Only eight players are left standing in the 2021 PDC World Championship with every one of them in action today at the Alexandra Palace.
Two of the top three players in the world remain and a number of former world champions all form the octet set to light up the oche in London on New Years Day.
Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting
Polish tungsten chucker Krzysztof Ratajski continues to climb the rankings and is on the verge of breaking into the top 10.
The 43-year-old is 20/39 to see off former BDO world champion Stephen Bunting in the first of today’s quarter finals and is a very worthy favourite.
Bunting has burst back into life following a torrid season and is 8/5 to upset the odds.
Ratajski is in great form, he whitewashed his opponents in his first two matches and is an appealing 25/29 giving up 1.5 sets in the race to five contest.
Gary Anderson v Dirk van Duijvenbode
‘The Flying Scotsman’ Gary Anderson has been well backed since the quarter final line-up was known and is now favourite at 4/5 to reach a sixth career semi-final at this event.
Anderson has stolen plenty of column inches in recent weeks with some fiery post-match interviews, he is clearly bang up for the task at hand and in the hunt for a third PDC world title.
Despite on-going injury issues, the 50-year-old continues to churn out results and his abundance of experience on the biggest of stages will stand him in good stead here against a much less experienced rival.
His Dutch opponent, Dirk van Duijvenbode, has been sensational in recent months reaching the Grand Prix final in October and impressing at this event where he has already beaten Premier Champion Glen Durrant.
Duzza let him off the hook though, he surrendered a 3-1 lead and the 28-year-old is plenty short enough at 21/20.
Gary Anderson is renowned for his heavy scoring and peppering of the treble 20, he is an appealing price as the outsider at 6/4 to bag the most 180s.
Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
The first of the two quarter finals tonight has potential to be the most one-sided game of the day, with world number three Gerwyn Price strongly fancied at 2/5 to see off UK Open semi-finalist Daryl Gurney.
Welshman Price boasts a fine head-to-head record against Gurney having won 9 of their 12 matches and appeals as a wager on the handicap.
‘The Iceman’ is chasing back-to-back semi-final appearances at the Ally Pally and is 20/29 to book his place despite giving up 1.5 sets.
Gurney is 39/20 to reach a first-ever world championship semi-final.
Price has been arguably the best player this year, he has already bagged three televised titles in the World Grand Prix, World Cup of Darts and World Series of Darts.
He is a fair price at 7/2 to land a first-ever world title.
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Antepost favourite Michael van Gerwen gave backers a fright in his last match, which was a thrilling contest with Joe Cullen that he came eventually through.
Cullen missed two match darts in his 4-3 loss to MVG in what was likely to be a tougher match than the one he lines up in tonight.
‘Mighty Mike’ is now 5/7 for a fourth world title and is expected to cruise into the semi-finals.
He faces heavy scorer Dave Chisnall and, despite the scare in the last round, will be brimming with confidence as he carries an exceptional record in the head-to-head.
The Dutchman has not lost to 40-year-old Chisnall in their last 27 matches in an incredible run that dates back almost five years.
It hasn’t been a vintage year for MVG, though, and it’s 7/2 about Chisnall finally getting the better of the world number one – a price which will attract some punters.
Chisnall’s scoring power is reflected in the quote of 1/2 for him to get the most 180s, but the bet is van Gerwen to progress with a bit in hand and cover the 2.5 sets handicap at 5/7.
*All odds correct at time of writing
