Darts World Grand Prix preview
Tonight is the start of the Bodog.com darts World Grand Prix in Dublin, and Phil Taylor is gunning for a 10th title as defending champion and the £100,000 first prize.
The tournament is unique on the calendar as all legs must start and end with a double, and Taylor, the 15-time champion of the world, begins his defence against Brendan Dolan.
Taylor beat rival Raymond van Barneveld in last year’s final by six sets to three, and once again, he is the man to beat. Should Taylor be successful in winning his 10th World Grand Prix, then he would become the first player to reach double figures in three major tournaments, adding to his 15 world championships and 11 World Matchplay titles.
“I try not to think too much about records but to win a 10th World Grand Prix would be very special,” said Taylor.
The Power has lost three times in the first round in this event, in 2001, 2004 and 2007, and knows he needs to make a good start tonight. “I've had a lot of success in the tournament, as well as some bad memories with three first round defeats.
“It's a short format and Brendan's in good form so I know I'll have to be on top of my game from the start. I'm always a bit apprehensive in the first round here but if you get through that then you can relax as the format gets longer. I'm feeling good though, and I've had a great year so far and have prepared well for this, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get past Brendan and have another successful week,” said Taylor.
The odds are stacked against Dolan, but the world No.37 fancies his chances of causing an upset against darts’ finest player. “The first round is the only time he's been beaten in the competition and that's happened three times, so hopefully last year's experience of playing against him will help me do the job this time,” said Dolan, who played Taylor at the same stage last year.
“I got beaten 3-1 in both sets last year but I was on doubles when he was checking out so he didn't run all over me, although the scoreline was 2-0 in sets. It looks lopsided but we all have to get to that level, be clinical and take every opportunity that comes our way, especially against a man of his calibre,” added Dolan.
Dutchman Van Barneveld, who has been runner-up to Taylor for the last two seasons, begins his campaign against John MaGowan, while world No.3 and Premier League runner-up James Wade takes on Irishman Mick McGowan.
Wade won the World Grand Prix back in 2007, and has his eyes on winning the event for a second time. “I'd love to win this title again and I feel good about my game at the moment,” said Wade. “Mick will have lots of support because he's local but hopefully I can silence his fans, get through the first round and have a good week.”
Two-time runner-up in Dublin, Terry Jenkins, has a match against the fastest player on the circuit in Vincent van der Voort. World Grand Prix debutants Steve Brown and Steve Farmer take on one another, while William O’Connor, another Irishman, plays Barrie Bates.
Jackpot Adrian Lewis plays Alan Tabern, while the Rocket Ronnie Baxter has a mouth-watering encounter with Scotland’s Gary Anderson. Colin Lloyd, the 2004 champion, plays Wes Newton, and Colin Osborne takes on Dutchman Co Stompe.
Australian Simon Whitlock is making his World Grand Prix debut, and he has one of the ties of the round against fellow Australian and rival Paul Nicholson, winner of the Players’ Championship Finals last year.
Kevin Painter plays Mark Dudbridge in what should be another close battle, while world No.4 Mervyn King plays Wayne Jones, a quarter-finalist at the World Matchplay and finalist in the European Championship this year. Denis Ovens takes on Mark Walsh, and Dennis Priestley plays the Hammer Andy Hamilton.
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