolan: 14.1%
Bunting: 12.13% - Match Treble % in all comps (Win, most 180s, highest checkout)
Dolan: 13.75%
Bunting: 24.27%
Brendan Dolan was of course the first player ever to hit a nine-darter in the World Grand Prix en route to the final in 2011 and although that kind of run is surely beyond him these days, he did win his ninth career title by defeating Jonny Clayton at a Players Championship in July.
That qualified him for the World Matchplay, where he suffered a first-round exit, but we haven't seen him since August's floor action having missed the European Tour events in September, whereas Stephen Bunting did feature in one of them.
The Bullet boasts superior seasonal stats when it comes to average, 180s and checkout percentage while last year he reached the World Grand Prix semi-finals with victories over Daryl Gurney, James Wade and Ryan Searle, so he'll be looking forward to another crack at the format.
Scoreline prediction: 1-2
Chris Dobey (7/4) v Luke Humphries (2/5)
- Overall H2H: 4-5 (TV: 0-1)
2022: 0-1 (TV: 0-0) - Seasonal Average
Dobey: 94.51
Humphries: 97.51 - 180s per leg in 2022
Dobey: 0.3
Humphries: 0.33 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Dobey: 28.42%
Humphries: 40.41% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Dobey: 9.55%
Humphries: 12.72% - Match Treble % in all comps
Dobey: 28.42 %
Humphries: 32.23%
Luke Humphries has been one of the real stars of the season thanks to his five titles - including four on the European Tour - as well as his array of stunning performances but the August rest for non-World Series Tour players thwarted his momentum.
He couldn't really get going at the Hungarian Darts Open or the German Darts Open in September but neither did Chris Dobey, who had finally come into form in the last three Players Championship events that were staged at the start of August. He won 11 of his 14 matches and reached a semi-final, while statistically he was averaging solidly in the mid-90s.
His checkout percentage in stage events this year is a worry for a double-start competition but as Paul Nicholson explained in his recent column, hitting the outer ring at the start of a leg is a different mental challenge entirely.
This should be an entertaining game with plenty of 180s and I think a lot closer than many will expect. There's a spot of value with Dobey, who reached the World Grand Prix semi-finals back in 2019, and he's as big as 2/1 in places.
Scoreline prediction: 2-1
Dimitri Van den Bergh (4/5) v Dave Chisnall (10/11)
- Overall H2H: 2-6 (TV: 1-1)
2022: 0-0 (TV: 0-0) - Seasonal Average
Van den Bergh: 95.95
Chisnall: 95.83 - 180s per leg in 2022
Van den Bergh: 0.31
Chisnall: 0.33 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Van den Bergh: 40.73%
Chisnall: 39.64% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Van den Bergh: 11.3%
Chisnall: 10.55% - Match Treble % in all comps
Van den Bergh: 25.86%
Chisnall: 28.47%
Dave Chisnall is one of my outright tips to win the World Grand Prix based on his double-start record and his recent form so obviously I'm going to side with him in this very tricky opener.
Two-time runner-up Chizzy, who won the Belgian Darts Open last week and has only lost in the first round of this major twice in 11 outings, boasts similarly impressive stats to Dimitri Van den Bergh this season so it should be an entertaining clash.
If this goes to three sets then both players to hit three+ 180s apiece could be worth a play at 11/4 with Sky Bet.
Scoreline prediction: 1-2
Jonny Clayton (8/13) v Dirk van Duijvenbode (6/5)
- Overall H2H: 6-3 (TV: 2-1)
2022: 1-1 (TV: 0-1) - Seasonal Average
Clayton: 96.93
Van Duijvenbode: 96.91 - 180s per leg in 2022
Clayton: 0.24
Van Duijvenbode: 0.38 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Clayton: 41.28%
Van Duijvenbode: 39.4% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Clayton: 14.42%
Van Duijvenbode: 11.45% - Match Treble % in all comps
Clayton: 13.29%
Van Duijvenbode: 36.61%
For sheer entertainment value, this really could be the tie of the round; in the Welsh corner we have the defending champion and in the Dutch corner we have the most explosive 180 hitter in the game.
However, van Duijvenbode's all-round game is becoming more and more complete with every passing month and this season alone he's reached five finals and has won two of them.
