Outright:

S. Whitlock 16/1 ew. Good draw, first proper test should be Van Gerwen in the quarters (with all due respect to The Viking he'll need to bring something close to his best game to have a chance). He had a dart to beat him in Bavaria and is not the type to be afraid of a young up and comer. A semi would most likely be against Anderson (had a great year but struggles on the stage) or Fitton (always promises, top scorer but doubles seem to let him down at vital stages). I’d rate him second most likely to get to final from this half behind MVG.

Veitch 66/1 ew. Likely 2nd round against Merv, beat him 3-0 in Eng Op and lost a close one 4-3 at that BDO pro challenge. Not the toughest quarter although a lot of people are touting Webster, I stay away from debutantes (26 lost 10 won in first round last 6 years). Tough to know if he has the class to go all the way but with recent record in Bavaria and WC - Bav 05 Semi, Bav 06 - QF and WC 05 2R loss to Barney and WC 06 QF loss to Adams and winning the Eng Open 66/1 looks big. Adams in the semi if he reaches that far is a massive obstacle.

Corals offering 14/1 about a player outside the British Isles & Netherlands winning it - includes Sorensen (doubt he has the ability), Klemme (have been impressed with him, RU Winmau 05, winning Scot Op 103.2 av in final, really don't know how good he is) and Whitlock who I give a big chance to.

First Round:

Stompe 3/1 to take Klaasen
Bags of pressure on the youngster who has not had a great year. Co beaten in the first round the last 4 years is the worry but results between the two have been split, 3/1 is too big, 7/4 a more realistic price.

V Van Der Voort 1/2 to beat Richardson
Vincent had a good year after QF in WC06 with a good few QFs and Semis and a win in the Danish Open. Davy Richardson has been in the first round here 5 times before and yet to win a match.

P Hogan 6/4 to beat Greatbatch
Hogan made 2nd group stage of IDL and like Shaun has had an average year. Hogan had a second round 3-1 defeat to Barney in WC04 and a quarter final 5-4 defeat to Klaasen last year in the quarters. Shaun made the semis last year beating De Ruiters, Laursen and Hanvidge (not the toughest route ever to semi but Hogan did not have a really tough route through either) and possibly too much emphasis has been placed on that run to the semis. 06 was the first year out of 5 attempts he made it past the first round. Maybe the jinx for Greatbatch has been lifted but Hogan loves it up there and I'd make this a 5/6 pick'em at best.

Eccles 6/4 to beat Webster
Mark's first time at the Lakeside and a lot of people are talking him up. Will be pressure. Tony has not fulfilled potential at Frimley Green but is the 4th seed and seems big at 6/4. He beat Mark at the Canadian Open. While Webster's recent results have been impressive - winning Europe Cup and Welsh Masters and Semi in Winmau - Tony has been playing well too winning Norway Op, Swedish Op, semi Brit Classic, Malta Op and quaters Brit and French Op. I'd have this as another 5/6 the pair. Whoever handles the stage, lights and pressure should prevail.

Happy punting.

Thanks to Superstars of Darts regular Cossie for this article