The 2023-24 Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship

TheChrisD

And Radek loses his card 😔

retalivity

O'Connor doing well here, but Dobey is throwing savage darts

mcburns07

This is fantastic

Liamalone

105 out Go Willie

Liamalone

Final set shootout. Some craic this.

Mr. Guappa

Heck of a game this

Liamalone

Go on Willie, ye did well in defeat. Great game from both.

paulie21

Ah feck, the luck never goes Willie's way

Sultan of Bling

Unlucky there for Willie.

He'd have beaten a lot of other players with that performance,.

Dobey just too good.

shockframe

Missed opportunity for O Connor.

Would have had a good chance on the 2 x Smith Side of the draw.

Has no luck.

Ah well.

Great game.

PTH2009

Great effort from Willie

KevIRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121528178#Comment_121528178

Also his world Matchplay spot

shockframe

Veenstra looks like some 80s europop singer.

And pikachu is like a Librarian!

roosterman71

Lennon had plenty of chance there to win that opening set 3 zip. Finishing was very poor

shockframe

Scuba Steve.

From the big scuba diving area known as Carlow

TheChrisD

Well Steve, if you lose your card now after that...

Dillonb3

My god lennon's finishing is dire

shockframe

Huge chances missed by Lennon.

Worst game of the last 64 by a distance.

Liamalone

Poor from Lennon, could've taken Clayton there if he could hit the odd double.

Dillonb3

PDC should hold one of those World Series events over in Asia next year. Some really good players

ThebitterLemon

BvP very impressive especially considering the dartitis issues he had.

love to see him close this out

TbL

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121531193#Comment_121531193

Would not be sad to see Rock eliminated

FarmerBrowne

Great to see Rock gone, Mardle will be heart broken after all the spewing he did over him last year.

Mushy

That was a good game, some very good checkouts

PTH2009

Rock overrated

ThebitterLemon

Delighted for BvP not a fan of JR but credit where it’s due he was telling the crowd not to get on BvP’s back

TbL

siblers

Ridiculous stuff by Bunting. 107 average. Came across very well afterwards being interviewed. Poor Joyce didn't have a chance

TheChrisD

107.28 from Bunting, wow

siblers

Would love to see Ricky pull this one off. Love his on stage intros and he's great to watch

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121531027#Comment_121531027

They way ahead of ya

https://www.pdc.tv/news/2023/11/30/van-gerwen-set-bahrain-darts-masters-bow-january

But I guess you meant over in Korea or somewhere instead of moneybags in the Middle East. And I'd agree with you

Sultan of Bling

Rapid Ricky on fire here

irishgeo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121531453#Comment_121531453

Aspinall is in bother here.

siblers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121531529#Comment_121531529

Evans was brilliant but Aspinall was rubbish. He came to life towards the end but too little to late

Sultan of Bling

What a performance from Ricky Evans.

Outstanding.

Aspinall blitzed.

Mushy

That was impressive, lived up to his nickname too

PTH2009

Here's how it's looking

QF1

Round 3

Michael Smith vs Madars Razma

Vs (Round 4)

Ross Smith vs. Chris Dobey

Vs

Rob Cross vs Jeffrey de Graaf

Vs (Round 4)

Jonny Clayton vs Krystof Ratajski

QF2

Jim Williams vs Barney

Vs (Round 4)

Matt Campbell vs Luke Littler

Vs

Gerwyn Price vs Brendan Dolan

Vs (Round 4)

Boris Krcmar vs Gary Anderson

QF3

MvG vs Richard Veenstra

Vs (Round 4)

Florian Hempel vs Stephen Bunting

Vs

Scott Williams vs Martin Schindler

Vs (Round 4)

Damon Heta vs Berry van Peer

QF4

Luke Humphries vs Ricardo Pietreczko

Vs (Round 4)

Joe Cullen vs Ryan Searle

Vs

Ricky Evans vs Daryl Gurney 

Vs (Round 4)

Dave Chisnall vs Gabriel Clemens

Dillonb3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121531457#Comment_121531457

Pretty much, Japan/China/Philippines have lots of players that could do with more big stage experience

roosterman71

Aspinall didn't take the beating well

Healio

*Dons Gambling Hat*

Decent enough star to the worlds, couple of standout perfomers and a couple of flops. 

Looking at the quarter line-up as is:

Q1 - the only quarter to lose only 1 seed. 

M. Smith/Razma/R. Smith/Dobey v Cross/De Graaf/Clayton/Ratajaski

Michael Smith again displaying a lack of sorts with scoring power, but how good did he finish them crunch legs v Doets. 

Smith and Dobey have the pleasure of playing off to face (Michael) Smith, Dobey pushed all the way to get past Willie O'connor, where (Ross) Smith made it a bit harder then needed to be to see off Tricole.

Bottom of the quarters sees:

Cross/De Graaf v Clayton/Ratajski - De Graaaf is playing levels above himself on paper, while the other three were workmanlike to get past christmas.

I'd imagine Cross v Clayton for the QF place.

Q1 Verdict: Dobey beats Smith for QF place.

