Darts’ first televised tournament of the new season gets underway on Friday as the world’s top 24 players head to Milton Keynes to contest The Masters.
The non-ranking event comes just over three weeks after Peter Wright won his second World Championship at the Alexandra Palace, motoring to victory against Michael Smith.
He will be looking to win The Masters for a second time, as the players get their final opportunity to impress before the Premier League line-up is announced.
Snakebite on Cloud Nine
Wright displayed many battling qualities en route to a second world title success in 2022 – a tournament which has further cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
He recovered from two sets down to beat Damon Heta then was pushed all the way by emerging star Callan Rydz before taking victory.
Wright has always had the talent but he has added timing to his game, summed up by his sprint finish against Smith to win the final 7-5.
He is the defending Matchplay and Players Championship Finals winner and is one of the most feared players around and can be backed to win the Masters at 9/2.
Clayton Seeking Title Defence
This time last year, Jonny Clayton probably didn’t expect to get a call-up to the Masters.
However, the tournament was expanded from 16 to 24 players meaning the Welshman – then ranked at world number 18 was handed the opportunity to play.
He grabbed the chance with both hands, defeating Mervyn King in the final, and securing a place in the Premier League, which he won at the first attempt.
The Ferret was also victorious in the Grand Prix and World Series Finals and winning four TV tournaments in a year has put him in elite company.
He can be backed to do the double at 7/1.
Price and MVG Hoping to Kick Off 2022 in Style
The quality of the field cannot be questioned, with both Gerwyn Price and Michael Van Gerwen hoping to start 2022 in fine fashion.
Price is still world number one despite being knocked out in the Ally Pally quarter-final, a result which will have no doubt hurt.
2021 saw him claim the Grand Slam title for a third time, though the perfectionist Price may have been disappointed to only win one TV major in his career.
However, that disappointment will be nothing compared to what Van Gerwen will have felt after a barren 2021.
It was the first year since 2011 that Van Gerwen hadn’t won a major televised title and he will be determined to prove he is still the best player in the game.
Price is available at 7/2 to win the Masters, while Van Gerwen is 4/1.
First Time Winner?
With the Premier League line-up being announced upon the conclusion of the Masters, the implication is that the winner may sneak into the eight-player field.
That is a massive prize for any player and will add a real competitive edge to the Masters, which has previously been seen as a warm-up act for the year ahead.
Michael Smith still hasn’t won a televised title but he got very close at Ally Pally and a player of his extraordinary talent is surely primed for success at some point – he is available at 9/1.
However, two players who could be set for a massive 2022 are Luke Humphries and Ryan Searle.
Their ascent has been fairly similar – both players are competing in the invitational Masters for the first time and both reached major finals for the first time in 2021 – Humphries in the UK Open and Searle in the Players Championship Finals.
Both deploy a similar playing style too – fast natural throwers and big scorers to boot.
Searle has won two Pro Tour events, while Humphries reached three finals on the floor last year.
Their respective careers are only going in one direction and Masters success could be the springboard to stardom. Humphries is 30/1 to win while Searle is 33/1.
*All odds correct at time of writing.