Day 7 Evening Matches (Final)

Phil Taylor v James Wade

Dreamland for Wade and he has nothing to lose. Taylor has produced just enough in the last two matches to reach yet another major final. Looking for his eighth title here, it will take some Herculean darts for Wade to deny Taylor and capture his first. However, some of his darts this week have been exactly that so he’s in with a real chance and will not be making up the numbers. Expect big finishes, plenty of maximums, sweat and drama in a cracker of a game.

WoD prediction – Taylor to win 18-14

Day 6 Evening Matches (Semi Finals)

James Wade v Roland Scholten

Wade is not short of confidence and considers himself to have a better game that is “probably better than most peoples”! Is it better than Scholten’s? Well we will find out tonight for sure. Often unable to reproduce his circuit form on the big stage, Wade has overcome that this week and taken three huge scalps. His world ranking will certainly be enhanced but he is in the semis with a very real chance of taking the title. Scholten has never got this far in Blackpool and won’t lie down. Expect a tough close encounter with lots of 180’s and high class finishing. It’s anybody’s game and will go to the wire.

WoD prediction – Scholten to win 17-15

Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton

Phil is certainly wobbling a bit. It seems strange saying that when he is still averaging close to 100! But this is not the ruthless Taylor we know so well. A regular drift into the five bed is upsetting his scoring and he is relying on accurate finishing to win legs. As ever he does just enough to win and it will probably be the same story here. Hamilton has nothing to lose, is playing beautifully, has no nerves and knows he has the game to beat Taylor here. How do you back against the greatest player there’s ever been though? The heart says Hamilton, the head says Taylor.

WoD prediction – Taylor to win 17-14

Day 5 Evening Matches (Quarter Finals)

Wayne Mardle v Andy Hamilton

Hamilton is showing no nerves – he says he hasn’t got any! – and Mardle isn’t showing his top form. It’s another tough one to call - if Mardle brings his A game he can win, but we’re siding with The Hammer to nail his first major semi final.

WoD prediction – Hamilton to win 16-14

Phil Taylor v Dennis Priestley

This match has a familiar ring to it. Playing better than he has for years, Priestley will go into this with confidence, but has he got enough to topple the great man? He had his chances last year and some shaky moments from Taylor this year could give him chances again. Hitting the doubles first time will be critical if Priestley is to win.

WoD prediction – Taylor to win 16-13

Day 5 Afternoon Matches (Quarter Finals)

Chris Mason v James Wade

With Mason suffering from a bug, Wade could step in a reach the semis providing he carries through the form he has shown so far. It will be close regardless but Wade is on such a roll that he will be difficult to stop.

WoD prediction – Wade to win 16-12

Roland Scholten v Ronnie Baxter

Baxter is scoring well but suffering on the doubles. Both players hit maximums for fun so the averages will be well up there. Tough one to call again and it could be decided on missed double again.

WoD prediction - Scholten to win 16-13

Day 4 Evening Matches (Round 2)

Andy Jenkins v Roland Scholten

Scholten is looking to get past the second round for the first time and we’re gonna go with him. He should have just too much for Jenkins who wobbled at times in the last round and struggled to find the treble twenty with regularity.

WoD prediction – Scholten to win 13-9

Steve Maish v Chris Mason

Maish has had a dream debut and will be a bag of nerves. Mason should have too much class but you never know.

WoD prediction – Mason to win 13-8

Ronnie Baxter v Mark Walsh

Baxter should have no problem seeing off Walsh who stuggled past Dave Askew last round.

WoD prediction – Baxter to win 13-7

Day 4 Afternoon Matches (Round 2)

Dennis Priestley v Alex Roy

Contrasting styles and an interesting match up – Priestley will need to get on top of Roy early on to create pressure on his younger opponent. This is often the undoing of Roy but if he gets a foothold in the match he will make it very difficult for Priestley. The form book says this will go to the man from Yorkshire with a little to spare but will it go to form?

WoD prediction – Priestley to win 13-8

Wayne Mardle v Lionel Sams

Sams will be delighted to be in the second round but this will be tempered by the fact that he meets the man who dumped him out of three major tournaments last year. Revenge would be sweet for Sams but he will have to play to his absolute best to prevail and we can’t see anything other than a win for Mardle who is determined to make up for his early exit from the Desert Classic.

WoD prediction – Mardle to win 13-7

Kevin Painter v James Wade

If James Wade can reproduce the form he showed in the last round he can take this match. Painter was showing signs of his form from a year ago so this should go close again.

WoD prediction – Wade to win 13-10

Day 3 Evening Matches (Round 1 & 2)

Ronnie Baxter v Dennis Smith

Two of the most contrasting styles in the game. The Rocket will be pounding them in eyes focused while Smiffy tickles them in eyes half closed. Difficult to beat Smith won’t lie down but Ronnie has the class to prevail.

