DARTS BETTING: Live on Skysports 1: Wed from 19.00: It’s the start of the 2nd round of the World Matchplay and Wade, Van Barneveld, Baxter and Webster are all in action. Compare World Matchplay odds.
Another dramatic night at the World Matchplay of Darts at The Empress Ballrooms in Blackpool saw Kevin Painter come from 8-2 down to deny Colin Lloyd 11-9. Painter is 100/1 at Ladbrokes to win outright. Mark Walsh, who managed to hold off the comeback of Mark Dudbridge, will face Painter on Thursday in round 2.
After a nervy start in which he missed a host of doubles, Phil Taylor eventually ousted Barrie Bates 10-6. At one point Taylor was 5-4 down before slipping into gear and hitting a 3-dart average of 114.99. Taylor is now slightly shorter at 1/3 with most firms but Coral are still offering 2/5 about him for the tournament.
Steve Beaton condemned Paul Nicholson to a debut defeat, winning out 10-3. Beaton started well and never looked back but remains a 150/1 outsider with Paddy Power for the outright.
Tonight is the start of the 2nd round and there are some good matches as a host of names take to the stage. Blackpool-boy Ronnie Baxter is 4/11 at 888sport to get off to a winning start against Wayne Jones and should post a good, solid win. Dutch pairing Co Stompe and Vincent Van der Voort take on Mark Webster and James Wade respectively and Co Stompe could be a man to watch. Stompe is 1/1 at Victor Chandler and after a fine year, in which he has won the Las Vegas Classic and reached the quarters of the World Champs, he stands a good chance of progressing. Admittedly Mark Webster was the man who knocked Stompe out in that quarter-final but the Dutchman can fly tonight.
Barney is a mere 2/9 at Boylesports to see off Alan Tabern and his 9-darter in the 1st round was certainly a statement of intent. The popular Dutchman can go far in this tournament and is currently 12/1 at Sportingbet.
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