____________________________________________________________________

Q2 - 4 seeds buried

Price/Dolan/Krcmar/Anderson v Williams/RVB/Campbell/Littler

Left hand side - Dolan and Krcmar did not blow me away, and I for one cannot see either progress. 

Anderson for me, got away with murder against Whitlock. 

I'll concede 98 avg. is not to be sniffed at, but i doubt Price would let him away with it.

Price himself was impressive, albeit flying under the radar at the moment, potentially an angle he may exploit. I still have doubts how bad a crowd might get; the further in he goes . (Bearing in mind he won his worlds in an empty hall).

Sky's latest fanboy (post Sherrock/Rock) seems to be Luke Littler, smashed his first round game with the 106 avg. demolition of a former Lakeside champion. To hand it to Kist it was probably his best ever performance at the Palace. 

Littler then again started to railroad Gilding before; for me, falling over the line, which in turn brings in the stamina debate. Playing 15 legs (11 in early rounds) on the Development tour whre you are 10/20 pts better on the averages is no test for seasoned pro's where it take 9/12/15/18/21 to win a match. I can see him winning a Matchplay/GSOD before WC. How the fcuk he is 10/1 fourth favi s laughable (esp. when you can back Gurney at 125/1).

Jim Williams may be a slight dark horse here, former lakeside finalist, out averaging the champion in said final. Knocked out by a spirited Clemns last year.

Didnt see Barney or Campbells games during the week, will try watch them back over Christmas, but I wouldnt be too worried about either.

Krcmar, I think its beyond him at this time of his career.

Q2 Verdict: Price beats Williams for the QF place.

___________________________________________________________________

Q3 - Everything coming up MVG

MVG/Veenstra/Hempel/Bunting v S. Williams/Schindler/HEta/Van Peer

Van Den Bergh/Huybrechts/Noppert/Rock all knocked out of this Quarter so far, and not a hint of a price movement on MVG.

Veenstra was ruthless, Bunting played the best he has in a decade, Berry was like a man possessed. Heta got past his opponent just about.

Q3 Verdict: MVG beats Heta/Van Peer

___________________________________________________________________

Q4 - Quarter of Death??

Evans/Gurney/Chisnall/Clemens v Humphries/Pietreckzo/Cullen/Searle

Aspinall/Rydz turfed out already. 

Ricky Evans/Daryl Gurney putting in argubaly the best games of RD 1, Chizzy and Clemnens not brilliant but good enough and a nice start to the tournament.

Bottom 4 revolves around Humphries, Pietreckzo really impressed in Rd 2. Humphries workmanlike, Cullen/Searle also slipping under the radar, both with solid 91/93 avg.d

I personally think Humphries has it bad in terms of a run in, Pietreckzo then Cullen/Searle, then Gurney/Chizzy, Semi with MVG, and final with M. Smith/Price, I cannot believe he is joing favourite for this, and at that Price.

Q4 Verdict: Humphries beats Gurney

____________________________________________________________________

Odds-wise:

MVG for me still way too big for me at 10/3 out there; to basically beat Humphries and Smith/Price.

I'd have him 1/8 or less v Veenstra,

Slightly bigger next round 1/7 v Bunting (1/10 Hempel)

1/5 v Heta/Van Peer

then 4/6 v Humphries (min. 4/9 or shorter if anyone else),

and 4/7 in a final v (Michael) Smith/ (Gerwyn) Price.

Combines into 3.05/1 shot for me available at 10/3.

Littler is 10/1 and Gurney 125/1; I just cannot fathom this as a gambler and a Darts fan. Luke will to overcome most likely Price, then Smith, then MVG or Humphries; if he should make the QF.

Humprhies 7/2 way too short, if you just backed him to win every game from now on with the same euro you get better than that.

180's 

443 is the total at the christmas break, on previous years that should at least double (generally speaking that is between 47% and 53% of the total).

% Final Tot.

46% 963

47% 943

48% 923

49% 904

50% 886

51% 869

52% 852

53% 836 

180 per set is running at 1.8008, which on previous year should rise closer to 2.00000 by the end. Total expected sets at this point is about 433, giving 780 maximums. Using the 3 year average 180 per set, we're looking at 870.

I'm on 875+ and 900+, so still have hopes to collect on both.

Happy Christmas to you All!

Degag

Currently 15 180s ahead of last year's total at the same stage.

6/4 with PP seems a decent bet.

Loafing Oaf

I'm on Humphries to be top 180 scorer, he's twice as short as next man so must be doing okay but anyone know where those figures are listed?

PTH2009

Welcome back everyone

Looks like Williams might be escaping Schindlers list

Liamalone

Williams wins two to level it at 2-2

Sultan of Bling

Cracking game this.

Schindler having double trouble

Degag

Excellent game here

ThebitterLemon

Really enjoying this, drama and quality

TbL

Degag

Schindler is a really good player. Williams showed alot of bottle there.

Degag

Shame that Russ Bray is bowing out after the worlds. An iconic voice in the sport.

PTH2009

Chizzy always reminds me of someone who is about to burst out laughing. Same with Bunting

Scott Williams does my head in but superb comeback

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121532959#Comment_121532959

Had Barry Hearn interfered with the bullseye

He usually has