WoD prediction – Baxter to win 10-6

Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis

Battle of The Potteries and one to savour. Lewis is capable of explosive darts and Hamilton is currently in such good form it seems like he can’t miss. On current form it should go to The Hammer but Lewis is more than capable of upping his game and emerging victorious. We expect a tight encounter with high scoring and top class darts.

WoD prediction – Hamilton to win 13-10

Phil Taylor v John Part

Part has been here before and beaten Taylor before and it is this knowledge that will fire the belief that Taylor is not invincible. This has been proved twice already this year but The Man who dished out both defeats is not here this week. So it’s left to Taylor’s previous nemesis to attempt to leave him trophyless for a third successive major tournament. Part is in great form and will push him all the way and if Taylor can get past Part the title is there for the taking.

WoD prediction – Taylor to win 13-11

Day 3 Afternoon Matches (Round 1)

Dennis Ovens v James Wade

Can rising star Wade turn the heat on Ovens and progress to round two? One of the most difficult matches to call and this could go on all afternoon.

WoD prediction – Wade to win 10-7

Andy Jenkins v Alan Warriner-Little

Another difficult match to call. Both players aren’t showing the form they are capable of but on their day either could take it. We’ll side with the guy wearing our badge(!) and hope the positive vibes see The Iceman through.

WoD prediction – Warriner-Little to win 10-8

Roland Scholten v Andy Smith

Tripod lost out to Phil Taylor in the Bobby Bourn final on Saturday so is taking some form into this tournament. Hasn’t had the success he’s been used to this year and has dropped down the rankings a little. Should be strong enough to overcome the debutant Pieman here though.

WoD prediction – Scholten to win 10-5

Mark Walsh v Dave Askew

Toss a coin for this one as these two cannot be separated. Very little recent form to go on and little pedigree in the big tournaments. Walsh reached the UK Open final a year ago so that tips this game in his favour.

WoD prediction - Walsh to win 10-8

Day 2 Evening Matches (Round 1)

Kevin Painter v Barrie Bates

Potentially the match of the first round. Bates has been on fire this year, winning tournaments and reaching the final of the UK Open in Bolton. Can he continue the good form and take out another top 10 ranked player. We think he can.

WoD prediction – Bates to win 10-7

Colin Lloyd v Steve Maish

Defending champion against tricky opponent. We’ve seen Jaws slip up in these type of matches before (Gary Welding at the Circus Tavern) but he has learned from those experiences and will expect to go through here.

WoD prediction – Lloyd to win 10-5

Phil Taylor v Bob Anderson

Who can cut The Power? No Barney here this week and very few players who can boast a win over him. Ex World Champ Anderson is enjoying an Indian summer in his career but will be no match for Taylor who won his third straight Bobby Bourn title on Saturday and looks in good form.

WoD prediction – Taylor to win 10-5

Wayne Mardle v Steve Hine

The Muffin Man is progressing nicely and qualified for this tournament to earn his spot. Can Hawaii 501 win a major? Could this be the year? Fluctuating form makes Mardle a punters nightmare so give this one a swerve. Mardle should be too strong but we’ve said that before…

WoD prediction – Mardle to win 10-6

Day 2 Afternoon Matches (Round 1)

Terry Jenkins v Lionel Sams

Jenkins has become a consistent performer and Sams’ erratic form means anything is possible. Sams has the game to win this but Jenkins should sneak it.

WoD prediction - Jenkins to win 10-7

Adrian Lewis v Matt Clark

Lewis’ temperament in the heat of battle can often let him down and Clark is no mug. Both players are capable of taking this and it will be a tight contest.

WoD prediction - Lewis to win 10-8

Peter Manley v Andy Hamilton

Metronomic throwing against rocking and rolling. Manley will dance to the stage and dance all over the oche but the steadiness and dead eye of the man from Stoke will see him through.

WoD prediction – Hamilton to win 10-8

Chris Mason v Steve Beaton

Mase The Ace will have his work cut out against ‘The self styled Adonis’ but should triumph. Depending on which Mason turns up it will be a stroll or a struggle.

WoD prediction – Mason to win 10-6

Day 1 Evening Matches (Round 1)

Mark Dudbridge v Alex Roy

Dudbridge is struggling for form at the moment and Roy could produce anything on the night – good or bad. Difficult one to call but we’ll go for Roy to beat an out of form Dudbridge

WoD prediction – Roy to win 10-7

John Part v Wes Newton

Newton will be looking for revenge over Part on home turf and will be fired up for this one. It will be close and he has it all to do but we have a sneaking feeling for this rising star.

WoD prediction – Newton to win 10-8

Dennis Priestley v Alan Tabern

In form players both, this will be a tough game and again is difficult to call. Priestley has the Premier League in his sights and this should focus him and carry him through a difficult opening match.

WoD prediction – Priestley to win 10-7