Darts Tips: Mark Webster's World Championship picks

The Paddy Power World Dart Championship is upon us and Paddy’s pulled out all the stops – whatever they are –  to make this the greatest arrows extravaganza ever!

He’s not just sponsoring the whole thing, or giving £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every single 180 that’s thrown throughout the tournament, he’s always doing his damnedest to find a few decent bets for punters.

And who better to get inside track on the Ally Pally palaver than former darts star Mark Webster, who’ll be giving us his favourite picks over the next three weeks, all the way to the final.

But who’ll be lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy underneath those pyrotechnics? We got Mark’s pre-tourney take right here…

The final preparations are being made for the biggest event on the darting calendar, the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London, and I’m ready to give you my predictions for the coming three weeks of action.

First up, it’s the outright winner, and it’s going to be Michael van Gerwen for me.

I know it’s been all about Luke Humphries in the last three major titles, but the way Michael lost in the PDC Players Championship final in Minehead will make him more focused and determined to get that fourth world title on January 3rd.

Chizzy’s played a lot of good darts away from the big stages but it just hasn’t clicked for him on the big televised events.

It’s only a matter of time before he puts that right and I expect him to have a decent tournament to end what would be a really good year for him.

This usually comes from a finalist and I am expecting Michael van Gerwen to be there.

I reckon he’ll be facing Gerwyn Price in it, and I’m going to go for The Iceman to get the most 180s – he might not win the title, but could walk away with the Ballon d’Art.

Mark Webster’s Picks for the World Darts Championship

Winner – Michael Van Gerwen
Darkhorse Pick – Dave Chisnall
Most 180s – Gerwyn Price

*Odds quoted are correct at time of publication but are subject to change