2010 UK OPEN DARTS BETTING TIPS

The UK Open Darts follows hot on the heels of the Premier League of Darts and whilst we have gotten used to seeing the same eight faces grace our screens in the Premier League, the rest of the darts world have been eagerly anticipating a return to televised competition.

Known as the FA Cup of darts, this is the only major tournament in which there is no seeding and anybody can play anyone at any stage. The format is the reason that Phil Taylor has not been as dominant in this competition as he has in other major events, although he does still have his name on the trophy three times and is the reigning champion.
Two nine darters in that Premier League final against James Wade proved that there is no sign of Taylor relinquishing his grip on the game anytime soon. Thus odds of 8/15, with Skybet, on him winning the tournament are justifiable if not a tad short to attract the casual punter.
Wade can be backed at 14/1 with Bluesquare to regain the title that he won in 2008 whilst the man that he beat in the Premier League semis Simon Whitlock is 10/1 with the same bookmaker.
Boylesports are offering a Winner Without Taylor market and it might pay to go down that line in this tournament. I like the look of last year’s runner-up Colin Osborne who can be backed at odds of 33/1 here. Osborne has a good record at the Reebok Stadium having reached a semi-final and a quarter-final prior to his defeat in the final last year.
Mark Webster is another who is perhaps a little underestimated at odds of 40/1 in the same market. His third place finish in this year’s PDC World Championship showed that he still retains the ability that won him the 2008 BDO World Championship and the smaller, more intense crowds of the UK Open will be more like what he is used to from the BDO circuit.
Taylor is a man on a mission to hold all major titles simultaneously and few will be betting against him on current form. But, a tough early draw could plausibly see him exit in the early stages over the shorter format and thus the tournament would be blown wide open.