BDO Day 4 - Tuesday Evening
Tuesday evening kicks off with Glen Durrant against Mark McGrath. I have to be honest and say I remain really disappointed that to this point we haven't see Durrant testing himself in the PDC, and this will be the shortest favourite we see in the BDO World Championships this year - he's no bigger than 1/10 to beat McGrath. He would be a serious contender on the PDC and he has always spoken of his ambitions to step up. Come on Glen. Do the right thing pal!
McGrath – a qualifier from New Zealand - came through with a whitewash of Adam Smith Neale, but his opponent's condition was far worse than expected and it was a routine win in the end. McGrath's winning legs in that match were:
14, 17, 18, 18, 19, 20, 20, 20, 21
It might have been good enough for Smith Neale of crutches, but it won't be anywhere near enough to beat Durrant I'm afraid and even on the McGrath throw we should expect Durrant to favourite for the leg.
As such, we'll back the 3-0 to Durrant a shade of odds-on in this one. He is by far and away the best player in the event this year and will be pleased to have such a beatable opponent in the first (and shortest format) round.
2pts Durrant to win 3-0 against McGrath at 10/11 (General)
Chris Landman faces Kyle McKinstry, and the Dutchman is a rapidly progressing player on the darts scene. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t step up to the big boys league at some point, but he probably needs another full solid season at this level before beginning to think too much about that. He’s reached a host of quarter and semi-finals this season – most notably the British Classic Quarters and Welsh Open Semis. That’s seen him move up to 11th in the BDO rankings. That’s impressive stuff from a man who was almost unknown a year ago.
Kyle McKinstry is another man rapidly rising up the rankings, and he has been taking darts a lot more seriously over the past two-three years. He’s probably had the better results in 2018, seeing Landman’s quarter-finals and raising him slightly. He reached the final of the England Matchplay and the semi-final of the British Classic.
McKinstry is the rightful favourite in this one, but I can’t help but give a chance to the lesser known Dutch player. Whoever progresses will give Durrant a good game in Round 2. Let’s chance a small bet on the outsider.
When it comes to filling the maximum bed, Kyle McKinstry is one of the most reliable chuckers on the BDO circuit. He hits around 0.27 180’s per leg, which is high even by PDC standards, so it should be more than enough to get him home in the Most 180s Market. He is a 1/2 shot, which doesn’t suit everyone, but I’m happy enough with those odds.
1pt Landman to beat McKinstry at 13/8 (General)
2pts McKinstry to hit most 180s at 1/2 (General)
In the final match of the night, Gary Robson faces David Cameron, and we reckon Geordie Robson will have too much in his locker. He is a far more consistent sub 16 darter, which gives him an edge, and Cameron wasn’t exactly vintage in the preliminary for this one – he posts around 47% of winning legs inside 15 darts, while Cameron will be closer to 32%.
Robson is a seasoned campaigner, and I made him around 8/15 or 4/7 for this one. 8/11 is available with a couple of firms and that feels like value for this one.
1.1pts Robson to beat Cameron at 8/11 (General)