Aubergenius, who made history by reaching the World Grand Prix final on debut two years ago, is still without a TV title but he came agonisingly close when beating Clayton en route to the climax of the World Series of Darts Finals, where he lost a deciding leg to Gerwyn Price.
The Ferret did get a measure of revenge last weekend at the Belgian Darts Trophy but they both averaged over 105 in a fantastic match and this could well be another cracker.
I'm going to side with van Duijvenbode to win and hit most 180s but given their impressive 100+ checkout stats, I'm taking even-money on there being two of them in the match.
Scoreline prediction: 1-2
Peter Wright (8/10) v Kim Huybrechts (12/5)
- Overall H2H: 15-12 (TV: 8-1)
2022: 0-1 (TV: 0-0) - Seasonal Average
Wright: 97.56
Huybrechts: 92.36 - 180s per leg in 2022
Wright: 0.3
Huybrechts: 0.19 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Wright: 39.78%
Huybrechts: 39.88% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Wright: 15.36%
Huybrechts: 10.44% - Match Treble % in all comps
Wright: 23.66%
Huybrechts: 18.63 %
Apart from reaching the World Grand Prix final in 2018, Peter Wright's record at double-start is bafflingly shocking and two of his six first-round exits have come in 2020 and 2021.
Snakebite obviously has everything in his locker to put that straight and win this major for the first time, and without sounding too disrespectful to Kim Huybrechts, his early draw could have been a lot worse.
Wright suffered early exits in his last two tournaments - the World Series of Darts Finals and the Belgian Darts Open - but he averaged in the late 90s to early 100s in both defeats so don't read too much into that.
He's enjoyed a vastly superior season to Huybrechts - results and statistics wise - so if he gets close to what we know he's capable of he should breeze through this contest and hit most 180s.
Scoreline prediction: 2-0
Michael van Gerwen (4/9) v Gary Anderson (13/8)
- Overall H2H: 47-20, 3 draws (TV: 28-14, 3 draws)
2022: 1-2 (TV: 1-1) - Seasonal Average
Van Gerwen: 98.08
Anderson: 95.51 - 180s per leg in 2022
Van Gerwen: 0.27
Anderson: 0.27 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
Van Gerwen: 37.46%
Anderson: 37.67% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
Van Gerwen: 13.04%
Anderson: 9.49% - Match Treble % in all comps
Van Gerwen: 28.8%
Anderson: 15%
When Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson meet in a major, it's never the first round.
But that's the situation we see now after the Flying Scotsman's descent has taken him outside the world's top eight and if his poor form continues much longer, he'll soon slump below the top 16.
In fact we can't really describe it as 'form' anymore because he hasn't reached the quarter-finals or better at any major since finishing runner-up to Gerwyn Price at the 2021 World Championship and hasn't won a title of any kind since 2020.
He can still produce flashes of brilliance, of course, and he'll need one of those to stun his old foe Michael van Gerwen, who has the highest seasonal average on the circuit and most titles with eight, including the World Matchplay and Premier League.
MVG will still throw in the odd blooper - such as losing to Kim Huybrechts at the Belgian Darts Open last week with an average of 88 - but I'm not sure there's any value in backing Anderson at 13/8.
Scoreline prediction: 2-0
Jose de Sousa (8/13) v Adrian Lewis (6/5)
- Overall H2H: 2-0 (TV: 0-0)
2022: 0-0 (TV: 0-0) - Seasonal Average
De Sousa: 94.9
Lewis: 93.75 - 180s per leg in 2022
De Sousa: 0.31
Lewis: 0.27 - Checkout % in 2022 (Stage events only)
De Sousa: 36.55%
Lewis: 38.03% - 100+ checkouts per leg won
De Sousa: 12.29%
Lewis: 7.83% - Match Treble % in all comps
De Sousa: 29.7%
Lewis: 28.89%
If past years are anything to go by then the final match of eight could be starting extremely late and that in itself requires an extra dose of mental strength.
Adrian Lewis has been waiting long enough to get back in this double-start major having last featured way back in 2019 so what's a few more hours? Jose de Sousa did actually play last on one of the opening two nights last year and averaged just 78 but to be fair he was up against a troubled Glen Durrant and that dragged the quality down. He upped his level to 92 for his following match only to lose to eventual champion Jonny Clayton.
