World Grand Prix Latest: van Gerwen, Clayton & Wright Betting Odds

on October 4, 2022 at 11:36 am

Michael van Gerwen is being well backed to go all the way in the BoyleSports World Grand Prix following his Night One victory.

The Dutchman got his bid for a sixth World Grand Prix title off to a positive start, coming through a heavyweight first round clash against Gary Anderson in Leicester.

Van Gerwen took a scrappy opening set 3-0 and while the Scot led 2-1 in the second, two consecutive legs from van Gerwen booked his spot in round two and saw BoyleSports cut him into 4/1 joint favourite from 7/1.

The three-time PDC World Champion revealed his particular fondness for the unique double-start format when he spoke to Sarah Kinsella of BoyleSports after the victory.

“To win against Gary Anderson in the first round gives you confidence,” he said.

“To play him in the first round is not easy, so there is relief because he can still play good darts. But he missed a few doubles early doors and once I got the first set out of the way, I think I played really well.

“I really like this tournament, I think there should be more like it, it’s something different with the double in. I’m happy to still be in it, I feel good and I hope there’s more to come.”

LATEST WORLD GRAND PRIX OUTRIGHT

Defending champion Jonny Clayton survived a scare with a comeback 2-1 victory over 2020 finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode and is now 8/1 from 11/1 in the outright betting, while Peter Wright was also clipped into 11/2 from 8/1 following his 2-0 victory over Kim Huybrechts.

“I’m over the moon,” Wright told BoyleSports afterwards. “It’s always a difficult tournament with the double start and short format, so it’s scary for the top players in the world.

“Kim has beaten me the last couple of times as well, but it was down to him missing doubles and I punished him. It played on him in the end, he was telling himself off and I told myself to stay calm and play the board.”