World Grand Prix - 6-12 Oct

[kevshat]

The busy period of major championships begins with the World Grand Prix in Dublin next month. The event continues with its double in double out format and given the strength of the field should be a cracking tournament. Draw, schedule and format all here: http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/6y3ey5duzh481h3vbvnu9hy2h/title/partypokercom-world-grand-prix-schedule

[Jazzer Isaac]

Re: World Grand Prix - 6-12 Oct Think there is some value in the specified player check-out market on Coral, but apart from that I'm struggling to see much. Something I've put elsewhere: Four-fold to be taken to small stakes. 2/1 most places. Justin Pipe +1.5 Adrian Lewis Stephen Bunting James Wade Robert Thornton vs Justin Pipe - Justin Pipe +1.5 sets. World no. 14 Justin Pipe was on my post-draw shortlist of people to back, but the best price of 13/10 just falls short of the 6/4 I was wanting. He plays a much more decorated player in former World Master and UK Open winner Robert Thornton, but I feel 'The Force' is good to win at least one set in this match. Last year's Grand Prix saw an impressive run to the semi-finals for Pipe. Along the way he took the scalps of well-fancied opposition, beating recent world finalist Andy Hamilton and world no. 3 Adrian Lewis, whom he knocked out of the second round in straight sets. Thornton was knocked out in the first round by (an albeit stunning performance from) Paul Nicholson. Both have 1 previous quarter final run to their name in this competition – but it should be noted that Thornton has beaten Phil Taylor in the Grand Prix. Pipe comes into the tournament with ok floor form. Thornton has excellent recent form on the floor, reaching two finals this year and winning 3 events. Since reaching the last 16 of the Worlds in January, he hasn't replicated it on television, losing in the first round of World Matchplay and the second round of the UK Open (playing a qualifier in the first round), while finishing bottom of the non-relegated Premier League players. Although he has appalling tv form, his floor form really is superb and is my main concern over this selection. However, my main rationale behind this selection is based on the unique double-in format of the Grand Prix, which I think will benefit Pipe more than Thornton. Both of these darters are fairly consistent on their doubles, with Sky pundit Rod Harrington once describing Thornton as “one of the best hitters of double top in the world of darts”. Now, Pipe is a notoriously slow player and this will leave Thornton standing at the back of the stage for longer than he will feel comfortable in my opinion, and especially so if he fails to hit a double with his first 3 throws in a leg. When combined with a tendency to get too frustrated too quickly on the oche, as we have seen with Thornton before in the Premier League and indeed his first round match with Paul Nicholson last year, I think its not too farfetched to expect him to throw away few legs in this match, something he can't afford to do against a player of Pipe's calibre. I may still yet have a small stake on the win at 13/10. Adrian Lewis vs Daryl Gurney – Adrian Lewis to win. Not much to this selection to be honest. Gurney is in good form reaching the Irish Matchplay final, I just think the gulf in class is just too big for Lewis to not win this match. Stephen Bunting vs Ronnie Baxter – Stephen Bunting to win. Veteran Ronnie Baxter has qualified for the Grand Prix each year since 2000, but his record is generally poor. Conversely, this will be reigning BDO champion Stephen Bunting's first appearance at the Grand Prix and (to the best of my knowledge and Googling skills) first match in this format. Putting aside a semi-final in 2004, Baxter has never got past the second round. And before last year's 2-0 victory over Colin Lloyd, he had been knocked out in the first round six years running. Whilst this is uncharted water for Bunting, I think he is a better all-round player than Baxter and should comfortably beat the man from Blackpool. James Wade vs Andy Smith – James Wade to win. James Wade won the Grand Prix in 2007 and 2010, and I am expecting a good performance from him in this year's tournament. 'The Machine' has demonstrated he is on the cusp of a return to the top of his game in recent months, winning a European Tour event, reaching the final of another and also impressing on the PDC tour of Singapore and Australia. Smith and Wade have met twice already in majors this year with Wade coming out on top both times 4-3 in the World Championships and then 10-5 in the World Matchplay. Smith won their most recent clash in Leipzig a few weeks ago, but I think he will struggle against one of the most consistent double-hitters in darts – and I really do fancy Wade to improve his 13-5 record against Smith in this match.