De Sousa is marginal favourite but he hasn't enjoyed the best of seasons by his high standards. He's yet to reach a final of any kind and statistically isn't averaging much higher than an improving Lewis, who ended his three-year wait for a title back in July.
It's a tough one to call and as much as the darting world would love to see Jackpot making a big run in a major, I wonder if the lack of recent exposure to double-starts may result in a costly slow start.
Scoreline prediction: 2-1
World Grand Prix: Full draw and schedule
World Grand Prix: Draw
- (1) Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler
- Joe Cullen v Damon Heta
- (8) Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
- Madars Razma v Ryan Searle
- (4) Michael Smith v Nathan Aspinall
- Danny Noppert v Gabriel Clemens
- (5) James Wade v Martin Lukeman
- Ross Smith v Andrew Gilding
- (2) Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
- Callan Rydz v Krzysztof Ratajski
- (7) Jonny Clayton v Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Dimitri Van den Bergh v Dave Chisnall
- (3) Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
- Brendan Dolan v Stephen Bunting
- (6) Jose de Sousa v Adrian Lewis
- Chris Dobey v Luke Humphries
Daily Schedule
Monday October 3 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
First Round (Best of three sets)
- Callan Rydz v Krzysztof Ratajski
- Brendan Dolan v Stephen Bunting
- Chris Dobey v Luke Humphries
- Dimitri Van den Bergh v Dave Chisnall
- Jonny Clayton v Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
- Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
- Jose de Sousa v Adrian Lewis
Tuesday October 4 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
First Round (Best of three sets)
- Madars Razma v Ryan Searle
- Ross Smith v Andrew Gilding
- Danny Noppert v Gabriel Clemens
- Joe Cullen v Damon Heta
- (8) Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
- (5) James Wade v Martin Lukeman
- (1) Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler
- (4) Michael Smith v Nathan Aspinall
Wednesday October 5 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)
- Four Matches
Thursday October 6 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)
- Four Matches
Friday October 7 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-Finals (Best of five sets)
- Four Matches
Saturday October 8 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-Finals (Best of seven sets)
- Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2
- Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4
Sunday October 9 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of nine sets)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
What TV channel is the World Grand Prix on?
This is one of the majors broadcast live on Sky Sports, whose coverage begins at 1900 BST every night except the semi-final night, which is 2000 BST.
World Grand Prix: Past Finals
- 1998 - Phil Taylor 13-8 Rod Harrington
- 1999 - Phil Taylor 6-1 Shayne Burgess
- 2000 - Phil Taylor 6-1 Shayne Burgess
- 2001 - Alan Warriner 8-2 Roland Scholten
- 2002 - Phil Taylor 7-3 John Part
- 2003 - Phil Taylor 7-2 John Part
- 2004 - Colin Lloyd 7-3 Alan Warriner
- 2005 - Phil Taylor 7-1 Colin Lloyd
- 2006 - Phil Taylor 7-4 Terry Jenkins
- 2007 - James Wade 6-3 Terry Jenkins
- 2008 - Phil Taylor 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
- 2009 - Phil Taylor 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
- 2010 - James Wade 6-3 Adrian Lewis
- 2011 - Phil Taylor 6-3 Brendan Dolan
- 2012 - Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Mervyn King
- 2013 - Phil Taylor 6-0 Dave Chisnall
- 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 5-3 James Wade
- 2015 - Robert Thornton 5-4 Michael van Gerwen
- 2016 - Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Gary Anderson
- 2017: Daryl Gurney 5-4 Simon Whitlock
- 2018: Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Peter Wright
- 2019: Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Dave Chisnall
- 2020: Gerwyn Price 5-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode
- 2021: Jonny Clayton 5-1 Gerwyn Price
World Grand Prix Most Titles
- Phil Taylor - 11
- Michael van Gerwen - 5
- James Wade - 2
- Jonny Clayton - 1
- Gerwyn Price - 1
- Daryl Gurney - 1
- Colin Lloyd - 1
- Alan Warriner - 1
- Robert Thornton - 1
Darts: Related content
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- 2022 Premier League results
- Double-start game plans
- Great World Grand Prix performances
- Players everyone hates to face
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- How to make it as a pro?
- How much money do players earn?
- Greatest darts rivalries
- Phil Taylor's greatest display
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