Given the unique ‘double start’ format can be a great leveller, we’re trying to pick out some possible upsets in our BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix round one betting tips.
Even the great Phil Taylor fell at the first hurdle five times in this tournament, while Luke Littler was an opening-round casualty in 2024 before lifting the trophy last year.
We’re not brave enough to take on The Nuke this time around, but here are four underdogs for punters to consider:
Aspinall vs Doets
KEVIN DOETS TO BEAT NATHAN ASPINALL @ 21/20
Aspinall made it all the way through to the BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix final in 2022 but his overall record at this event makes poor reading, with The Asp suffering four first-round defeats from his last six trips to Leicester Arena.
Doets is making his tournament debut but has already reached the fourth round of the World Championship and the UK Open fifth round this season, so clearly isn’t afraid of playing on big stages.
Hawkeye is enjoying a fine campaign on the European Tour and the Players Championships circuit and it looks just a matter of time before the 28-year-old Dutchman becomes a regular contender at the top level.
Nijman vs Cross
ROB CROSS TO BEAT WESSEL NIJMAN @ 6/5
It was Cross who knocked out Littler in the first round here two years ago, so the 36-year-old is no stranger to upsetting the odds at Leicester Arena , where he actually beat Nijman in the opening match of the tournament 12 months ago.
Voltage suffered an early exit at the World Series of Darts last time out but did average a healthy 98.14 in that loss to Ryan Searle and hasn’t failed to make it past the first round in four previous televised ranking events this term.
Cross reached the UK Open quarter-finals and the fourth round of the World Championship , when only losing to Littler , so does tend to save his best form for when performing under the bright lights.
Betting Odds
World Grand Prix Betting Odds
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Luke Littler | 4/6 | 60% |
Luke Humphries | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Gerwyn Price | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Gian van Veen | 14/1 | 6.7% |
BAR | 20/1 | 4.8% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Luke Littler is the 4/6 favourite to win the World Grand Prix ahead of Luke Humphries (6/1) and Gerwyn Price (10/1).
Dobey vs Wattimena
JERMAINE WATTIMENA TO BEAT CHRIS DOBEY @ 13/10
Wattimena will have fond recent memories of playing at Leicester Arena after claiming a Players Championship title triumph there towards the end of August , when upsetting Littler in the quarter-finals before beating Luke Woodhouse and Doets to lift that trophy.
The Machine Gun has a mixed record in this tournament but did take out Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright en route to reaching the 2019 quarter-finals. Dobey has also done well here in the past but has lost his opening-round match for the past two renewals, including when posting a dire average of 74.45 in a 2-0 defeat by Cameron Menzies 12 months ago.
Van Veen vs Van Duijvenbode
DIRK VAN DUIJVENBODE TO BEAT GIAN VAN VEEN @ 11/8
Van Veen came out on top against his fellow Dutchman when they met on home turf in Amsterdam’s World Series of Darts quarter-finals last week but that was a close contest, with Van Duijvenbode leading 8-6 before losing 10-8.
Van Duijvenbode , who had earlier beaten Luke Humphries in that event, still holds a 4-2 head-to-head advantage over his compatriot and is a former finalist at this tournament. The Titan took out Michael van Gerwen here in round one last year and won’t be fazed by facing world number three Van Veen.
Betting Tips
World Grand Prix Betting Tips
Kevin Doets to beat Nathan Aspinall @ 21/20
Rob Cross to beat Wessel Nijman @ 6/5
Jermaine Wattimena to beat Chris Dobey @ 13/10
Dirk van Duijvenbode to beat Gian van Veen @ 11/8
Simply click/tap on the above betting tips to add to your betslip.
Bet on Darts Odds at BOYLE Sports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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