2019 Brisbane Darts Masters: Odds and Betting Preview

Last year, the PDC Darts Tour headed Down Under for a series of tournaments in Australia and New Zealand. The circuit proved to be a success with the game taken to far flung corners of the world so we’re back for 2019.

It all begins this Friday with the second running of the Brisbane Masters. Rob Cross is our defending champion and the man in form but there is a familiar name at the top of the outright betting.

Format

16 players will assemble at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in a short tournament that will take place across just two days. The first eight are specially invited as the highest ranked available throwers from the PDC Order of Merit. The remainder are a mix of qualifiers and wild cards and there is seeding from the first round onwards.

That first round is a race to six legs while the quarter finals, semi finals and final are all based on a best of 15 format. At the time of writing, the draw for the first round has yet to be made but with the roster of 16 darters now finalised, we can take a look at the outright betting.

Man to Beat

Michael Van Gerwen was the beaten finalist in the first edition of the Brisbane Masters and, despite a mixed campaign so far, the Dutchman leads the betting by a clear margin. MVG is available at best industry odds of 6/4 with William Hill and BetFred as we see him make a rare appearance above the Even Money mark.

Van Gerwen is the reigning World Champion but he’s yet to add a PDC Major to his cabinet since that New Year’s Day success. Minor tournament wins in Germany and Austria have followed but we wait for Mighty Mike to return to his best.

Chasing Throwers

Peter Wright leads the chasing pack at 5/1 with BetFred and Betway and then we come to fellow Scot Gary Anderson who is quoted at a top price of 7/1 with Coral and SportPesa. Wright has enjoyed a far more positive season and along with Anderson, he claimed the World Cup of Darts for Scotland.

Anderson, himself, is feeling his way back after the injury that prevented him from taking part in the PDC Premier League but both men pose a threat this weekend.

Also at those same best odds of 7/1 is defending champion Rob Cross. Voltage is available at that figure with SportingBet and there will be plenty of interest following his win in the World Matchplay last month.

The seeding is crucial to any of these bets but if Cross can avoid MVG in his half of the draw, the 2018 World Champion stands a great chance of a successful defence.

Other throwers in the chasing pack include Daryl Gurney at best odds of 14/1 and James Wade at a top price of 16/1 with both of those figures coming from SportingBet once again. Both have been dangerous at times and in this slimmed down format with a number of big names missing, they could have a real chance down in Brisbane.

Outside Options

Qualifier Corey Cadby leads the outside bets at best odds of 28/1 with Betway and that doesn’t say a lot for the chances of two automatic picks. Simon Whitlock comes in at a top price of 40/1 with 888Sport while the struggling Raymond Van Barneveld is out at a best of 50/1 with Ladbrokes and Royal Panda.

It’s likely that we mentioned the winner of the 2019 Brisbane Masters some time ago but other players to consider may include Kyle Anderson at best odds of 50/1 with Coral and BetFred and Damon Heta at a top price of 150/1 with Ladbrokes and 888Sport.

Verdict

It’s a fairly short format in the opening round and in the race to 6, there may be an isolated upset in the early stages. Having said that, we think that only five players are really in contention to take the 2019 renewal of the Brisbane Darts Masters.

We’re discounting any of the Wild Cards and Qualifiers - it would be a huge shock if the likes of Cadby, Heta or Kyle Anderson came through to take the trophy. In addition, we’re discounting Whitlock, Van Barneveld and Gurney based on a lack of form.

That leaves Van Gerwen, Wright, Cross, Wade and Gary Anderson. Working on a process of elimination isn’t the worst approach but now we need to pick one from five and while it may seem obvious, MVG is jumping off the page for us.

We’ve passed on Michael Van Gerwen many times because of an odds on price but, as a dip in form takes him to 6/4, the Dutchman looks a better prospect. It’s a much shorter tournament with a lack of real quality beyond those five names and in that shortened format, it’s time for Mighty Mike to rediscover his form.

As outside options, Rob Cross and James Wade look to be likely selections. Wade is available at that best of 16/1 for the win but SportingBet have no each way markets so we’ll switch to the 14/1 offered by 10bet and take an E/W punt on the Machine.

At present, there are no additional markets for the Brisbane Masters so we’re looking for these tips to take us to a winning weekend.

Best Bets:

• Michael Van Gerwen to win at 6/4 with William Hill
• James Wade Each Way at 14/1 with 10bet